JFK Assassination System Identification Form Date: 5/13/201 : Agency Information Peleased under the John AGENCY: FBI Kennedy RECORD NUMBER:  124-90143-10170 Wssassination Records oOllection Act of 1992 RECORD SERIES : HQ (44 USC 2107 Note). ase#:NWU 54460 Date: AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 100-370750-NR 1wO-o4-2017 Document Information - ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: LA | 3 1 TO: HQ | TITLE: DATE: 07/05/1943 ‘PAGES: 27 \ | | SUBJECTS : HERBERT JOSEPH BIBERMAN | JOHN HOWARD LAWSON DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT ; CLASSIFICATION: — Unclassified RESTRICTIONS: 4 ) CURRENT STATUS:  Redact DATE OF LAST REVIEW: — 10/09/1998 OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE COMMENTS : RPT v9.1 | WW 454460 Doclda: 32338752 Page 1 ; C
HW 54460 Form No. 1 THIS CASE ORIGINATED AT L065 ANGELES » GALIPORNIA APPROVED AND FORWARDED: 0 \S/ Bureau 3 Hew York 2 Boston DoclId: 32336752 3 Les Angales FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION REPORT MADE AT DATE WHEN MADE PERIOD FOR REPORT MADE BY - . WHICH MADE _ 108 ANGELES 1/5/03 | W/L - 6/30/43 JOM R. VICARS KPu TITLE . CHARACTER OF CASE HERBERT JOSEPH BIBKRMAN, et al THERMAL SECURITY ~ R SYNOPSIS OF FACTS: COPIES OF THIS REPORT Page 2? FILE NO. 100=6769 GUSTODIAL DETENTION STRICTLY CONFIDpPUTIAL BIBERMAR WSOU b/2h/u3. LAWSON also participated. LA} is member of Executive Board of Hol rom « © > P .) ) Cc KS Bureau File 100-2h199. eo Repert of Special Agent JOH R. VICARS, on the Key Figure List of the Los Ang py a ce LANSON-BIBERMAN Activity in the “** 1 SPs el bs R2 AUG 3 1355
Segre. ee to the informant, | bia 5 R Lis mosbing. Be also directed that if a committee was. appointed at the mobiligation meeting, he would be very happy to 9it in with it, together with. BILL OLIVER and te work on the seript, but he did not want. to assume the responsibility. BISERMAN then conferred with BILL OLIVER and received . confirmation that OLIVER would attend the HOLLYWOOD WRITERS MOBILIZATION meeting. BIBERNAN directed that OLIVER ask for 8 committee and when it is fermod, BIBERMAN suggested that it would be useful if he (BIBERMAN) and OLIVER and the comnittes all worked on the skit together. He alco directed that OLIVER should bring along the material that BIBERMAN prepared for COURELLY, as parts of it could be used as a basis from whieh to work. g skit involved. four workers, including on April 16, wl, BILL OLIVER, whom the informant ad~ vised ie a manber of the rpewapager Guild, conferred with BIBERMAN and told HOOD WRITERS MOBILIZATION comilttee writing tha show for the €I0 meoting would hold a conference at the home of PAUL JARRICO, 727 Linda Flora Drive, West Los Angele’, Sunday, ‘April 18th, at 12:00 noon. BISERMAN was also active in solioiting Hollywood people to participate in the skit. He attempted to get JOHN SHEPARD, who, apparently; is the msband of ANNS REVERE, but was advised that he was in Officers Training for the Navy. However, ho did obtain RUSSELL GLEASON, 1580 Queens Roads LIONEL STANFEC, 7220 Franklins MARG LAWRENCE; LENA HORNE (negre), 1229 Horn Avermes; ELLIOT? SULLIVAN, 6213 Glon Airy Way, Les Angeles; and STEPHEN BARCIAY. He also attempted to get WALTER: ABEL through FRANK TEN, but was unsucessaful lA Gf those obtained, it should be noted that RUSSBLL " GLBASON 4s @ member of the BOLLYWOOD DEMOCRATIC COMMITTER, reported to be: the newest of the Communist front organizations among the movie industry. psople; LIONEL STANPEG was a Comminist, according to JOHN 1... LEECH, former Executive Seeretary of the Les Angeles County Communist Party, a few years ago and still reportedly follows the Communist Party ling. LENA FORME (Hegre) has been given. mich attention by the People's World", ‘Communist. . West Coast newapaper, and is reportedly & Very Close agsociate: o£ ORSON. WELLES. BLLIOTT SULLIVAN, seco: according to Confidential National Defense Informant 1A-1357, participated in the ekit given at the Communist Party phonic, May 2, 1913, ard algo has been spotted in attendance by the writer — at meotings at a ELIZABETH TEACH, . Northwest ‘Seebion Organizer, has ‘boon in sttendunte'. Ta attempting to obtain BNA “HORNE to eotitn this skit, BIBERMAN conferred with REVEIS CAYTON and also HYMAN S&S... KRAFT, alse known: as HY KRAFT, but after v they were unsuccessful for various reasons din getting * WW 54460 Doclda: 32338752 Page 3 u
her “consent, BIBERUAN conferred with her, and secured her immediate. content» ‘according te Confidential National. Defense informant LA HB=1* &) Mo a the eLabor Horalan ’ Friday, ‘April 30, 1913, issue, hag the following to: say about the. sentation of Hollywood ‘to this ereat . valiye ee f ‘ ce WHollywood,. film eapital of the world, brought. out its yest perforvers for the great-rally. Preceding NURRAY's talk wee a dramatic skit written, directed, and acted by top flight performers from movieland. Authors of the play were PAUL SARRIOO and EARL ROBINSON; HERBERT BIBERMAN, well known Hollywood and proadway director, staged the show. The cast. included LIONEL STANPEC, LENA HORNS, MARC TAWRENCE, FRED GRAFF, ART SMITH, ; VicTOR KILIAN, DANNY BANE. BLLIGTT SULLIVAN, and STEPHEN BARCLAY." JARRICO, ‘it wil? be reealled, hes ‘been a frequent - associate ‘of BIBERUAN in. the past, je a membor of the LEAGUE OF AMERICAN WRITERS, the HOLLYWOOD WRITERS MOBILIZATION, and: was an instructor at the §¢hool for Writers sponsored by the: Hollywood Chapter of the LEAGUE OF AMERICAN WRITERS. His true, name is belicvéd tobe ISRAEY SHAPIRO./ It . appeared to Confidential National: Defense Informant 1A..1B-1: that TOR VAN. DYKE, & known Communiet and newscaster on tho CIO WOuxr Daily Bread” program, performed tho idaison work between CONNELLY and BIBERMAN, At having been noted by the informant that VAN DYKE ‘would: leave material. at LARRY EDMUND' e Book Shep for: BISERMAN att be. request of CONNELLY. Informant: éavised that this material referred to the script which CONNELLY had the final osks ORe: BIBERMAN, according to the informant ,. spent all. of Saturday», April 2hth, . ' at the Olympic Auditorium directing a rehearsal for the eKit. CONNELLY was alleo in attendance at the rehoarsal part of ‘the poe? Ou BIBERMAN-LAWSON hetavity ‘dn. the a , HOLLYEOOD DEuOGRATIC COMMITTED oo re ‘was noted in reference reports BIBERMAN: ‘and LAWSON were active in the HOLLYWOOD DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE , which, according ‘to | Confidential National Defense Informant. LA-1136, appears to be the newest Commnist front organization among ths Hollywood motdon picture people. . A leaflet published. by the HOLLYWOOD- DEMOCRATIC. COMMITTEE states that: this organisation was Launched Jaruary.1h, 1913, as an association of voters having ite origin in the motion picture community. The ‘paniphlet specifically states, "The Hollywood Democratic Committee is not directly affiliated with the Democratic ‘party: organizstion, although it. yogards the Democratic | Party as tha rallying point for liberal: forees in California. ne In this connection, at is + Anteresting te note that on = Me ' WW 54460 Docld: 32338752 Page 4
dune 2, 1913, Confidential Natdonal Defense Inforuant TA apt advised that while BIBEAMAN and an unidentified man were in conference concerning development of the policy of the HOLLYWOOD DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, BIBERMAN stated, "Thsre ie ons policy--the need for progreseive action and that action can come about here in California only through the Democratic Party." According to the informant, the unidentified man agreed with BIBEAMAN and said, "Yes, and if we were in the South, wa would have to progress there. - the Horthrest Section; WALTER ABEL; MARC CONNEL through the ‘Republican Party." Apparently, the tactics of the ¢ at Party of boring from within are algo in use in this organisation. Among the officers Listed an the above mentioned panphitet who have bsen associates of BIBERMAN and LAWSON are GEORGE PEPPER, Exdcutive Seeretary, who, according to ‘Confidentis2 National Defense. In= formant LA~13575 is a Commnist functionary in the Musicians Branch of Yy RUSSELL GIZASONs D. A. f WIS HARRIS; Mre. HENRY MYERS, alse known as BARBARA MYERS 3 and lire. FRANK TUTTIZ. All. of those named there are either officers or members of the Executive Board., Algo listed as a member of the Exmeutive Board 15 JOHN HOWARD LATS ON. BISE My >» according to Confidential National Defense Informant A HD-l,has formed the BEACHROOD DEMOCRATIC COMMITTED, which is Jdated with the HOLLYWOOD DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE. It. appears to be more or less of a precinct club composed,of people in BIBERMAN's neighborhood, which ia known as Hollywoodland. It. was ascertained on igen lb, 1935 from this informant - that GEORGE. PEPPER conferred.with HERBERT BIBERMAN, and 4t was learned that BIGERMAN was plaming a.rally to. be sponsored by the BEACHWOOD DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE. at the Cheremoya School, Beachwood and Franklin Avenues, April 29th, at which LLoyp DAVIES, elected Councilman in the recent city elections, wil be invited te speak. BIBERMAN suggested that someone with a big nae bs obtained to spsak. for the HOLLYWOOD DEuOCRATIC COMMITTEE, and PEPPER suggested GLORIA STUART who, PEPPER STATED, was always happy to do such things. The purpose of this meeting wis the rally behind FAY ALLEN, Negress, who was engaged in a runoff for a post on ths city: Board ° ef Bducation, It should be noted here that PAY ALLEN meagre strong. Communist Paeey support in this ‘runoff electdon. — On April 25, 1913, BIBERMAN conferred with HENRY MYERS concerning & BEACHWOOD DEMOCRATIC CLUB mmoeting at tho. BIRERMAN home that evening in order to plan for the meeting at the sehool.): It was expected _ that 50 to 75 people would attend, and BIBERMAN was anxious to get : | EDDIE BLISCU to sing a few songe, namely, "Damn the Torpedo”; "Mr. JUAREZ", and "hr. Lincolnt - On the same date BIBERMAN occured EDDIE. ELISCU ‘Lor this / AW 54460 Docld: 32338752 Page 5
r / > ree EE - Tb.is to be noted that. an informant. of the Los Angeles ro Office reported that at a branch meeting held that week an announcement was mado of this meating at the home of MARY BELAY, and the branch members were invited to attend. MARY R. BEBY, $921 Chula Vista, Los Angeles, according to records of Soureé "A", was a new member of the Communist Party, assigned to Branch @, Nortlemet Section, April 15, 19h3. She holds Commmist Party Book Ne. 36118. LA. ALL contacts by BIBERMAN in comectdon with + he HOLLYCOOD DEMOGRATIC COMMITIER activities noted areas follows: aq On April 29, 1913, BARBARA MYERS contacted GALS SONDERGAARD, congratulating her on. her performance the previous. evening at tho HOLLYKCOD : DENOCRATIC or euiy y described vious sly, and requested that she mail a copy of hor se te a MAURICE Clay 1761 Horth Van Bess as he would Like. to have: ite ; on April. 26, 193, HERSERT BIBERMAN conferred with GEORGE PEPPER and Yequested BIBERVAN to turn in his unsold tickets to ANH - POLLOCK, 155 Laurel, the following day. This undoubtedly refers te tickets te the HOLLYWOOD DEMOCRATIC COMAIT TER rally held April 28th.. BU ' On April 27, 1913, BARBARA MYERS. conferred with HERBERT BIBERUAN, advising him that they were making a special drive, and that, IRVING PIOHEL had b een appointed to do the collecting. BIDERMAN suggested that ANN F POLLOGK be contacted for suggestions. (BOWL. . 5 On dune 7; 1913, it. wis ascertained by the informant that there was to be a neoting . at the home of RUSSEL, Rerramieey pith Belden surveillance was maintained ‘by spectad | Agent DAVID i A. MAC cULLcH and the writer, and it was observed that HERBERT BIBERMAN, GALS SOMDBRGAARD, EDWARD BIBERUAN, and ‘BORSA DAHL BIBERMAN entered the | LAMBEAU home. Noother care were noted in the vicinity’ ‘until: well past the time for the meeting, although an unidentified ear let out: three or four people. Other people scheduled to attend ware lire. SULLIVAN (possibly Mire. ors al SULLIVAN)» GEORGE VOdERs and a fies, BATESON Cast’ two, arg . “ | phonetic) . gr Confidenttol Bétdonen Defense. Informant: 14-1238. attended @ meeting of the HOLLYHOOD D DEMOCRATIC COMMITTER, Wednesday, duns: 16, A9k3, at the Hollywood-Roosevolt Hotel, tho announced purpose. of which was to take up tho question ¢ of tho recent soot suit riots in las * Angeles. About come 4 . ; oN TEE . wa . eS. ™“ ‘HW 54460 Bocld:32336752 Page 6
150.3 wore present, most: of whom. are connected with the motion niobate industry. Informant's report . states, "The usual contingent of Communists, fellow travelers, and sympathizers were on hand and dominated the mecting." 4 2. 6 « "About one dozen Negroes wore present. No distinguishable Mexicans were prevent in the audience." Among the speakers were CARL HOLTON, 1 ‘Director of the California Youth Authority and a member of a Special Committee appointed — by Governor WARREN to investigate the Zoot Suit activities. Ha mate no - violent attacks on tho police and law enforcement agencies. (Tho Comunists vlame the police and the press for the Zoot Suit riots). His remarke were greeted with a great amount of enthisiaem. Other speakers included ives CHARLOTTA A. BASS, Negresa and editer of the "California gagle', weekly’ colored newspaper in Los Angeles and reported follower of the Commnist Party limes CAREY MeWILLIAMS, former Director of Housing and Immigration in the State of California, whom the informant destribes as long identified with Communist activity, and one of the National Committes of the AMERICAN PEACE MOBILIZATION. He indicted the press, the police department; andthe fifth columns for the Zoot Suit riots. He was received with mich éntisiaen, JOHN HOWARD LAWSON was in attendance at. this meotings. mecording. to the informant. 54460 BIBERMAN-LASON Direct Comanist : ae Associations ¢ and sottvitios. formant LA. HB~i. advised ‘that MARJORIE ‘TISKE conferred with sTBERIAN ‘advising hin that the writing on the "May 2nd thing" was 4 Lete his refers to ths script for the pageant of the Commmiet May ernival; which, according to Confidential Netdonal Defense Informant, 1357+ was: written by MILTON amd soreen writer. tavestigated ‘by. Lockheed Areraft whore phe is eaployed. ‘sho wondere 4f they had contacted BIGER as a ; former euployers ‘BIBERNAN advised that he had not been. contacted. if we Qn April 27, 1913, BIBERNAN ‘sent 6 telegram te { 1559 North Rdgemont, requesting that. she contact ie th the ighe city Directory Lists vin PER as 5 the wife ng, wap fonder > Seerstary to GALS. SONDERGAARD. “Ths will he | in referers report of the writer; it was indicated ae SRMAN ‘may © | have recruited VYRL HOPPER into the Communist, Party. ft was noted from records pe oT w Cy, oN \, ANAS Lo Doclda: 32338752 Page 7
SEF EL TS EE I EE ES N  .wersation refers to Comiunist Party recruits, it should be noted that the _ veoruiting drive ended May 2, 1913, and a compilation of the recruits ' should have been completed by the date of this conference, May Lith, Furthermore, the Northwest Section 4s composed of shop units, that iss misicians are in one branch, writers in another, technicians in another, ete. The fact that BARBARA was in possession of these breakdowne would — yet also indicate she was either a Section Membership Director or poseibly: «iit. Recruiting Drive Diredtor of this section. A further indication of BARBARA! s oo, character was shown.on May 29, 193; when, according to the Anfornant she conferred with BIBERMAN, : ‘of i “stuff” to MARJORIS PISKE. since she was "starting Life over agains and potting away from nathenatice. (A “Again; on May lis 19135 ELIZABETH TEACH conferred with BIBERMAN, asking BIBERMAN's advice. as to who should "finieh up BARBARA's work since BARBARA had suddenly gone to New York and left all of her records with BLIZABETH LEACH. As stated before, all of thsée. indications. might mean oy that BARBARA MYERS was Membership Director pr possibly Recruiting Drive _. Director. BIBERWAN's leadership is shown by the fact that whon BLIZABETH - _ LEACH, who is the organizer, requested that. BIBERMAN name @ person to: finish Up BARBARA's work, and BIBERMAN dirécted that ' PALTZ should i tely BLIZABETH out on the renaindsr, if necessary. Wi . 7 BIBERMAN' direction is further shown by the fact that on May 12, 1943, ELIZABETH LEACH conferred with BIBERMAN, and after advising 4 him that BARBARA: MYERS had left town, there arosd the question as to who’ Po should replace BARBARA at @ mooting te be held at the Alexandria 1 . the following Friday evening, May ith. This mocting was know to the Los Angeles Office ag being a meeting of all branch delegates to the ‘Special | State Convention to be held May 23» 193; at San Francisco. BIBERMAN told - ELIZABETH he would try and get MARGARET MALTZ to attend ‘the meeting. Ha: then contacted MARGARET MALTZ, according to Confidential National. - Motense: , 4 Informant LA HB-1,and told her thet BARBARA MYERS had gone to New York and- . would not be back until June 1st, and that MARGARET should take | the - Priday evening meting at the Alexandria ‘Hotel. BIBERHAN said, . aver pistes of credential material to give you for ‘this nesting.’ by material ig known to the’ Los Angeles Office’ as being. wthe ered every branch delegate had to carry in order to be all allowed admi delegate meeting at the Alexandria Hotel, May 1y; 19h: Confidential National Defenss Informant LA-1357, each person wh $3 olected. as Branch Delegate was given one of these credentials. .0no secured by this ‘Anformant and retained by the los: Angeleg ‘Office ‘reads, an part as’ 1913, 122 Haight street, San Francisco, Galifornia.\’ “A bleck head Ybhs on _ Feeds, “DELEGATE! a CREDENTIAL" > his name, addroney/ branch, ang! i | \ . ; pe ee ‘HW 354460 Bocld:32336752 Page 6
representative, and thon listed under this tho following statement, "This Comrade has been officially elected delegate to the Emergency State Con- vention of the Communist Party of Califomia to be held on May 23, 1935 in San Francieco, California." Two lines then follow, one for the signature o£ the County Organiser and one for the signature of the Delegate. These credentials were made in duplicate and ons delivered to the Delegate and one trananitted to the State Headquarters in San Francisco. /; ? in view of this information Special Agents DAVID A. - HAG cULLOCR and SIMON B. LOCHER instituted a surveillance at the home of MARGARET MALTZ, 6526 Lindenhurst, on the evening of May 1h, 1913, and — observed MALTZ driving her husband's car, bearing Galifernia License - 7 W hOS3, to a parking lot near Sth and Spring, and go by feot to the Alexandria Hotel, Mezzanine Fleor, and into the room where the delegate meeting was being held. On the way to tho meeting-she stopped. at 607 West Sixth Street, where anotier lady joined hor and they preceeded to the | meeting. This person was believed to be SADIE ORNITZ, wife of SAN Gh who ia known to reside at this address. ' Directives obtained by Confidential National Defense Informant LA“1387 also verified that this was a mesting of branch delegates to the State Convention, went this informant had personal knowledge of this fact. UL | oo The writer personally spotted OARL WINTER, MAX SILVER, | PRITIS PERRY (negro), all county officials of the party, at ‘this mostings UL MARGARET MALTZ, by way of ident4 fication, is the. wife. of ALSER? MALTZ, President of the Hollywod Chapter of tho LEAGUE OF AMERICAN WRITERS, and an associate of HERBERT BIBERMAN and JOHN HOWARD LAKSON. | Neither BIBERMAN nor LAWSON was spotted in attendance at this meeting, but ‘this is not considered unusual since during the course of this investigation, . | they have attended no metings of this nature that are mown: However, HALDO SALT was in attendance from the movie industry crowl, and he has been a associated with BIBERMAN and LAVSON. It will be noted that ALEXANDER STEVENS stayed at the home of SALT during his visit for conferences with BIBERMAN, LAWSON, and.others on May 2nd to kth, 192. ELIZABETH LEACH and a-person: identified ag VERA HARRIS, wife of LOU HARRIS, both of whom attended many meotings at tha home of JOHN HOWARD LAYSON during thse course of this investigations were also. observed at this meeting. on Bay 2h, 1913, Confidential Natdonal Defense Informant IA BB-1 advised that. BIBERMAN again conferred with MARGARET MALTZ, at which Doclda: 32338752 Page 9