Hebrew Actors' Union
Encyclopedia
The Hebrew Actors' Union (HAU), formed in 1899 as a craft union for actor
s 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). It was founded by Jewish labor leader Joseph Barondess
.
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."
The union represented "performers (except musicians) who are engaged in the field of Hebrew
or Yiddish
Language Theater".
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
. After his death, Ruth Ellen became acting head of the union, which continues, with few remaining members. In 2006, a cache of material including programs, photographs, plays, costumes, music manuscripts, props and other memorabilia, which The New York Times described 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. The weekly Jewish newspaper Forward
reported in October 2006 and again in October 2007 about controversies surrounding the disposition of the union's building on Manhattan's Lower East Side.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s in Yiddish theater in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(primarily in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
), was the first actors' union in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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
Associated Actors and Artistes of America
The Associated Actors and Artistes of America is the federation of trade unions for performing artists in the United States. The following unions belong to the 4As:* The Actors' Equity Association * The American Guild of Musical Artists...
(4As). It was founded by Jewish labor leader Joseph Barondess
Joseph Barondess
Joseph Barondess was a labor leader and political figure in New York City's Lower East Side Jewish community in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Known as the "King of the Cloakmakers", whose union he led, he carried himself like an actor, a career he had tried but failed at...
.
A 1925 article in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
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."
The union represented "performers (except musicians) who are engaged in the field of Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
or Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
Language Theater".
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
Seymour Rexite
Seymour Rexite , originally Rechtzeit, was an actor and singer of the Yiddish theater, film and radio in the United States, and for some time president of the Hebrew Actors Union....
. After his death, Ruth Ellen became acting head of the union, which continues, with few remaining members. In 2006, a cache of material including programs, photographs, plays, costumes, music manuscripts, props and other memorabilia, which The New York Times described 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. The weekly Jewish newspaper Forward
The Forward
The Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
reported in October 2006 and again in October 2007 about controversies surrounding the disposition of the union's building on Manhattan's Lower East Side.