The
8th June brings us back to the movies. Universal Pictures, one of the oldest American movie studios still producing films, was founded by Carl Laemmle in 1912. Laemmle was born in Laupheim, Wurttemberg, in Germany, in 1867. He emigrated to the United States at the age of 17 in 1884. He lived in Chicago working as a bookkeeper and store manager. He had been working in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and returned to Chicago sometime in 1905 and was struck by the popularity of nickelodeons. He started buying them up and shortly after established a film distribution company, The Laemmle Film Service. In 1909 he went on to form The Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP). On the
8th June 1912, in New York, Laemmle merged his IMP company with Pat Powers of Powers Picture Company, Mark Dintenfass of Champion Films, and Bill Swanson of American Éclair. Charles Baumann, of Crescent Film Company and Bison Life Motion Picture Company, as well as Adam Kessel (who had the New York Motion Picture Company with Baumann) may also have been involved. In any event, together, with Laemmle at the helm, they formed the Universal Motion Picture Manufacturing Company. Universal will be celebrating in centenary next year. Carl Laemmle’s niece Carla Laemmle, is, I believe, still with us, having been born on the 20th October 1909 and now going on 102. (see blog for Monday 7
th Feb 2011)
 |
| Current Logo |
 |
| 1936 Logo |
 |
| Carla Laemmle |
 |
| Carl Laemmle |
As the studios grew in power, and films became increasingly influential, actors, writers, producers and directors came under greater scrutiny. At the end of the Second World War, the red menace reared its head and an FBI report issued on the
8th June 1949 named a number of celebrities as Communist Party members; including, Helen Keller, Dorothy Parker, Danny Kaye, Frederic March, John Garfield, Paul Muni and Edward G. Robinson. This report fuelled the anti-Communist hysteria in America during the late 1940’s and the 1950’s.
The FBI report relied largely on accusations made by "confidential informants," supplemented with some highly dubious analysis. It began by arguing that the Communist Party in the United States claimed to have "been successful in using well-known Hollywood personalities to further Communist Party aims." The report particularly pointed to the actions of the Academy Award-winning actor Frederic March. Suspicions about March were raised by his activities in a group that was critical of America's growing nuclear arsenal (the group included other well-known radicals such as Helen Keller and Danny Kaye). March had also campaigned for efforts to provide relief to war-devastated Russia. The report went on to name several others who shared March's political leanings: Edward G. Robinson; the African-American singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson; the writer Dorothy Parker; and a host of Hollywood actors, writers, and directors.
Edward G. Robinson declared, "These rantings, ravings, accusations, smearing, and character assassinations can only emanate from sick, diseased minds of people who rush to the press with indictments of good American citizens. I have played many parts in my life, but no part have I played better or been more proud of than that of being an American citizen."
They were clearly on the FBI's wanted list.
This is the current list provided by the FBI website. Note the man at the end:
The FBI is offering rewards for information leading to the apprehension of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. Select the images of suspects to display more information.
Edward G. Robinson declared, "These rantings, ravings, accusations, smearing, and character assassinations can only emanate from sick, diseased minds of people who rush to the press with indictments of good American citizens. I have played many parts in my life, but no part have I played better or been more proud of than that of being an American citizen."
No comments:
Post a Comment