Animation Fun Facts for Oct 20, 2012

Birthdays: Sir Christopher Wren, Bela Lugosi (born Bela Blasgow from Lugosz), Charles Ives, Arthur Rimbaud, Black Panther Bobby Seale, Juan Marichal, Tom Petty, Art Buchwald, Arlene Francis, Grandpa Jones, Mickey Mantle, Jerry Orbach the voice of Lumiere in Beauty & the Beast, Rex Ingram, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Michael Dunn, Snoop Dogg (born Calvin Broadus Jr) is 41, Viggo Mortensen is 54 1921- Rudolf Valentino starred in The Sheik, which premiered today. 1939- Frank Capra’s film “Mr Smith Goes to Washington” opened. 1947- 'ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN...' Judge J. Parnell Thomas banged the gavel opening the House Committee on UnAmerican Activites investigation into Communist infiltration into the Motion Picture Business. HUAC was set up in 1938 as the Dies Committee to keep an eye on pro-Nazis groups operating in German and Italian immigrant organizations, but by 1944 it's emphasis had switched to Communist espionage. Investigations of the army or top civil servants like Dean Acheson was dull stuff, New Deal hating conservatives knew investigating Hollywood would yield the big headlines and jazz up public interest. Jack Warner, Louis B. Mayer, Ronald Reagan and Walt Disney were the first in line to name names. Lucille Ball, Sterling Hayden, Zero Mostel, Ginger Rogers and Lloyd Bridges admitted they had once held communist party memberships. The Blacklisted animators included John Hubley, Dave Hilberman and Tony Eastman. The anti-commie hysteria turned Hollywood inside out and the bitter feelings remained for the rest of their lives. 1955- Harry Belafonte recorded the Banana Boat Song, that made him a star- Day-o! 1955- J.R.R. Tolkein’s last book of the Lord of the Rings published. The Return of the King.