#ResistanceRoots #Voices4Victory Today in history, 1962: In the waning days of the Red Scare, American folk group The Weavers are told they must sign a political loyalty oath to appear on The Jack Paar Show. Every member of the group refused, and their appearance on the show was canceled. /1 - ThreadSky

bambooshooti.bsky.social • 51 days ago

#ResistanceRoots
#Voices4Victory

Today in history, 1962: In the waning days of the Red Scare, American folk group The Weavers are told they must sign a political loyalty oath to appear on The Jack Paar Show. Every member of the group refused, and their appearance on the show was canceled. /1

Comments

butchhaze.bsky.social•50 days ago

Used to listen to the Weavers, still listen to Pete Seeger music, so what has happened to the FBIs un-American activities dept, there is a need for it now! As n Aussie looking on I’m worried as wot might happen these coming 4yrs! Where is FBI ?

duckmsw.bsky.social•51 days ago

I love their music!

bambooshooti.bsky.social•51 days ago

Me, too. They were very talented.

duckmsw.bsky.social•51 days ago

I have a CD of their 15th anniversary concert at Carnegie Hall; I was about 2 weeks old when that concert happened, and the CD was a gift from my mom.

bambooshooti.bsky.social•51 days ago

How neat. something to cherish.

duckmsw.bsky.social•51 days ago

I've also been able to pull it up on YouTube.

1toughguy2.bsky.social•51 days ago

Good trivia☑️

kparent.bsky.social•51 days ago

Music is the last freedom

bambooshooti.bsky.social•51 days ago

The Weavers were founded in 1948 by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays. The group was instrumental to the folk music revival of the 1950s, helping launch many other careers. Their rendition of “Goodnight Irene” stayed at No. 1 for 13 weeks in 1950, and they sold millions of records. /2

bambooshooti.bsky.social•51 days ago

Most of their songs were not political. However, members of the group were pacifists and pro-labor sympathizers who embraced many of the tenets of communism in the 1930s. When this came to light, their planned TV show was canceled and they lost their recording contract. /3

bambooshooti.bsky.social•51 days ago

In the height of the Red Scare, the Weavers were placed under FBI surveillance and Seeger and Hays had to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Concert venues would not book them and they were blacklisted from TV and radio appearances. /4

bambooshooti.bsky.social•51 days ago

The Weavers disbanded between 1952 and 1955, then got back together and staged a comeback. However, their right-wing enemies still plagued them. Even though the Red Scare was waning in 1962, they were blocked from appearing on TV. They officially disbanded in 1963. /end

kslatteryresist.bsky.social•51 days ago

The Red Scare ruined many artists’ careers. Movie directors and producers used pseudonyms or had others produce films in their names, due to their blacklisting. Some won awards but others took credit to protect the blacklisted creators. McCarthy will forever be known as a fascist in history books

sitarski.bsky.social•51 days ago

Trumbo is one of my favorite films, or you can watch the original films that finally broke the blacklist.

Roman Holiday
The Brave One

then
Spartacus
Exodus

Even without McCarthy, Un-American Activities investigations continued into the 70s, and FBI files continued much longer.

grammalizard.bsky.social•51 days ago

Ed Norton played Pete Seeger in the new Bob Dylan movie. Excellent movie. Great acting by all. Pete was a good guy. There are scenes with him defending himself against the McCarthy inquisition.

bambooshooti.bsky.social•51 days ago

I’ll have to check that out. Thank you.

annieandjoe.bsky.social•51 days ago

This is fascinating! Thank you! Huge respect for The Weavers.

bambooshooti.bsky.social•51 days ago

You're welcome and yes, talented musicians who stayed true to their principles.

tomegraves.bsky.social•50 days ago

62 years ago when I was new in 62, this was the background sound of my early memories. 🙂
That was always my answer to Wolfman Jack. Lol

docpsych.bsky.social•50 days ago

Good for them. Resist

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply