One of Grand Junction’s Most Famous is Getting a Movie

One of Grand Junction's most famous residents is getting a movie, telling his story to the world. You may have seen the statue of the man in a bathtub in downtown Grand Junction in front of the Avalon Theatre. That man is Dalton Trumbo. 

Dalton was born in Montrose and moved to Grand Junction at the age of three. He lived here until moving to Los Angeles to become a screenwriter. His career almost ended in post WWII times when the politicians of this country were looking for communist supporters.

He was one of ten powerful people in Hollywood that refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee and was Blacklisted from Hollywood. In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.

Even though he was not supposed to be allowed to work in the industry during these times, his work was used under "pen" names and his work won at least two "Major Motion Picture Of The Year" Oscars. He won for the screenplay for the smash hit, Exodus, and after winning again for "Spartacus", Kirk Douglas publicly announced that Trumbo was the screenwriter. The news that he was still working and making hits, and the fact that President John F Kennedy crossed picket lines to see the later, effectively ending the practice of Blacklisting in Hollywood.

The movie "Trumbo", starring Bryan Cranston as Dalton Trumbo comes out on Wednesday, November 25th to theaters. The movie also stars Helen Mirren, John Goodman, Diane Lane, Louis C,.K. and many other great stars. It is rated "R".

So if you want to know more about "that guy in the bathtub", be sure to see the movie about his life on Thanksgiving weekend.