Evening star., 1947-10-26
By Chris Mathisen

G1IOW U0SA1lCcS AAiOWo q SOOu dCI
when 1t sees one.
Apparently, the current investiga-
ton of Communist influence in the
motion picture industry, being con-
Quoted by the House Committee on
un-American Activities, is a sock
eroo," in the argot of the trade.
Few Hollywood or Broadway
names" have seen At to ignore the
committee hearings completely. In
general, those not favored with a
subpoena to testify have partici-
pated In press conferences, issued
statements or, reasoning they could
get into the act If they tried, made
haste to reach washington by plane
or train.
Not unmindful Of showmanship,
Chairman Thomas of the committee
has been announcing each day tie
witness list for the succeeding ses-
sion.
Menjou and Theh Taylor.
The first guarantee of q big
house" in the caucus room of the
old House Once Building was the
announcement that Actor Adolphe
Menjou would testify last Tuesday.
Then, the "oh's" and "ah's"
mounted Wednesday. when Mr..
Thomas produced Robert Taylor. A
crowd pressed against the doors as
he testified, and the chairman was
forced to declare brief recess to
quiet the hubbub.
Thursday, Actors Ronald Regan,
Robert Montgomery. George Muir
ply and Gary Cooper joined the
galaxy.
The Aim people have been made
to feel at home. At least four news
reel cameras, trained on the wit
ness chair, have been manned at
all times. Six or more still photog-
raphers-often as many as 10
have crouched near the chair, pop
ping up from time to time to take
f1ashlight picture of the witness
in an expressive pose.
A candid specialist has held first
one exposure meter and then
another a few feet from each wit
ness nose, checking the lighting
for his shots.
Floodlamps Installed.
Klieg lights and other floodlamps
have been installed for the news
reel mea, causing several reporters,
seated where they must look into
the strongest lights, to wear dark
glasses, adding another Hollywood
touch to the proceedings.
Half the big room is occupied
by press tables, Photographic and
broadcasting equipment. In addition
to Give" broadcasts. radio men have
been recording every word of the
testimony and broadcasting cx-
cerpts each night.
The more than 100 reporters
covering the hearing include rep
resentatives of all the film trade
publications and correspondent
Of the Hollywood Citizen-News,
daily newspaper of the film capital.
secret hearings Held.
The investigation began last May,
when a subcommittee of the House
Committee went to the West Coast
and held secret hearings, seeking
to determine to what extent Com
munists had penetrated the film
industry and how effective they had
been in bringing their propaganda
to the screen.
The present public hearings are a
continuation of the inquiry.
The committee plans to use the
information obtained In determin-
ing what should be done about pro-
posed legislation to outlaw the Com
munist Party.
Testimony is being received from
two groups - friendly witnesses"
and hostile witnesses"
The former are those the COM
mittee feels hates Communists and
wants to help investigators put the
finger on those who are at work
in Hollywood.
The latter are those the COM
mittee believes may be Communists,
friends of Communists or are op-
posed strongly to the investigation
for some other reason.
Group of 19 Listed As Hostile.
The friendly folk so labeled by
the committee, have included the
actors, producers and others who
testified last week.
On the hostile side, as designated
by the committee are the group
of 49," These people are under
subpoena to testify this week. but
all may not be called. They include
Screen Writers Lester Cole, Alvah
Bessie, Richard Collins, Goldon