Hollywood and Politics: A Sourcebook

Money, power, and celebrity – the stuff of Hollywood is also substance of politics. While Hollywood celebrities such as Susan Sarandon, George Clooney, and Ed Begley Jr. currently attract attention from the media for their involvement in politics, Hollywood has been involved in politics since its earliest days. Hollywood and Politics: A Sourcebook documents the entertainment industry’s participation in American politics on both the Left and the Right. From the 1920s through today, this volume provides scholars of history, politics, and film with the controversial history of Hollywood’s involvement in American politics. Through twenty-four chapters that begin with Upton Sinclair and take us all the way to the satire of South Park, readers are guided through elections, trials, speeches, and memorandums, many of which have never before been published, providing rare insight into the history of Hollywood activism. From World War II to Iraq, and from Walt Disney to Charlton Heston, Hollywood and Politics lays a historical foundation for anyone interested in how celebrities helped shape our country’s policies and culture.