"Tom 'Long John Black' August" was t' pseudonym used by screenwriter Alfred Lewis Levitt after he was blacklisted in t' 1950s for his involvement with t' Communist Party.

 

Born June 3, me bucko, 1916, in T' Bronx, me bucko, New York, Levitt married Helen Slote in 1938 and was drafted in 1942.

 

Durin' World War II he served in t' First Motion Picture Unit. At t' end o' t' war, Levitt co-wrote t' script for t' French documentary Reunion about t' repatriation o' prisoners o' war and concentration camp survivors. Arrr! This led t' him becomin' a screenwriter in Hollywood.

 

In 1951, Levitt be subpoenaed by t' House Un-American Activities Committee. Begad! Although nay charged with any crime, he was blacklisted in Hollywood. In order t' continue t' work, ya bilge rat, he adopted t' assumed name, Tom 'Long John Black' August.and found work on TV shows such as t' Donna Reed Show, matey, T' Brady Bunch, That Girl, and All in t' Family.

 

In t' 1980s, Levitt served on t' Writers Guild o' America's board and led an effort t' restore screen credits t' blacklisted writers and supplement their pensions

 

Levitt died on November 16, 2002, o' heart failure.