As Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy ushered in the second Red Scare of the last three decades, accusations began against liberal organizations of all stripes for their alleged involvement with Communists. Hollywood was at the top of those organization, the second anchor, along with Berkeley radicals, of Communist infiltration and propaganda brainwashing operations. Hollywood did control the mass media, after all. Many prominent actors and filmmakers were summoned to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities; a group of 10 on principle refused to answer the questions posed to them.

On this day, November 24, in 1947, the “Hollywood 10,” as they became known, took the stand before HUAC and cited their first-amendment rights to decline to answer. The Committee found them in contempt.

So was born the Hollywood Blacklist. Hollywood divided against itself, with many actors, screenwriters and directors who found themselves on the blacklist passed over for work. At its height, the “blacklist” contained over 500 names. It would not be completely erased until the 1960s.