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The Grocer Who Sold McCarthyism: The Rise and Fall of Anti-Communist Crusader Laurence A. Johnson Audiobook, by Fred M. Fiske Play Audiobook Sample

The Grocer Who Sold McCarthyism: The Rise and Fall of Anti-Communist Crusader Laurence A. Johnson Audiobook

The Grocer Who Sold McCarthyism: The Rise and Fall of Anti-Communist Crusader Laurence A. Johnson Audiobook, by Fred M. Fiske Play Audiobook Sample
Release Date: November 5, 2024
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Read By: Patrick Lawlor Publisher: Tantor Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 7.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 5.88 hours at 2.0x Speed
Release Date: November 5, 2024
Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9798855596045

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

23

Longest Chapter Length:

52:44 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

14:29 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

30:37 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

1

Publisher Description

Laurence A. Johnson, a supermarket chain owner in Syracuse, New York, wasn't just passionate about fresh produce; he was equally fervent about purging communism from America's airwaves in the early 1950s. Teamed with like-minded anti-communists, Johnson targeted food giants like Borden and Kraft. He threatened to hurt sales of their products if they sponsored TV and radio shows employing anyone blacklisted for alleged communist ties. Manufacturers gave in, effectively giving Johnson veto power over hiring and firing of actors, directors, and writers. As a result, the careers of stars such as Jack Gilford, Judy Holliday, Uta Hagen, Kim Hunter, Jose Ferrer, and Joseph Cotten suffered.

Fred M. Fiske's The Grocer Who Sold McCarthyism exposes this little-known chapter of American history, including a libel suit by CBS radio host John Henry Faulk in 1956 that aimed to end the blacklist, and to punish Johnson and others for their reckless attacks.

Fiske's powerful biography explores Johnson's ascent from small-time grocery operator to kingmaker wielding Red Scare hysteria as a cudgel to shape the landscape of American entertainment and commerce. Through Johnson's journey, we gain insight into a pivotal moment in U.S. history when the nation grappled with fear, ideology, and the delicate balance between security and freedom.

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About Patrick Lawlor

Patrick Lawlor, an award-winning narrator, is also an accomplished stage actor, director, and combat choreographer. He has worked extensively off Broadway and has been an actor and stuntman in both film and television. He has been an Audie Award finalist multiple times and has garnered several AudioFile Earphones Awards, a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award, and many starred audio reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.