The battle continues for...
Truth, Justice, and the American Way

Depending on your age, many of you have fond memories of the fifties. There was Howdy Doody, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, and, of course, Superman. For most of us those were carefree days... days of innocence. But not for everyone. Certain conditions at the time created fear, and certain people had to be forever wary... had to constantly look over their shoulders to protect themselves, their families, their jobs... and to protect the ideals of truth, justice, and the American way from the very people who were sworn to uphold them.

The hurt inflicted by a few individuals of the fifties can still be felt today. Here is one example. It all started on Monday when TAC reader Armand Vaquer sent me this brief e-mail. Both Stephanie and I want to thank Armand for caring enough to ask a question.

October 23, 2000
Jim,

I just read the TV Land biography on Robert Shayne that you have linked to, and it says that Robert Shayne was a "card-carrying communist who was ratted out by an ex-wife." I never heard of the ex-wife story before, but what's this stuff about a "card-carrying" member of the Communist Party? In all the bios I've read, the most I've heard was more like a case of guilt by association. Maybe you should post a correction/clarification on your site and get a hold of TV Land with the actual facts.

Armand

Dear Stephanie,

A reader of TAC questioned the biography of your dad on the TV Land web site, specifically the line that reads:

A card-carrying Communist, Shayne experienced the wrath of Senator Joseph McCarthy's crusade when his ex-wife ratted him out.

I've heard several different versions of this, and believe the facts are different from what TV Land indicates. I'd like to help set the record straight.

Jim

Dear Jim

Good lord......Dad was never a "card carrying communist". Who wrote that? I have the transcripts of both the times he was called in executive session to testify. Dad maintained for his entire life that he was not a communist. He was an active union labor organizer for Actor's Equity in NYC and later active on the board of SAG. And, by the way, when was it ever illegal to be a communist or affiliated with any other political party or movement, while being a legal citizen of the United States of America? Had Dad been a card carrying member of the communist party he would have broken NO laws. However his civil rights and the civil rights of many other artists and writers were violated by Senator Joseph McCarthy

I think that the writer of that bio needs to be very careful. I would suggest he carefully check his reference material and be prepared to show proof of his source. No reputable writer would make unsubstantiated claims like that without checking with the family and the public record. The freedom of information act made the records of the hearings available to the public. I guess it was too much trouble for the hack that wrote this nonsense to actually do the research.

During the 1930's being a labor organizer and a communist were considered by some, like Sen. McCarthy, as being one in the same thing. Not so! Let me educate the moronic, ill-informed person that calls himself a writer that wrote this about Dad.

Dad was, along with many other dedicated New York actors, responsible for the strike that resulted in rehearsal pay for actors and run of the play contracts. Prior to that strike, actors on Broadway were not paid for their rehearsal time and furthermore, were routinely replaced by producers with lesser known and lesser paid actors once a play received good reviews. The result being that the actor who did all the work, did not get paid for rehearsal. And when he/she got the great review, virtually insuring the play would make money, was rewarded by being replaced by an unknown actor who would work for
less money weekly.

Need I remind the community at large that actors, prior to the organization of our labor unions were traditionally taken advantage of and their talents abused? One need look no further than the successful end, yesterday, of our six month old strike against the advertising industry for fair and equitable compensation for our commercial work. The abuses continue to this day. We, the working members of Screen Actor's Guild, stood united in solidarity since May 1 because we refuse to accept less than fair
compensation for the repeated use of our images and voices.

During the last six months, while I was walking the picket line once each week or volunteering at union headquarters or leafletting in front of casting offices that were casting non-union scab labor, how readily Dad would have been there to do the same thing had he still been alive. Dad was an ethical, pro-labor liberal Democrat. If that makes him a communist then I'll stand in line right behind him along with all the other brave and ethical men and women of our union that have had the courage of their convictions to take a stand against abuse of labor.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to set the record straight, Jim. I remain, as ever, a proud second generation actor and union member of SAG, AFTRA and AEA.

My Best,
Stephanie Shayne

Dear Stephanie,

Thanks for the information... that's basically what I knew and understood. With your permission, post your response on my web site.

Thanks again,
Jim

Hi Jim,
Sure, you have my permission. The connection between the two disparate events of dad being blacklisted as a result of his estranged wife's accusations brought on by her scorn at being left for a younger woman and his history as a union labor organizer were the very things that, when brought
together by Joe McCarthy, made the accusations against Dad seem plausible. We have spent the last 50 years trying to undo the damage of that campaign of suspicion and innuendo. So please feel free to publish any or all of my comments.

Best,
Steph

Dear Jim,

Here's my response to TV Land. Please feel free to add to it should you feel moved to do so. Steph

Dear Sirs,
Where in the world did you get your information regarding my father's involvement in the McCarthy era mess? You have some facts wrong. I might add you are making allegations that can not be substantiated. Are you aware of the Freedom of Information Act? The transcripts of both my Dad's hearings are available to the public to read. Apparently your writer did not find it necessary to do the research. Robert Shayne was NOT a "card carrying communist"....ever. He denied throughout his life that he ever joined the communist party. In the transcripts of the HUAC Dad openly admits to attending "a cell meeting" but never joined. Dad was pro-labor and an active union man in NYC during the 1920 and 1930's. He worked to attain rehearsal pay for Broadway actors and later was a board member of the Screen Actor's Guild.

You DID get part of the legend correct though. He was accused by his ex-wife. My dad's "crime" was more of a moral and ethical nature. He was still legally married, although separated from his wife of 10 years, Mary Sheffield Shayne, when he fell in love with my mother, Betteann McDonald. Mother was 21 years Dad's junior and you can bet Mary Sheffield was not at all happy about Dad taking up with a woman so many years younger than she and Dad.

Mary Sheffield was a woman scorned and embarrassed by the indiscreet behavior of her husband. She got back at him where it really hurt him....in his ability to make a living. I can't say that I blame her, however she also hurt a family in the process. My brother Robert Jr. and I were babies at the time of the McCarthy hearings. We suffered as a family, financially and emotionally, for many years to come. The effect on our family was profound in more ways than you could ever imagine. Yet we survived and eventually prospered again.

Mary Sheffield never re-married. Their daughter, Roberta, saw her father only once in the years to come. Mary held onto her hurt and anger for the rest of her days. She passed away in 1990 or 1991 I believe.

Dad remained married to my Mother, Bette, until his death in 1992 at the age of 92. They were married 47 years. My Mother is healthy, vibrant and enjoying her golden years living in So. California. For you to trivialize these events that had such a lasting effect on our family is more than I am willing to let go by unanswered. You will please remove the erroneous statements from your "bio" of my Dad.

Regards,
Stephanie Shayne Parkin

Hi Jim,

I'm very amused. The response that I sent to you , I also e-mailed it directly to TV Land's postmaster. They've changed the wording on Dad's bio already. Ha! That'll show them not to mess with the truth!
Geez....these people will say any old thing they feel like. Thanks for the tip. Mom and I really appreciate your vigilance on behalf of Dad.

Best again,
Steph

Dear Stephanie,

It was a pleasure to have known your dad. I value the friendship we had and the friendship I continue to have with you and your mother. My best to both of you always.