
Fists upon a Star
A Memoir of Love, Theatre, and Escape from McCarthyism
University of Regina Press
Published on 20. September 2013
Book
Hardback
359 pages
978-0-88977-260-1 (ISBN)
Description
Fists Upon a Star is the hard-hitting memoir of Florence James, a pioneering American theatre director, whose devastating experience with McCarthyism led her to flee to Canada. The memoir is as epic as America itself. Born in 1892 in the frontier society of Idaho, she became a suffragette in New York City, was the first to put Jimmy Cagney on stage, and along with her husband, Burton, founded the Negro Repertory Theater and the nationally recognized Seattle Repertory Playhouse. With star appearances by Woody Guthrie and Helen Hayes, the memoir beautifully illustrates the evolution in her personal life and the development of professional theater during the Great Depression, World War II, and the McCarthy period. James believed that theatre could offer both an uplifting artistic experience and the tools to advance community development. Her views on art and politics and her choice to stage what some saw as controversial plays led to a clash with the Un-American Activities Committee. After two Kafkaesque trials, a conviction for refusing to follow Committee rules, and being manhandled by police, she fled to Canada. After settling in Saskatchewan (where she pioneered professional theatre) with her beloved husband, Burton, she marvelled over the "simplicity of causes" that brought the U.S. Government down upon her: "unionism, the eight-hour day, free speech, an uncensored press, freedom from poverty in old age, and health programs... Most of these principles are now the law of the land...But the struggle is hardly over." Written thirty-five years ago with celebrated actress Jean Freeman, James's memoir sheds light on a fully realized creative life, her love for Burton, and a fascistic strain of American politics that continues to exist today.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Regina
Canada
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Illustrations
27
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
739 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-88977-260-1 (9780889772601)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Jean Freeman is a children's book author and the recipient of ACTRA's Woman of the Year Award and an honorary doctorate from University of Regina for her work in broadcasting and the arts.
Content
Preface by Jean Freeman Introduction by Mary Blackstone Fists Upon a Star Epilogue by Rita Shelton Deverell Appendix 1: Seattle Repertory Playhouse productions, 1928-29 to 1947-48. Appendix 2: Telegram from James Cagney to Florence, October 26, 1976 Appendix 3: 1977 Christmas Letter from Florence James Index