http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/08/29/eleventhhour/
There’s an interesting blog at the Grist.org. Seems Leonardo DiCaprio's new doc, the Eleventh Hour, was made mostly non-union. Because, you see, it was so low budget and such a good cause that nobody who really works on the movie should pay their bills or mortgages. Particularly since Leo isn't getting any good PR for it. He's practically GIVING IT AWAY! Leo, who has four movies on the hook of which he is producing three, worked under a SAG contract for the doc. It would appear he doesn’t particularly feel he needs to return the favor and use IATSE contracts for his pet projects.
I’m always amazed that when those that use the not-for-profit dodge feel that somehow the work that is put in to create their projects is inherently different and lesser than a for-profit project. The scenery, the lighting, the camera work, the editing are the same. The skill and effort it takes to present these projects are the same as for-profits. The hours are just as long. My landlord doesn’t give a rat’s ass if I’m working on a not-for-profit, nor does the grocer or utility company.
Pay me union wages, cover my benefits and then I’ll decide if I want to kick in my paycheck. You’ll get a quality work and I too can feel good about you little happy dance.
Spread the joy. Hire Union.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
You don't know where you're going
unless you know where you've been.
These were some of the larger theatres in existence when Local One was formed. The wave of immigration that started Yiddish Broadway was just beginning.
With thanks to IBDB.com. and CinemaTreasures.org
Academy of Music
E. 14th St. and Irving Place, New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 1500
Rebuilt in 1866 after it was destroyed by fire. Presented opera and legit fare until 1888, when it began to house vaudeville. Rented by labor organizations in the early 1900s in order to stage rallies. Demolished in 1926 to become Con Ed building.
Built: 1854 Demolished: 1926
Bijou Theatre
1239 Broadway, New York, NY
Originally a sporting saloon, converted to a variety and minstrel playhouse in 1878. In 1881, the building was razed and rebuilt as a light opera house. Destroyed in 1915 for office space.
Demolished: 1915
Casino Theatre
1404 Broadway (W. 39th), New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 875
Kimball & Wisedell, architects. Built by producer Rudolph Aronson for light musicals and operetta, but showed mostly “polite vaudeville” starting in 1892. Canary & Lederer managed it from 1894 until 1903, when the Shuberts acquired the lease. A 1905 fire necessitated much reconstruction. In February of 1930, the theatre was demolished to make room for the expanding garment district.
Built: 1882 Demolished: 1930 Closed: 1930
Daly’s Theatre
1221 Broadway (30th St.), New York, NY
Seats 1170
Began its life as museum-theatre, operated by owner John Banvard. The next year it was renamed for the new owner and offered light musical comedy. Banvard regained control in 1876 and renamed it the Broadway. In 1879, Augustin Daly took over, renaming for himself one of the city’s last stock companies. After his 1899 death, various managers followed, including the Shuberts. It was a burlesque house when it was demolished in 1920.
From Cinema Treasures. Org:
Daly's Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The manager was Augustin Daly. The seating capacity was Orchestra: 500, Balcony: 320; Gallery: 350, total: 1,170. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide by 23 feet high. The stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre was on the first floor, and there were 20 places in the orchestra pit.
Built: 1867 Demolished: 1920
Fifth Avenue Theatre
31 W. 28th St. (Broadway), New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 1530
As Gilsey’s Apollo Hall (later the St. James), patrons could attend lectures in the upstairs hall or musical entertainment in the main auditorium. When Daly’s Fifth Ave. Theatre burned down in 1873, Augustin Daly moved here and renamed it New Fifth Avenue, staying until 1877. It was destroyed by fire in 1891 and rebuilt. Henry Miner managed it in the 1890s and F. F. Proctor added it to his vaudeville chain in 1900. After spending the 1930s as burlesque house and movie theatre, it was demolished in 1939.
Built: 1868 Demolished: 1939
Grand Opera House
23rd St. (8th Ave.), New York, NY
Built by Samuel N. Pike in 1868, but audiences preferred the Academy of Music. James Fisk and Jay Gould bought it and created a strange pair of roommates: the ground floor housed the renamed Grand Opera House and the upstairs served as headquarters for the Erie railroad. It was the only theatre to pass inspection when the authorities began cracking down on theatre fire safety in 1876. When it was demolished in 1960, it was an RKO cinema.
Built: 1868 Demolished: 1960
Haverly’s 14th Street Theatre
(Civic Repertory Theatre)
107 W. 14th St. (Sixth Ave), New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 1100
Popularly known as the French Theatre. Presented French productions from 1866 until 1869, when it was managed by Laura Keene. Operated as a booking house from 1880 through start of the twentieth century, most famously presenting Haverly’s Minstrels. Mostly dark from 1911 to 1926, when Eva Le Galliene managed it (through 1932) as the Civic Repertory Theatre. Despite the name change in 1880 it was still known as the 14th Street Theatre.
Built: 1866 Demolished: 1938
Lyceum Theatre
4th Avenue (23rd & 24th), New York, NY
Under Thomas Edison’s personal supervision, the Lyceum became the first theatre to be lighted entirely by electricity. Steele MacKaye founded and managed it after leaving his post at the Madison Square. But he spent only one year managing the theatre he built. He was succeeded by actress Helen Dauvrey, then Daniel Frohman (1885-1902), who managed it to great success as one of the last remaining stock companies in the city. In 1902, it was torn down, the site annexed by the Met Life building.
Built: 1885 Demolished: 1902
Madison Square Theatre
(Hoyt’s Theatre)
24th St. (5th and Madison), New York, NY
In 1865, the Christy Minstrels converted an illegal stock exchange (adjacent to the Fifth Avenue Hotel) into a theatre. Later, Augustin Daly managed it from 1869 to 1873, when it burned down, only to be rebuilt in 1877. Steele MacKaye renovated it and renamed it the Madison Square in 1879, and it boasted a number of theatrical innovations, including gas lights, folding chairs, and a primitive version of air-conditioning. It was razed in 1908 and replaced by an office building.
Built: 1865 Demolished: 1908
Standard Theatre
(Manhattan Theatre)
102 W. 33rd St., New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 1100
J. B. McElfatrick & Sons, architects. Built by Josh Hart. In 1878, a new manager renamed it the Standard. In 1883, it burned down and was rebuilt, reopening on December 23, 1884. In 1898, William Brady and Florenz Ziegfeld took over, renaming it the Manhattan. In 1901, they leased it to Harrison Fiske, who presented his wife, actress Minnie Maddern Fiske, to great success. After they left, the theatre languished, then became a movie theatre in 1907. In 1909, it was razed for a Gimbel Brothers store.
Built: 1875 Demolished: 1909 Closed: 1907
Star Theatre
844 Broadway, New York, NY
After great success on Broome Street, James W. Wallack decided to move uptown, opening this venue in 1861. The theatre, specializing in sophisticated comedy, passed to the hands of Wallack’s son, Lester, who continued its success until 1881, when he moved further uptown to create the third Wallack’s Theatre (30th St.). After, the theatre offered German-language drama and opera before returning to its former policy. It was the Star Theatre when the Astor estate tore it down in 1901.
Built: 1861 Demolished: 1901
Union Square Theatre
(Acme Theatre)
58 E. 14th St., New York, NY
Built as part of the Union Square Hotel. In 1870, opened as a variety house run by Sheridan Shook, who left in 1872, yielding it to Albert M. Palmer, who had great success changing the policy to dramatic works. After he left in 1883, his successors restored vaudeville, and Keith & Albee later added it to their chain. In 1921, it was the Acme, a movie house that eventually showed Soviet films. Widely believed to have been razed in 1936, it may have remained within its larger building until the 1990s.
Built: 1870 Closed: 1936
Wallack’s Theatre
Broadway at 30th St., New York, NY
Built by Lester Wallack, who managed it from the 1882 opening until 1887. After Wallack retired, there were many managers, including A. M. Palmer, who renamed it for himself. The original name was restored in 1895. In 1915, it was torn down and replaced by an office building.
Built: 1882 Demolished: 1915
These were some of the larger theatres in existence when Local One was formed. The wave of immigration that started Yiddish Broadway was just beginning.
With thanks to IBDB.com. and CinemaTreasures.org
Academy of Music
E. 14th St. and Irving Place, New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 1500
Rebuilt in 1866 after it was destroyed by fire. Presented opera and legit fare until 1888, when it began to house vaudeville. Rented by labor organizations in the early 1900s in order to stage rallies. Demolished in 1926 to become Con Ed building.
Built: 1854 Demolished: 1926
Bijou Theatre
1239 Broadway, New York, NY
Originally a sporting saloon, converted to a variety and minstrel playhouse in 1878. In 1881, the building was razed and rebuilt as a light opera house. Destroyed in 1915 for office space.
Demolished: 1915
Casino Theatre
1404 Broadway (W. 39th), New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 875
Kimball & Wisedell, architects. Built by producer Rudolph Aronson for light musicals and operetta, but showed mostly “polite vaudeville” starting in 1892. Canary & Lederer managed it from 1894 until 1903, when the Shuberts acquired the lease. A 1905 fire necessitated much reconstruction. In February of 1930, the theatre was demolished to make room for the expanding garment district.
Built: 1882 Demolished: 1930 Closed: 1930
Daly’s Theatre
1221 Broadway (30th St.), New York, NY
Seats 1170
Began its life as museum-theatre, operated by owner John Banvard. The next year it was renamed for the new owner and offered light musical comedy. Banvard regained control in 1876 and renamed it the Broadway. In 1879, Augustin Daly took over, renaming for himself one of the city’s last stock companies. After his 1899 death, various managers followed, including the Shuberts. It was a burlesque house when it was demolished in 1920.
From Cinema Treasures. Org:
Daly's Theatre is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The manager was Augustin Daly. The seating capacity was Orchestra: 500, Balcony: 320; Gallery: 350, total: 1,170. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide by 23 feet high. The stage was 40 feet deep. The theatre was on the first floor, and there were 20 places in the orchestra pit.
Built: 1867 Demolished: 1920
Fifth Avenue Theatre
31 W. 28th St. (Broadway), New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 1530
As Gilsey’s Apollo Hall (later the St. James), patrons could attend lectures in the upstairs hall or musical entertainment in the main auditorium. When Daly’s Fifth Ave. Theatre burned down in 1873, Augustin Daly moved here and renamed it New Fifth Avenue, staying until 1877. It was destroyed by fire in 1891 and rebuilt. Henry Miner managed it in the 1890s and F. F. Proctor added it to his vaudeville chain in 1900. After spending the 1930s as burlesque house and movie theatre, it was demolished in 1939.
Built: 1868 Demolished: 1939
Grand Opera House
23rd St. (8th Ave.), New York, NY
Built by Samuel N. Pike in 1868, but audiences preferred the Academy of Music. James Fisk and Jay Gould bought it and created a strange pair of roommates: the ground floor housed the renamed Grand Opera House and the upstairs served as headquarters for the Erie railroad. It was the only theatre to pass inspection when the authorities began cracking down on theatre fire safety in 1876. When it was demolished in 1960, it was an RKO cinema.
Built: 1868 Demolished: 1960
Haverly’s 14th Street Theatre
(Civic Repertory Theatre)
107 W. 14th St. (Sixth Ave), New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 1100
Popularly known as the French Theatre. Presented French productions from 1866 until 1869, when it was managed by Laura Keene. Operated as a booking house from 1880 through start of the twentieth century, most famously presenting Haverly’s Minstrels. Mostly dark from 1911 to 1926, when Eva Le Galliene managed it (through 1932) as the Civic Repertory Theatre. Despite the name change in 1880 it was still known as the 14th Street Theatre.
Built: 1866 Demolished: 1938
Lyceum Theatre
4th Avenue (23rd & 24th), New York, NY
Under Thomas Edison’s personal supervision, the Lyceum became the first theatre to be lighted entirely by electricity. Steele MacKaye founded and managed it after leaving his post at the Madison Square. But he spent only one year managing the theatre he built. He was succeeded by actress Helen Dauvrey, then Daniel Frohman (1885-1902), who managed it to great success as one of the last remaining stock companies in the city. In 1902, it was torn down, the site annexed by the Met Life building.
Built: 1885 Demolished: 1902
Madison Square Theatre
(Hoyt’s Theatre)
24th St. (5th and Madison), New York, NY
In 1865, the Christy Minstrels converted an illegal stock exchange (adjacent to the Fifth Avenue Hotel) into a theatre. Later, Augustin Daly managed it from 1869 to 1873, when it burned down, only to be rebuilt in 1877. Steele MacKaye renovated it and renamed it the Madison Square in 1879, and it boasted a number of theatrical innovations, including gas lights, folding chairs, and a primitive version of air-conditioning. It was razed in 1908 and replaced by an office building.
Built: 1865 Demolished: 1908
Standard Theatre
(Manhattan Theatre)
102 W. 33rd St., New York, NY
Seats (approximate): 1100
J. B. McElfatrick & Sons, architects. Built by Josh Hart. In 1878, a new manager renamed it the Standard. In 1883, it burned down and was rebuilt, reopening on December 23, 1884. In 1898, William Brady and Florenz Ziegfeld took over, renaming it the Manhattan. In 1901, they leased it to Harrison Fiske, who presented his wife, actress Minnie Maddern Fiske, to great success. After they left, the theatre languished, then became a movie theatre in 1907. In 1909, it was razed for a Gimbel Brothers store.
Built: 1875 Demolished: 1909 Closed: 1907
Star Theatre
844 Broadway, New York, NY
After great success on Broome Street, James W. Wallack decided to move uptown, opening this venue in 1861. The theatre, specializing in sophisticated comedy, passed to the hands of Wallack’s son, Lester, who continued its success until 1881, when he moved further uptown to create the third Wallack’s Theatre (30th St.). After, the theatre offered German-language drama and opera before returning to its former policy. It was the Star Theatre when the Astor estate tore it down in 1901.
Built: 1861 Demolished: 1901
Union Square Theatre
(Acme Theatre)
58 E. 14th St., New York, NY
Built as part of the Union Square Hotel. In 1870, opened as a variety house run by Sheridan Shook, who left in 1872, yielding it to Albert M. Palmer, who had great success changing the policy to dramatic works. After he left in 1883, his successors restored vaudeville, and Keith & Albee later added it to their chain. In 1921, it was the Acme, a movie house that eventually showed Soviet films. Widely believed to have been razed in 1936, it may have remained within its larger building until the 1990s.
Built: 1870 Closed: 1936
Wallack’s Theatre
Broadway at 30th St., New York, NY
Built by Lester Wallack, who managed it from the 1882 opening until 1887. After Wallack retired, there were many managers, including A. M. Palmer, who renamed it for himself. The original name was restored in 1895. In 1915, it was torn down and replaced by an office building.
Built: 1882 Demolished: 1915
Welcome
Please feel free to make any comment you want. I would like to direct this forum towards stagehands, unions, IATSE, theatre technology, labor history, NYC theatre history, current events. If there is another issue you would like to discuss, have at it.
No one will be offended if you refrain from using profanity.
I hope to be able to expand the content to some video with members of the NYC theatre community, interviews and personal work experiances.
Stay tuned.
No one will be offended if you refrain from using profanity.
I hope to be able to expand the content to some video with members of the NYC theatre community, interviews and personal work experiances.
Stay tuned.
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