Hebrew Actors' Union

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The Hebrew Actors' Union (HAU), formed in 1899 as a craft union for actors in Yiddish theater in the United States (primarily in New York City), was the first actors' union in the United States. Until it was decertified by the umbrella organization of theatrical unions in October 2005, it remained as one of the seven branches of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4As).^[1]^[2] It was founded by Jewish labor leader Joseph Barondess.^[3]

A 1925 article in The New York Times described the union as having, at that time, "over three hundred" members, and notes that it has, "not only placed all of its members in good positions, but [that] it has also granted many privileges to non-members..." It also notes that, "A great many members of the union are American-born and all of them are thoroughly Americanized."^[4] The union represented "performers (except musicians) who are engaged in the field of Hebrew or Yiddish Language Theater".^[5]

In October 2005, the Hebrew Actors Union was declared defunct by its parent union, the 4As, following the 2002 death of its 91-year-old president, Seymour Rexite.^[6] After his death, Ruth Ellen became acting head of the union, which continues, with few remaining members.^[7] In 2006, a cache of material including programs, photographs, plays, costumes, music manuscripts, props and other memorabilia, which The New York Times deascribed as "moldering" in the Hebrew Actors Union building was deposited at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, housed in Manhattan's Center for Jewish History.^[8] The weekly Jewish newspaper Forward reported in October 2006^[9] and again in October 2007^[10] about controversies surrounding the disposition of the union's building on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

[edit] Notes

^ As of October 18, 2007, it is still listed in the AFL-CIO's online list of Unions of the AFL-CIO.
^ Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers: History, ATPAM. Accessed September 2, 2006.
^ Pre-guild in the online history on the site of the Screen Actors' Guild. Accessed March 7, 2005.
^ Melamed, S.M., "The Yiddish Stage", The New York Times, Sep 27, 1925, p.X2.
^ Unions with substantial membership in the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industry, U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Agency, August 30, 2004. Accessed March 7, 2005.
^ The Yiddish Crooner, The Yiddish Radio Project.
^ Robert Simonson, Where Have You Gone, Molly Picon?, All About Jewish Theatre, 2006, reprinted from The New York Times. Accessed March 7, 2005.
^ Daniel J.Wakin, A Benefactor for Yiddish Theater Treasures, The New York Times. August 23, 2006.
^ Iris Blasi, End of an Era: The Fate of the Hebrew Actors Union Building, Forward. October 13, 2006.
^ Nathaniel Popper, Battle Forming Over Jewel of Yiddish Stage, Forward. October 17, 2007.