Final answer:
In the 1950s, Hollywood studios blacklisted individuals suspected of being Communists, which was a response to the HUAC's efforts to eliminate perceived Communist influences from the film industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Hollywood studios became complicit in blacklisting during the 1950s by targeting individuals suspected of having Communist sympathies or affiliations. This practice was part of a broader effort to curb Communist influence in American society, which was seen as a threat during the Cold War era. High-profile cases involved the Hollywood Ten, a group of individuals who refused to testify about alleged Communist connections in the film industry and were subsequently jailed and blacklisted. Over time, this led to hundreds of entertainment professionals being unable to work in Hollywood, with some having to write or direct under assumed names.
This blacklisting was a response to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigations and the intense anti-Communist sentiment which pervaded American politics. The HUAC hearings attempted to expose and eliminate what was perceived as a subversive influence within the film industry, prompting Hollywood executives to publicly disown and deny employment to those accused of Communist affiliations.