You Must Remember This

Arthur Miller considered Elia Kazan a close friend and collaborator, but when Kazan named names to HUAC, Miller broke with him and wrote The Crucible, a parable about anti-communist hysteria set amidst the Salem Witch Trials. But despite the committee’s sensitivity to criticism, HUAC didn’t subpoena Miller until he became engaged to Marilyn Monroe, then the biggest star and sex symbol of her day. Miller and Kazan would remain estranged for a decade, until the latter directed a play written by the former which, while drawing headlines for its depiction of Monroe, also seemed to parallel their falling out over HUAC. This episode is brought to you by Slack. Visit Slack.com/REMEMBERTHIS, Create a new team and you’ll get $100 in credit for when you decide to upgrade to a paid plan. This episode is also brought to you by Harry's. Free shipping for Father’s Day razor kits ends on Friday, June 3rd , so act now. Go to Harrys.com and enter code REMEMBER at checkout to get $5 off to get Dad something he’ll actually use this Father’s Day. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elia Kazan introduced audiences to Warren Beatty, James Dean and Marlon Brando. His films of the 1950s -- including A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, and East of Eden -- comprise perhaps the most impressive body of work of an American director of the decade. But Kazan, who was briefly a Communist in the 1930s, likely would not have been able to make many of those films had he not named names to HUAC in 1952. This episode is brought to you by Slack. Visit Slack.com/REMEMBER, Create a new team and you’ll get $100 in credit for when you decide to upgrade to a paid plan. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Horne's last years at MGM overlapped with the first HUAC hearings. Horne, an outspoken proponent of equal rights, who from the beginning of her career had associated with leftists and “agitators,” got caught up in the anti-communist insanity. One of those agitators was Paul Robeson, a singer, actor and political firebrand who was a mentor and friend to Horne. But once the red panic began to heat up, that friendship became problematic for Lena, and like so many others, she was forced to choose between her career and her friendships.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Explore the remarkable journey of Lena Horne, a pioneering Black actress who rose to prominence during WWII. Discover her bold performances for troops, showcasing her commitment to entertaining Black soldiers amid segregation. Delve into her struggles against Hollywood's racial prejudices and her fight for identity. Horne's evolution from a chorus girl to a trailblazer in major studio films highlights her resilience. Experience her triumphs, the challenges she faced, and her lasting impact on representation in the entertainment industry.

Judy Holliday's rise to fame is a captivating tale of authenticity in a conformist era. She won an Oscar for her debut role, yet faced scrutiny during the anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s. Her experiences reveal the intersection of Hollywood, racism, and politics, as she navigated a challenging landscape. Despite being supported by her studio, she ultimately faced the harsh realities of a declining career. The podcast highlights her significant contributions and personal struggles, painting a vivid portrait of a unique star.

Delve into the murky waters of Hollywood's blacklisting era, focusing on Howard Hughes's influential role in suppressing dissent. Discover the extraordinary story of Paul Jarrico, who fought against RKO after being wrongfully terminated. The podcast highlights the creation of 'Salt of the Earth,' amidst fierce opposition from powerful entities. It also uncovers the complexities of the morals clause and the struggles of blacklisted filmmakers to voice their truth against a backdrop of fear and censorship. A riveting look at resilience in cinema!

In advance of next week’s episode dealing with Howard Hughes’ role in the blacklist, we revisit our October 2014 episode on Hughes’ relationship with Jane Russell, his wartime efforts to balance his aviation and moviemaking businesses, and his shaky run as head of RKO Pictures. Also: Ava Gardner gets violent, Hughes’ 15 year-old muse, and how Russell’s boobs did what the Spruce Goose couldn’t. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The wife of actor Melvyn Douglas (Ninotchka, Being There), Helen Gahagan Douglas transformed herself from a Broadway and opera star into an exciting new politician in the days of FDR. A persistent, nagging voice of conscience in Congress during the time of HUAC and nuclear panic, Douglas’ political career came to an end amidst irresponsible allegations that she was a Communist supporter -- many of which were leveled at her by her opponent in the 1950 Senate race, Richard Nixon. This episode is brought to you by 1-800-Flowers. Order One Dozen beautiful, assorted Roses and receive another Dozen Roses and a vase for FREE – just $29.99. Go to 1800Flowers.com/REMEMBER. This episode is also brought to you by The Great Courses Plus. For a limited time, The Great Courses plus is offering my listeners a chance to stream hundreds of their courses for FREE at thegreatcoursesplus.com/REMEMBER. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The post-war Communist witch hunt had a big impact on Ronald Reagan’s evolution from movie actor to politician, and from Democrat to Republican. And Ronald Reagan had a major personal impact on the witch hunt’s manifestation in Hollywood, the Blacklist. This episode will trace the years in which Reagan was primarily known as a movie and TV star, and explore his two marriages to actresses, his testimony to HUAC, his behind-the-scenes work as an informer to the FBI, his late-career incarnation as bridge between Hollywood and corporate America, and more.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Picking up where last week’s episode left off, we’ll catch up with Chaplin’s post-The Great Dictator activism, talk about Chaplin’s savage satirical follow-up, Monsieur Verdoux, and explain the witch hunt that ended with him forced to leave his adopted home, and Hollywood career, behind. This episode is brought to you by Audible.com, who has more than 180,000 audiobooks and spoken-word audio products. Get a free audiobook of your choice at audible.com/REMEMBER. This episode is also brought to you by Blue Apron. You can get your first two meals for free at BlueApron.com/REMEMBER. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices