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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 April 2009
Charlton Heston, one of Hollywood's most prominent political activists, devoted much of his time to the Screen Actors Guild. Throughout the course of Heston's long acting career, the guild shifted its policy emphasis on several occasions. During the 1960s, when Heston served on the executive board, the guild adhered to its traditional strategy of focusing on wages, benefits, and working conditions. At that point, Heston took a moderate approach toward guild business, often showing his willingness to compromise. In the 1970s, the guild leadership was captured by more “liberal” actors who wished to expand the union's activities into social and political channels not directly related to the job of acting. In the 1980s, the guild's leadership became even more militantly liberal. The resulting policy shifts provoked a reaction from Heston and a number of other conservative actors. It quickly became evident that Heston was no longer willing to compromise; he began to take an ideological, hard-line approach to guild matters. He not only led the conservatives in a successful campaign to return the guild to its original policy focus, but he also shaped federal labor policy with his efforts. Convinced that safety mechanisms were needed to protect guild members from a politically active board in the future, Heston advocated federal policies that would allow union members to withhold part of their dues if they disagreed with the political activities undertaken by union leadership.
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16. Although the first VHS VCR was not introduced until the fall of 1977, researchers had been attempting to develop some sort of video recorder for home use for several years. Sony developed the video tape recorder (VTR) in 1964. However, only a few hundred were sold. The world's first VCR for home use (Phillips Model 1500) was introduced in England in 1972. Apparently, Heston recognized the inevitability of such a device and was optimistic about the opportunities it might open for actors.
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24. “Discussion from the Floor,” Screen Actor (January–February 1971), 2 (SAG Archives).
25. Prindle, Politics of Glamour, 101.
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28. During the 1950s and 1960s, Heston was a supporter of the Democratic party. His beliefs corresponded to the stance that the party adopted at that time, especially its anti-Communism. Heston also participated in several civil rights campaigns to protest segregation. During his participation in these events, however, he aligned himself with the more moderate wing of the civil rights coalition. Although he promoted the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he expressed his disapproval of quotas and reparations for slavery, as well as his suspicion of civil disobedience.
29. Letter from Kim Fellner to Ken Orsatti and the Executive Committee, 12 November 1981 (SAG Archives).
30. Prindle, Politics of Glamour, 142.
31. “Heston Denounces Denial of SAG Nod to Reagan,” Variety, 21 December 1981, Charlton Heston-Clippings File (Margaret Herrick Library, AMPAS).
32. Letter from Charlton Heston to Ronald Reagan, 13 January 1982, WHORM Subject File–Public Relations, F. 057082, Papers of Ronald Wilson Reagan (Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, California).
33. Letter from Charlton Heston to Dean Santoro, 13 January 1982 (SAG Archives).
34. Prindle, Politics of Glamour, 146.
35. “Hollywood's Divided Unions,” Business Week, 5 July 1982, 89.
36. Robb, David, “Battle of the SAG Presidents,” Hollywood Reporter, 12 02 1982Google Scholar; for “stooge” comment, see LaGuire, Lennie and Szulc, Nicole, “Lou Grant Calls Ben-Hur a Stooge,” L.A. Herald-Examiner, 18 05 1982Google Scholar, Charlton Heston-Clippings File (Margaret Herrick Library, AMPAS).
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39. Letter from Charlton Heston to Ed Asner, 11 February 1982 (SAG Archives).
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42. Starr et al., “Ed Asner's Star Wars,” 90.
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49. F. 1982 Asner/Heston Press; AWAG (SAG Archives).
50. “AWAG Letter to SAG Membership,” November 1983, F. AWAG (SAG Archives).
51. “AWAG Blasts SAG Board Vote for Rent-Control Initiative,” Variety, 6 October 1983, F. AWAG (SAG Archives).
52. AWAG Flyer, 1984, F. AWAG (SAG Archives).
53. SAG Flyer, “Actors: Do Not Be Deceived,” F. AWAG (SAG Archives).
54. Prindle, Politics of Glamour, 154.
55. Minutes of special meeting between the Executive Committee and AWAG, 25 April 1984; letter from Ken Orsatti to Morgan Paull (after the meeting), 1 May 1984 (SAG Archives).
56. Prindle, Politics of Glamour, 154.
57. Heston, Charlton in Ingraham, Laura Anne, “A Conservative in Hollywood,” The Heritage Foundation Policy Review (Spring 1986): 21.Google Scholar
58. Prindle, Politics of Glamour, 171–75.
59. Ibid., 176.
60. “Heston Spots for Conservative Causes,” America Is Watching, 29 May 1986 (Film and Television Archive, Powell Library, University of California, Los Angeles).
61. Halperin, Allen, advertisement for Variety, written 7 08 1986Google Scholar, published 11 December 1986 (SAG Archives).
62. Anson, Robert Sam, “Chapter One: Political Fund-Raisers Strike a Rich Vein in Tinseltown,” Los Angeles Examiner, 27 05 1984Google Scholar, Charlton Heston–Clippings File (Margaret Herrick Library, AMPAS).
63. Heston, Charlton in “Labor's Love Lost: An Interview with Charlton Heston,” California Business (07 1987)Google Scholar, Charlton Heston–Clippings File (Margaret Herrick Library, AMPAS).
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66. Dreyfuss, Richard in “Dreyfuss Adds Two Cents to Heston Dispute,” Variety, 7 01 1987Google Scholar, Charlton Heston–Clippings File (Margaret Herrick Library, AMPAS).
67. See Communications Workers of America, et al. v. Beck, et al. 487 U.S. 735.
68. Letter from Charlton Heston to Ken Orsatti, 17 September 1988 (SAG Archives).
69. Letter from Charlton Heston to Elizabeth Dole, 13 March 1990, WHORM Subject File-General, FG021, 123055, Papers of George H. W. Bush (George Bush Presidential Library, College Station, Texas).
70. Letter from Charlton Heston to Actors Equity Association of America, 14 August 1990, Bush Presidential Records, WHORM Subject Files-General, CO 001–07, Papers of George H. W. Bush (George Bush Presidential Library, College Station, Texas).
71. Letter from Charlton Heston to Elizabeth Dole, 27 August 1990, Bush Presidential Records, WHORM Subject Files-General, CO 001–07, Papers of George H. W. Bush (George Bush Presidential Library, College Station, Texas).
72. Robb, David, “Bush Inks Order Curbing Unions, Praises Heston,” Hollywood Reporter, 14 04 1992Google Scholar, Charlton Heston-Clippings File (Margaret Herrick Library, AMPAS).
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