Red Scare: The “Hollywood Ten” are blacklisted by Hollywood movie studios.

The Red Scare refers to the intense fear of communism and radical leftist ideologies that swept the United States during the late 1940s and 1950s, particularly during the early Cold War period. This paranoia was fueled by geopolitical tensions with the Soviet Union, domestic fears of espionage, and widespread concerns over communist infiltration in American institutions. A prominent episode during this time was the investigation of the “Hollywood Ten”, a group of screenwriters, directors, and producers who were accused of having communist affiliations. Subpoenaed to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1947, the Hollywood Ten refused to answer questions about their political beliefs or name others suspected of communist ties, citing their First Amendment rights. Their defiance led to charges of contempt of Congress, imprisonment, and subsequent blacklisting from Hollywood studios, effectively ending many of their careers. The case symbolized the broader crackdown on free expression and the climate of fear and suspicion that marked this era.