Dumb Blondes and Southern Belles: Women in Entertainment and the Un-American Activities Committees

One of the darker epochs of American history were the years most commonly known as the McCarthy Era. Although the senator from Wisconsin played only a small part in the investigations of the entertainment industry, it is through his name that history seems destined to remember this time. History seems to have also chosen to only remember the men whenever discussions of this period are presented. Long forgotten, or more accurately ignored, women were named in great numbers, made numerous appearances before the Committees, and found themselves victims of the blacklist along with their male colleagues.          This presentation is an overview and introduction to the women who testified before the various Un-American Activities Committees during the investigations of the entertainment industries. The title Dumb Blondes and Southern Belles was chosen for two reasons: these were the ways many of the women “performed” during their appearances, and/or the ways the “gentlemen” of the committees chose to treat them. To date I have identified 75 women who appeared before these Committees, have photographic evidence on approximately one-third, and am still looking. Among this group are Academy Award and Tony Award winning actors and writers familiar to many, along with a host of others who never had the opportunity to reach their full potential. Here is an opportunity to examine an important piece of American history through a new lens, returning another group of women to their rightful place in history.        The poster session will include all available photographs, newspaper headlines, and other interesting manuscript pieces. I also plan to bring a laptop computer that can have a continual loop in power point of all the women I have found to date who were named at and/or appeared before the Committees.