Hebrew Actors' Union

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. Today, it remains 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]

The union represents "performers (except musicians) who are engaged in the field of Hebrew or Yiddish Language Theater" and currently has a membership of about 200. [4]

A 1925 New York Times article desribes the union of having, at that time "over three hundred" members, and notes that it has "not only placed all of its members in good positions, but 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."

References

• Pre-Guild, antecedents to the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) on the SAG site, retrieved March 7, 2005
• Unions with substantial membership in the arts, entertainment and media industry, on the United States Department of Labor site, retrieved March 7, 2005
• Melamed, S.M., "The Yiddish Stage", New York Times, Sep 27, 1925 (X2)