1947 - Government, USA, HUAC Hearing - 1947 - Eric Johnston Testimony, R2 of 2 10Oct47 Card 1 of 2
Eric Johnston at table giving testimony and statements: “If it were proved to be true I would not employ Mr. Lawson because I would not employ any proven or admitted Communist because they are just a disruptive force & I don't want them around.” Stripling: “They could be a disruptive force within the motion picture industry; isn't that true?” Johnston: “Of course”. Stripling: “Don't you think this committee has an obligation to expose them if they are there?” Johnston: I have always said that you did, but I have always
thought you should do it under the American program of a free & fair trial. I have never objected to your investigating Hollywood. I told you we welcomed it, & we sincerely do. We haven't always welcomed some of the methods you have adopted.”
11:20:23 “You have said, & it is the kind of a statement that I am very happy to hear a member of the committee make, it is the type of statement which is a truly American statement, but perhaps you are
misinformed about some angles of it. May I suggest to you that, for instance, when I was on the stand
here in March I was asked over & over again, & I have the testimony here before me, why we hadn't made anti-Communist pictures, & what were we going to do about making them. I tried, Mr. McDowell, at that time to say that this industry was before a congressional committee in the early 1940's because they said we were war-mongering. We don't want to be called again before an investigation, Congressional investigating committee, and be called warmongering. Furthermore, Mr, McDowell, the questions asked me repeatedly, &
the questions asked repeatedly of witnesses during this present investigation, have indicated ‘Are you making anti-Commnnist pictures & why don't yon make them?’ Now, we feel that this is the duty & responsibility of the producers just as it is the duty & the responsibility of publishers, Mr. McDowell, to determine what goes in their newspapers.”
11:21:40 McDowell: I agree with you, Mr. Johnston. I would like to point out to you” (edit)
11:21:46 Johnston: “we welcomed an investigation in Hollywood & we certainly think it is warranted.”
Mr. Vail: “I am glad to hear you say that.” Johnston; “The thing that perturbs me, Mr. Vail, is, for in-
stance, you had a Mr. Howard Rushmore here to testify, I think you had complete confidence in his integrity, he was a former admitted Communist but had seen the error of his ways, like the Bible says, & reformed.”
11:22:18 Vail: (to Johnston’s statement) “to the effect ‘That we had no responsibility for the political or economic views of any particular individual but we do have a responsibility for what goes on on the screen’."
Johnston: “Right.” Vail: "’We regard that with great care’. You are aware, I presume, of the fact that through-out this country in a great many municipalities we have moving-picture censor boards set up by those municipalities?” (edit) continued on card 2 of 2
Anti-Communist; Friendly Witnesses; Hollywood Ten; Blacklists; 1940s; Motion Picture Industry; House Committee On UnAmerican Activities; Movies; Politics; Motion Picture Association Of America; Testimony;
NOTE: Stripling aka Robert Stripling, Chief Investigator for HUAC. McDowell aka Rep. John McDowell of Pennsylvania; Vail aka Representative Richard B. Vail of Illinois.
NOTE: Partial or entire of 2 cards (11:19:34 - 11:25:02) sold at per reel rate.
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1947 - Government, USA, HUAC Hearing - 1947 - Eric Johnston Testimony, R2 of 2 10Oct47 Card 1 of 2 Eric Johnston at table giving testimony and statements: “If it were proved to be true I would not employ Mr. Lawson because I would not employ any proven or admitted Communist because they are just a disruptive force & I don't want them around.” Stripling: “They could be a disruptive force within the motion picture industry; isn't that true?” Johnston: “Of course”. Stripling: “Don't you think this committee has an obligation to expose them if they are there?” Johnston: I have always said that you did, but I have always thought you should do it under the American program of a free & fair trial. I have never objected to your investigating Hollywood. I told you we welcomed it, & we sincerely do. We haven't always welcomed some of the methods you have adopted.” 11:20:23 “You have said, & it is the kind of a statement that I am very happy to hear a member of the committee make, it is the type of statement which is a truly American statement, but perhaps you are misinformed about some angles of it. May I suggest to you that, for instance, when I was on the stand here in March I was asked over & over again, & I have the testimony here before me, why we hadn't made anti-Communist pictures, & what were we going to do about making them. I tried, Mr. McDowell, at that time to say that this industry was before a congressional committee in the early 1940's because they said we were war-mongering. We don't want to be called again before an investigation, Congressional investigating committee, and be called warmongering. Furthermore, Mr, McDowell, the questions asked me repeatedly, & the questions asked repeatedly of witnesses during this present investigation, have indicated ‘Are you making anti-Commnnist pictures & why don't yon make them?’ Now, we feel that this is the duty & responsibility of the producers just as it is the duty & the responsibility of publishers, Mr. McDowell, to determine what goes in their newspapers.” 11:21:40 McDowell: I agree with you, Mr. Johnston. I would like to point out to you” (edit) 11:21:46 Johnston: “we welcomed an investigation in Hollywood & we certainly think it is warranted.” Mr. Vail: “I am glad to hear you say that.” Johnston; “The thing that perturbs me, Mr. Vail, is, for in- stance, you had a Mr. Howard Rushmore here to testify, I think you had complete confidence in his integrity, he was a former admitted Communist but had seen the error of his ways, like the Bible says, & reformed.” 11:22:18 Vail: (to Johnston’s statement) “to the effect ‘That we had no responsibility for the political or economic views of any particular individual but we do have a responsibility for what goes on on the screen’." Johnston: “Right.” Vail: "’We regard that with great care’. You are aware, I presume, of the fact that through-out this country in a great many municipalities we have moving-picture censor boards set up by those municipalities?” (edit) continued on card 2 of 2 Anti-Communist; Friendly Witnesses; Hollywood Ten; Blacklists; 1940s; Motion Picture Industry; House Committee On UnAmerican Activities; Movies; Politics; Motion Picture Association Of America; Testimony; NOTE: Stripling aka Robert Stripling, Chief Investigator for HUAC. McDowell aka Rep. John McDowell of Pennsylvania; Vail aka Representative Richard B. Vail of Illinois. NOTE: Partial or entire of 2 cards (11:19:34 - 11:25:02) sold at per reel rate.