Transcript of Judy Holliday's Testimony - Page 2
Mr. Arens: During what period of your career were you a member of or associated with the R-e-v-u-e-r-s?
Miss Holliday: That was how I started. That was in the very beginning in about, I don't know, 1938 or 1939, and that went on for about 6 years.
Mr. Arens: And who were your associates in that unit?
Miss Holliday: Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Alvin Hammer and John Frank.
Mr. Arens: Did you list Adolph Green?
Miss Holliday: Yes, I did.
Mr. Arens: Who was the manager of the unit?
Miss Holliday: There wasn't any manager. You mean who was the agent?
Mr. Arens: Yes, the agent?
Miss Holliday: We had several agents; we kept switching agents.
Mr. Arens: And how long were you associated with that unit known as the Revuers?
Miss Holliday: I would say about 6 years.
Mr. Arens: Then that was until about 1944; is that correct?
Miss Holliday: Yes.
Mr. Arens: Now, when you were a member of the unit known as the Revuers, did the Revuers entertain at parties given under the auspices of the United American-Spanish Aid Committee?
Miss Holliday: I don't know. United American ----
Mr. Arens: United American-Spanish Aid Committee.
Miss Holliday: I really don't know. We did many, many benefits. That is the way a young struggling actor tries to get recognition. As a matter of fact, I called one of the members in California to try to get a list from her; she has a much better memory than I have of what we did. I got some things from her, but that is not a familiar one to me.
Mr. Arens: Whom did call in California?
Miss Holliday: I called Betty Comden and she spoke to Adolph Green. They are working on a picture there.
Mr. Arens: What precipitated or caused you to call?
Miss Holliday: Because I wanted to try to remember everything that I had done because I knew that I would have to answer questions and there were so many details that I was more than hazy about that I wanted as much corroboration and fact from her as I could get.
Mr. Arens: What made you think that you might have to answer questions about entertainment performances in which you engaged while you were a member of Revuers?
Miss Holliday: Well, I knew I would have to answer questions about all sorts of appearances and endorsements that I have made.
Mr. Arens: Why? What made you think you would have to answer questions about appearances and endorsements that you had made?
Miss Holliday: Because that is how the whole trouble started, with a book called Red Channels, and I have been asked so many questions; people have been very curious to know how I got into them and I tried to clarify my position for the last year. I have been digging up more and more material and refreshing my memory going back.
Mr. Arens: With respect to associations and affiliations which you have had in the past; is that right?
Miss Holliday: Yes.
Mr. Arens: I see. Well, now, I put it to you as a fact, and ask you to affirm or deny the fact, Miss Holliday, that in 1941 you were a part of the unit known as the Revuers, one of the entertainers in a party given by the United American-Spanish Aid Committee?
Miss Holliday: You mean I should say "yes" or "no"?
Mr. Arens: Yes, if you have a recollection.
Miss Holliday: If I can't -- you know, I can't place it.
Mr. Arens: We just want the truth.
Miss Holliday: If it doesn't sound familiar?
Mr. Arens: Then just state the facts.
Miss Holliday: I don't know.
Mr. Arens: You have no recollection?
Miss Holliday: Yes.
Mr. Arens: I put it to you as a fact and ask you to affirm or deny the fact that you were a sponsor for the Committee for the Negro in the Arts?
Miss Holliday: That is something that I looked into last summer. As you can understand my employer, Columbia Pictures, were very disturbed about all of the things that have been happening and coming up and they investigated me, so to speak, and asked me all of these questions and last summer they showed me a letterhead. They said, "Now, you have disclaimed all of these things, but here is a letterhead with your name on it," and that was the organization, and I said, "Well, I don't recall being a member of the organization or allowing them to use my name." However, I am not saying it is impossible. The fact is that I don't know anything about the organization, and I haven't participated in anything, so I wrote the organization a letter saying that since I had no knowledge of what the organization was about and had no activity in it, I would appreciate it if they would remove my name from their letterhead.
Mr. Arens: When was it that you sent this letter?
Miss Holliday: That was last summer; that was the first time that I knew that I was connected with it. They showed me this masthead with my name on it.
Mr. Arens: Your Name?
Miss Holliday: Yes.
Senator Watkins: What name was on the masthead?
Miss Holliday: Judy Holliday.
Senator Watkins: Judy Holliday?
Miss Holliday: Yes.
Senator Watkins: It was not, then, your married name?
Miss Holliday: No. My name was Judy Tuvim until I changed it.
Senator Watkins: How long have you had this name?
Miss Holliday: When I started in pictures for the first time with Twentieth Century Fox.
Senator Watkins: How long ago was that?
Miss Holliday: I think it was -- I am not sure just when. It can be checked.
Mr. Rifkind: When did you say you first started in pictures?
Miss Holliday: When I first signed the contract with Fox. It was when the Revuers were over.
Senator Watkins: That is when you first assumed this name?
Miss Holliday: Yes.
Senator Watkins: The reason I am asking is because you had your name before your marriage, and then your married name is an official name, and this other is an official name?
Miss Holliday: That is right.
Senator Watkins: You have never had your name changed by court action?
Miss Holliday: You don't mean my married name; you mean my single name? My real name?
Senator Watkins: Of course after you were married you took the name of your husband?
Miss Holliday: No; I never changed it either way.
Senator Watkins: It has never been legally changed?
Miss Holliday: That is right.
Senator Watkins: I want to make the record perfectly clear that the lady who is testifying is listed here in the records as Judy Holliday.
Miss Holliday: Yes.
Senator Watkins: However, your real name, and the name under which you, I think, should be listed, is your married name. What is your first name?
Miss Holliday: Judy.
Senator Watkins: It would be Judy Oppenheim?
Miss Holliday: Yes. That says 1941 and gives Holliday. It is impossible, because I never even thought of the name Holliday at that time.
Mr. Arens: You were listed as a sponsor for the Committee for the Negro in the Arts, an announcement in the Daily Compass for September 1950; were you not?
Miss Holliday: This is a new one; I didn't know that.
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