Policing Show Business

Discover the intriguing world of Hollywood's past in Policing Show Business by Francis MacDonnell, published by the University Press of Kansas in 2024. This compelling hardback edition spans 328 pages and delves into the pivotal role of J. Edgar Hoover during the infamous Hollywood blacklist era of the 1940s and 1950s. MacDonnell meticulously examines how Hoover, as the director of the FBI, dedicated significant resources to monitor and control the entertainment industry, a move that was largely unwarranted given the minimal threat to public security. This book not only unveils the complexities of political power within show business but also offers a critical look at the intersection of culture and surveillance. A must-read for anyone interested in the darker side of Hollywood history and the implications of government oversight.