On This Day

Red Scare of Hollywood

On October 20, 1947, the Red Scare, a Congressional committee, begins investigating Communist influence in Hollywood.

After World War II, the Cold War began between the U. S. and the Soviet Union. In Washington, conservative watchdogs worked to out communists in government and then started to look for alleged "Reds" in the liberal movie industry.

Pressured by Congress, the Hollywood establishment started a blacklist policy, banning the work of about 325 screenwriters, actors and directors who had not been cleared by the committee.