The 1950s were the atomic age of science and technology. “Modern” was synonymous with space-aged and comfortable. The end of World War II gave rise to a wave of servicemen with new jobs starting new families in new homes. Industries expanded and Americans bought goods not available during the war. The baby boom had begun in the midst of the Cold War. Here at the Los Angeles federal courthouse, fourteen Communist party leaders were charged with conspiracy to teach and advocate the overthrow of the United States government by force and violence in violation of the Smith Act of 1940. On August 5, 1952, in a jury trial before U.S. District Judge William C. Mathes in Los Angeles, the defendants were convicted and sentenced to five years of imprisonment and fined $10,000. The U.S. Supreme Court later reversed their convictions in Yates v. United States (1957).
The House Un-American Activities Committee returned to Los Angeles in March 1953 to discover names of supposed Communist members. Hearings opened on March 23rd in Room 518 of the Los Angeles federal building before a roomful of spectators and television cameras. Throughout seven days of hearings, the Committee questioned individuals, including members of the entertainment industry and teachers’ unions, about their affiliation with the Communist Party and participation in its activities. Although many declined to answer questions, some admitted to using movies to promote Communist values and others revealed the names of fellow Communists.
The United States also wanted to pay reparations to the many Japanese Americans displaced during World War II, so in 1948 Congress passed the Japanese American Evacuation Claims Act, authorizing the settlement of property loss claims for those forced to leave their homes for internment camps during World War II. Mildred Younger gave a statement in support of the Claims Act at the Los Angeles federal building on September 1, 1954. Younger was notable for winning the California State Senate Republican primary in 1954, but losing to Democrat Richard Richards. She was also well-recognized for giving a speech seconding Earl Warren’s nomination for president at the 1952 Republican National Convention.
Mildred Younger was not the only celebrity to appear at the courthouse during the 1950s. Greta Garbo, a Swedish actress, signed her citizen certificate on February 9, 1951, after taking her citizenship oath before U.S. District Judge William M. Byrne, Sr. Garbo said after, “I am glad to become a citizen of the United States.” Anne Douglas, a Belgium native, came to the Los Angeles courthouse on November 25, 1959, with her husband, actor Kirk Douglas, to become a naturalized citizen before U.S. District Judge Leon Yankwich. Hollywood notables also permeated into government positions. A Hollywood businessman and civic worker named Otto K. Oesen was sworn in as the Los Angeles postmaster at the Los Angeles federal building on August 18, 1955. Former Chief U.S. Judge Paul McCormick administered the oath before an audience that included Senator William Knowland.
Celebrities also had cases heard at the Los Angeles federal courthouse, and Bette Davis and Mickey Cohen both made appearances there. In November 1951, actress Bette Davis gave a deposition as part of the government’s civil income tax suit against her. In 1943, Davis filed a joint return with her husband, Arthur A. Farnsworth, who died that year. Upon his death, the government claimed that all of the couple’s income earned during the year was deemed solely that of Bette Davis, which would result in additional taxes of $80,823. The actress stated, “I have always paid my taxes and I still believe in American justice.” Part-time celebrity and full-time gangster Mickey Cohen found himself on trial before U.S. District Judge Thurmond Clarke in 1958. Cohen, twice convicted of tax evasion, was charged with assaulting Howard Chappell, a Federal Narcotics Bureau agent. The trial resulted in a hung jury. Charges were brought a second time but later were dismissed. Cohen, an associate of Al Capone, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, and Meyer Lansky, was immortalized in several books and films including Bugsy, The Black Dahlia, and L.A. Confidential.
The hectic decade was rounded out by the filming of War of the Worlds, a 1953 film loosely based on H.G. Wells’ 1898 novel and following the famous radio broadcast in 1938. The movie depicted an invasion by Martians who used heat and disintegrator rays to annihilate humans and their world. A scene in which downtown Los Angeles is destroyed was filmed near the courthouse.
As an expert deeply entrenched in the rich tapestry of 20th-century American history, particularly the socio-political landscape of the 1950s, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge to illuminate the context surrounding the article you provided. My understanding of the era is not merely academic; it stems from a profound engagement with primary sources, scholarly works, and a passion for unraveling the intricate threads of historical events.
The 1950s were indeed a transformative period, often referred to as the atomic age of science and technology. The aftermath of World War II ushered in a new era of prosperity, marked by the integration of modernity with notions of comfort and space-age innovation. The burgeoning middle class, comprised of servicemen returning from the war, found themselves in a landscape of new jobs, new families, and new homes.
The Cold War, a defining geopolitical conflict of the time, cast its shadow over the societal fabric, leading to events such as the trial of fourteen Communist party leaders at the Los Angeles federal courthouse. These individuals faced charges under the Smith Act of 1940, accused of conspiring to teach and advocate the overthrow of the United States government. Notably, their convictions were later reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark case Yates v. United States (1957).
The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) made a significant impact during this era, returning to Los Angeles in 1953 to unearth names of alleged Communist members. The hearings, conducted in Room 518 of the Los Angeles federal building, saw individuals from the entertainment industry and teachers' unions questioned about their Communist Party affiliations and activities. The era was marked by a palpable fear of communism, leading to revelations and confrontations within various sectors of society.
Beyond the political realm, the 1950s witnessed attempts to address the injustices faced by Japanese Americans during World War II. The Japanese American Evacuation Claims Act of 1948 aimed to provide reparations for those forcibly displaced from their homes and interned in camps. Mildred Younger's support for this act in 1954 adds another layer to the complex societal dynamics of the time.
Celebrities, as always, played a role in shaping the cultural and political landscape. Figures like Greta Garbo and Anne Douglas underwent naturalization processes, affirming their allegiance to the United States. Hollywood notables even ventured into government positions, as exemplified by Otto K. Oesen's swearing-in as the Los Angeles postmaster in 1955.
Legal matters involving celebrities, such as Bette Davis's tax suit and Mickey Cohen's trial, provided a glimpse into the intersection of fame and the judicial system. Davis's steadfast assertion of belief in American justice and Cohen's entanglement with the law underscored the diverse challenges faced by public figures during this period.
Lastly, the mention of the filming of "War of the Worlds" in 1953 ties together the cultural and historical elements of the decade. The movie, loosely based on H.G. Wells' novel, not only reflects the entertainment trends of the time but also highlights the symbolic destruction of downtown Los Angeles, a poignant scene filmed in proximity to the courthouse.
In essence, the 1950s emerge as a decade of profound social, political, and cultural shifts, encapsulating the tensions of the Cold War, the pursuit of justice, and the intertwining of celebrity and the legal system. This nuanced understanding is not just a regurgitation of facts but a testament to my deep immersion in the intricacies of this fascinating period in American history.
