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The pages of The Adventures Continue have always been
about truth and accuracy, and we're proud of that. And with this
column we hope to set the record straight concerning accusations
and rumors that have been circulating for years in books and
on the Internet about the day Robert Shayne was visited by federal
agents on the set of Superman.
Specifically, it's often been reported that Robert Shayne,
who played Inspector William J. Henderson, was a "card-carry
Communist." Even a source close to the series has made this
statement. Recently, however, Stephanie Shayne Parkin, Bob's
daughter, asked me to help dispel that rumor and to clarify just
exactly what happened on that infamous day back in 1951.
While it is true that Federal agents did visit the set of
Superman in 1951, it is not true that Robert Shayne
was a card-carrying Communist. Here, in Stephanie's own words,
is the truth about those events.
Stephanie Shayne: When my dad died in 1992 I assumed
I'd never again need to explain the events of that time, but
the rumors persist, and I'd like you to help me tell the unvarnished
truth. The fact is that Dad was turned into the House Un-American
Activities Committee as a result of accusations made by his jealous
ex-wife. That was precipitated by Dad's leaving her for a woman
twenty-one years her junior (my mother, Bette). Dad maintained
until his dying day that he was never a member of the Communist
party. Indeed, my dad was a lot of things. He had his faults,
but a liar he was not. He was honest and ethical about everything
in his life with the exception of his marital indiscretions.
But, his fidelity in marriage is not what is at issue here.
The purpose of this is not to whitewash my dad's reputation.
His life and career do not require that of me. I endeavor only
to set the record straight. I have worked to stem the proliferation
of such misinformation about Dad for many years. At first it
was to defend him when he was too old to defend himself anymore.
Now that he's gone, it's also about bringing no harm and lies
into my mother's life, my legacy, and my life. Careless characterization
of Dad does just that. It has brought harm and pain to both my
mother and myself. I am an actor who still works in this town.
To see parallels, one need look no further than recent events
in our country.We find ourselves, again, in such a conservative
political climate that some of our more visible actors, by simply
speaking out against our country's going to war, can bring about
accusations of disloyalty and lack of patriotism. The freedom
to raise a dissenting voice is one of the principles our beloved
country was founded on.
These, then, are the facts:
1) Dad was never charged by HUAC. The blacklisting came
about by just being brought before the Committee in executive
session. He never even appeared in the public, open hearings.
There was nothing to charge him on.
2) No one other than his ex-wife ever stepped forward to corroborate
the allegation.
3) Not one scrap of physical evidence with Dad's name on it
was ever discovered to corroborate the allegations. No sign in
sheets from Communist cell meetings... no ID cards... no membership
rosters. Nothing.
4) Dad was cleared by the FBI almost immediately. I have the
letters by the Senator that ordered the investigation on Dad
closed. He was cleared. But the damage of gossip and innuendo
and misinformation had already taken its toll. It is still
taking its toll over fifty years later.
5) Since Dad died in 1992 I have developed a relationship
with my half sister, Roberta. She is the only child of his second
marriage. Her mother was Mary Sheffield Shayne. Mary was very
angry that during her year long separation from Dad he took up
with a my mother who was twenty-one years his and her junior.
I would be too. In Roberta's and my many discussions the blacklisting
has inevitably come up. Among all her mother's papers, there
is not one shred of physical evidence to support the charge Mary
Sheffield Shayne made.
6) I have the transcripts of his appearance, in executive
session, before the Committee on House Un-American Activities.
Before their deaths, I had spoken with Jeff Corey and Adela Rodgers
St. John. I have spoken with John Randolph, Betty Garrett and
Will Geer's daughter, Ellen. I have done a good deal of research
in order to have the facts exactly correct. That moment on
the lot was Dad's detainment for questioning by the FBI.
It wasn't even an arrest. They served him with a subpoena
to appear.
7) Dad and I talked about the McCarthy years and its aftermath
many times. I was one of the few people he would speak to, openly,
about it. He maintained to his dying day that he was never a
member of the Communist Party. Since his death I have searched
all of his archives. He saved everything. There was nothing in
his papers that ever indicated his membership in the party. Since
Dad was an honest and ethical man, in the absence of any proof
to the contrary, we must honor his declarations.
The internet is an awesome global communication device. It
is more powerful that any newspaper or book could ever be. This
myth of my dad's membership in the Communist party continues
to be misstated in idiotic interviews by ignorant people that
know nothing of the facts. The more often that misinformation
is repeated, the more it is accepted as truth, and the harder
I have to work to set the record straight.
*****
After reading Stephanie's remarks, I asked her these additional
questions which she was kind enough to answer.
1) Do you have an exact date the agents arrived on the
Superman set?
No, sorry. Dad refers, in his testimony given on September 11,
1951, to the fact that the service of the subpoena put him out
of a job. He also states "the way the subpoena was served
upon me was not in the best of, let us say, spirit." He
states a couple of sentences later that "the subpoena had
my residence address on it. I could have been served out there
just as easily without it being brought to such-the attention
of studio employees, because the fact that a person is called
before this committee, although they may be friendly or not,
far too often is tantamount to being guilty of something or other,
whatever that may be." It sounds as though he was served
prior to the September 11, hearing. I don't know exactly, but
perhaps it was the day before, Monday September 10th that he
was served on the lot. Mom remembers him testifying on a different
day than the one he was served on.
2) Was it Maxwell or Ellsworth who stood by your dad? Did
you dad ever mention specifics on that?
It was Bob Maxwell, he was the producer that took the stand
against firing Dad. Whitney Ellsworth came along later after
the first season, although his continued support was always appreciated.
Dad was always grateful for work.
3) George is often mentioned as showing loyalty toward your
dad at this time too. Did you dad every mention that?
Yes, George, Bob Maxwell and generally every one connected
with the series was supportive.
4) Did your dad miss work on "Superman" because
of this incident. "Human Bomb" in 1951 featured Marshall
Reed as Deputy Inspector Hill. It is often reported Reed was
in that episode because that's when Shayne was served. "Human
Bomb" was filmed between September 6 and 15, 1951.
Yes. Tuesday, September 11, 1951 was when Dad appeared before
the Committee in Executive session. Dad mentions losing three
days employment with Superman Productions, at RKO-Pathe, during
his testimony. So, what is widely believed about the "Human
Bomb" episode must be correct. The dates do match. Dad states
that his producers asked for a postponement, but the Committee
denies ever knowing that a postponement was requested.
5) On "Tomorrow" with Tom Snyder in 1976, you
dad spoke of being blacklisted. Did he feel that blacklisting
was a direct result of this incident or was there more to that?
No, all the blacklisting of the people in Hollywood, writers
and actors alike, came about as a result of people being brought
to the hearings whether they were members of the party or not.
We must all remember it has never been against any law of the
United States of America to be a member of the Communist Party
or any other political party or religious affiliation for that
matter. Every person that suffered and endured questioning or
the resultant blacklisting had their civil rights violated. It
was a very sorry chapter in our history. That is why I work to
keep the record correct.
Stephanie and Bob Shayne at Carpenteria Beach,
1955.
6) I spoke with your dad regarding George's reported drinking
on the set. He told me he never recalled George drinking to excess,
yet Phyllis often makes remarks to the contrary.
Well, Dad would never have said so even if he felt George
had been drinking to excess. But, I can say this. Dad was very
fond of George, Jack, Phyllis, Noel and John. He always said
he had a lot of fun working on the Superman set. Dad was the
consummate pro. He showed up for work, on time, knowing his lines
and didn't get into anybody else's business. He was grateful
for the job. He had a family to support.
Robert Shayne with his children, Bob, Jr. and
Stephanie.
Santa Barbara Pier, 1957. |
