Pert Kelton Blacklisted!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

The Great One · 12-06-2006, 08:45 AM

Pert Kelton's name appears in "Red Channels", the book that listed and
described reputed Communists and/or Communist sympathisers in television and radio. When Gleason moved to CBS Perton was not to be a part of the Honeymooners cast and he claimed to the press that the reason for that
was that she had "heart trouble". I was wondering if anyone knows if Gleason later in his life ever gave an interview where he talked about this issue in more detail and the real reasons for Kelton's departure. I would appreciate any info that anyone can post on this message board about this topic. Thanks!

T-Greg · 12-06-2006, 11:02 AM

I'm not sure if Gleason ever spoke publicly about it, but Kelton and many other celebrities became targets of Senator Joe McCarthy as Communist sympathizers. He made it a personal crusade. Many of their careers were ruined by it. She found very little work after that, mostly character appearances on TV shows:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0447125/

She did come back to play Alice's mother in the Miami episode "Riffi Brooklyn Style".

W.B. · 12-06-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Great One

Pert Kelton's name appears in "Red Channels", the book that listed and
described reputed Communists and/or Communist sympathisers in television and radio. When Gleason moved to CBS Perton was not to be a part of the Honeymooners cast and he claimed to the press that the reason for that
was that she had "heart trouble".

The funny thing was that William Henry III's The Great One bio on Gleason parroted the line that Ms. Kelton suffered heart trouble leading her to bow out - but added that her "heart condition" was aggravated by the blacklist. Talk about straddling the fence . . .

The Great One · 12-06-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.B.

The funny thing was that William Henry III's The Great One bio on Gleason parroted the line that Ms. Kelton suffered heart trouble leading her to bow out - but added that her "heart condition" was aggravated by the blacklist. Talk about straddling the fence . . .

Do you know in what chapter that story appears in?

W.B. · 12-07-2006, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Great One

Do you know in what chapter that story appears in?

Why, in Chapter Six, on p. 123.

The Great One · 12-07-2006, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.B.

Why, in Chapter Six, on p. 123.

Thanks!!!

12-06-2006, 08:45 AM	#1
The Great One Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 6,378	Pert Kelton Blacklisted!!! Pert Kelton's name appears in "Red Channels", the book that listed and described reputed Communists and/or Communist sympathisers in television and radio. When Gleason moved to CBS Perton was not to be a part of the Honeymooners cast and he claimed to the press that the reason for that was that she had "heart trouble". I was wondering if anyone knows if Gleason later in his life ever gave an interview where he talked about this issue in more detail and the real reasons for Kelton's departure. I would appreciate any info that anyone can post on this message board about this topic. Thanks!
	__________________ .

12-06-2006, 11:02 AM	#2
T-Greg Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2003 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,711	I'm not sure if Gleason ever spoke publicly about it, but Kelton and many other celebrities became targets of Senator Joe McCarthy as Communist sympathizers. He made it a personal crusade. Many of their careers were ruined by it. She found very little work after that, mostly character appearances on TV shows: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0447125/ She did come back to play Alice's mother in the Miami episode "Riffi Brooklyn Style".
	Last edited by T-Greg; 12-06-2006 at 11:58 AM.