William Pomerance
Encyclopedia
Mortimer William Pomerance was an animator who worked for Walt Disney Studios
. He worked first as a business manager of cartoonists, and then was a business agent for the Screen Actors Guild
. After the Disney strike of 1941
, Pomerance and David Hilberman
left Disney and started their own animation show studio called TEMPO.
Walt Disney
accused Pomerance, along with Herbert Sorrell and David Hilberman
, of being a communist in an interview with chief investigator Robert E. Stripling before the House Un-American Activities Committee
. However, Disney admitted in the interview that "No one has any way of proving" this.
On 5 February 1952 Pomerance appeared before the HUAC. He refused to answer whether he had been a member of the Communist Party by taking the 5th Amendment
.
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
. He worked first as a business manager of cartoonists, and then was a business agent for the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
. After the Disney strike of 1941
Disney animators' strike
The Disney animators' strike was a labor strike by the animators of Walt Disney Studios in 1941.-History:The 1930s led to a rise of labor unions in motion pictures as in other industries such as The Screen Actors Guild which was formed in 1933. Animators of Fleischer Studios went on strike in 1937...
, Pomerance and David Hilberman
David Hilberman
David Hilberman was an American cartoon animator and one of the founders of classic 1940s animation.Hilberman worked for Walt Disney Studios and helped animate Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Bambi. His involvement in unionizing colleagues and organization of the 1941 Disney strike cost him...
left Disney and started their own animation show studio called TEMPO.
Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
accused Pomerance, along with Herbert Sorrell and David Hilberman
David Hilberman
David Hilberman was an American cartoon animator and one of the founders of classic 1940s animation.Hilberman worked for Walt Disney Studios and helped animate Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Bambi. His involvement in unionizing colleagues and organization of the 1941 Disney strike cost him...
, of being a communist in an interview with chief investigator Robert E. Stripling before the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
. However, Disney admitted in the interview that "No one has any way of proving" this.
On 5 February 1952 Pomerance appeared before the HUAC. He refused to answer whether he had been a member of the Communist Party by taking the 5th Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215...
.