Millard Lampell

By DOUG GALLOWAY

Millard Lampell, an Emmy-winning writer, novelist and songwriter who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era, died Oct. 3 of lung cancer at his home in Ashburn, Va. He was 78.

A native of Patterson, N.J., he attended the U. of West Virginia on a football scholarship. While in West Virginia, he was exposed to rural folk music and the union movement --- two forces that helped shape the rest of his life.

After college, he moved to New York City and helped form the Almanac Singers along with Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and Lee Hays.

The group was one of the first to introduce folk songs to urban audiences. Lampell and Guthrie also wrote new songs and adapted traditional songs into pro-union and labor anthems.

In support of striking workers, the group toured the country, leaving a legacy of such albums as "Songs For John Doe" and "Talking Union."

During the 1965-66 TV season, Lampell received an Emmy for writing "Eagle in a Cage," which aired as a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation.

During his acceptance speech, he revealed that he had written under a pseudonym for 10 years.

Additional TV credits included "Eastside-Westside," the PBS series "The Adams Chronicles" and the miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man."

Feature film screenplay credits included "The Idol" (1966), "Chance Meeting" (1959) and "Escape From East Berlin" also known as "Tunnel 28" (1962).

Lampell authored two novels, "The Long Way Home" and "The Hero," from which he also wrote the screenplay "Saturday's Hero" (1951) with Columbia Pictures producer Sidney Buchman, who was later blacklisted.

Lampell also wrote the Billy Rose- produced play "The Wall," which premiered on Broadway in Oct. 1960 and co-starred George C. Scott.

He is survived by his wife, Ramona, two daughters, two sons and four grandchildren.

Family suggests donations in his name be sent to the Millard Lampell Creative Writing Fund in care of the U. of West Virginia, P.O. Box 4533, Morgantown, WV 26504.