4. Headline: Challenging Fascism with Sinclair Lewis Guest Author: James Shapiro When Hollywood refused to film Sinclair Lewis’s anti-fascist novel *It Can’t Happen Here* due to censorship and foreign market fears, the Federal Theater stepped in. Hallie F

4. Headline: Challenging Fascism with Sinclair Lewis Guest Author: James Shapiro When Hollywoodrefused to film Sinclair Lewis’s anti-fascist novel *It Can’t Happen Here* due to censorship and foreign market fears, the Federal Theater stepped in. Hallie Flanagan secured the rights and staged the production simultaneously in twenty cities, proving that live theater could match the national reach of movies. The play served as a stark warning against the rise of domestic and foreign dictatorships. Despite having to navigate local political sensitivities and avoid accusations of being a "commercial theater" competitor, the production became a massive cultural success. (4)
1936 NYC STRIKE GARMENT WORKERS