Film actors organize : union formation efforts in America, 1912-1937

The transition from stage to screen was not only a shift in popular entertainment, but a challenge for those working in the industry as well. This book looks at all the attempts to organize film actors into a union, starting in 1912 when the Actors' Equity Association seemed the best platform for such an effort, to the establishment of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in 1933 as the best vehicle to represent film actors; another four years passed before SAG was formally recognized by film producers and the first contract was signed. This work offers a detailed history of American actors'attempts to unionize in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Actors'unions of this period faced a staggering amount of struggles, including a heavy industry reliance on the blacklist, severe media attacks on individual actors, and the frequent formation of illegitimate company unions. This work focuses specifically on the two main unions of the time, the White Rats Actors'Union of America and the Actors'Equity Association. The author chronicles the formation of the unions along with their achievements in the following decades and outlines the roles of union leaders Harry Mountford and Francis Wilson. Film Actors Organize......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 1. Early Efforts and Equity’s First Attempt, to 1923......Page 10 2. A Brief Lull, 1924–1927......Page 25 3. AMPAS and Salary Cuts......Page 40 4. A Second Brief Lull, 1928–1929......Page 65 5. Equity’s Third Attempt, 1929......Page 75 6. Organizing Founders......Page 118 7. The Coming of SAG, 1933–1936......Page 133 8. SAG Negotiations and First Contract, 1936–1937......Page 156 Conclusion......Page 174 Notes......Page 190 Bibliography......Page 202 Index......Page 212 The transition from stage to screen was not only a shift in popular entertainment, but a challenge for those working in the industry as well. This book looks at the attempts to organize film actors into a union, starting from the earliest attempt in 1912 when the Actors' Equity Association seemed the best platform for such an effort. "This book looks at all the attempts to organize film actors into a union, starting from the earliest attempt in 1912 when the Actors' Equity Association seemed the best platform for such an effort, to the establishment of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in 1933 as the best vehicle to represent film actors"--Provided by publisher. Early efforts and equity's first attempt, to 1923 A brief lull, 1924-1927 Ampas and salary cuts: equity's second attempt, 1927 A second brief lull, 1928-1929 Equity's third attempt, 1929 Organizing founders: salary cuts, again, 1930-1931 The coming of SAG, 1933-1936 SAG negotiations and first contract, 1936-1937 Conclusion.