National vaudeville artists fund (1929)

Thirteenth Annual "^Benefit HE gala performance tonight brings to a conclusion the coast-to-coast celebration of the Actors’ National Jubilee which, in connection with the National Vaudeville Artists’ Organization, has been observed throughout the United States and Canada, in every theatre large and small, during the past week. The entire amusement industry and all of its enthusiastic patrons have united and participated in this one annual jubilee for the cause of philanthropy within the theatrical profession. This occasion marks the logical and complete coalition through the Vaudeville Managers’ Protective Association of all branches of the theatre with the National Vaudeville Artists’ annual drive in behalf of the less fortunate members of the theatrical profession. The eminent and representative general committee, this year consisted of 'William Fox, Nicholas Schenck, Sam Katz, Hiram S. Brown, Harry M. Warner, Harold B. Franklin, Edward Schiller, Milton Feld, L. E. Thompson, Spyros P. Skouras, Charles Levine, Charles Moskowitz, Joseph Plunkett, S. H. Fabian and Alex Pantages. This concerted action by all the motion picture presentation houses and vaudeville theatres account for the great results obtained. The outcome surpassed the efforts of each of the twelve years past at this period of the amusement season, when the people of the stage have always made a worthy effort to serve their own needy brethren in the same manner in which they are accustomed to serve all other deserving causes year in and year out with no hope or desire for selfish reward. On the distinguished list of artists who co-operated in theatres throughout the land or are appearing here tonight, there is not one who has not been seen and heard in hundreds of benefit performances in aid of patriotic, philanthropic, religious, educational or civic movements wholly outside of the world of the theatre. Countless thousands of worthy causes have benefited by their voluntary services. But once a year they unite in a campaign in behalf of their own people of the stage and screen, for the aged, the ailing, the incapacitated, the impoverished and the otherwise dependent members of their own profession. The distinction and size of tonight’s audience is another evidence of the fact that the intelligent and sympathetic amusement-loving public of New York— as of the entire nation — are in complete accord with this purposeful occasion; that they know and approve of its motive and its splendidly generous fulfilment. Throughout the past week of the Actors’ National Jubilee, in every city of the major and minor circuits, stars of the legitimate, the films, the opera, musical comedy, the revue, the radio, the circus, the sport and the concert fields — wherever they chanced to be — volunteered to appear in this same cause for which we are here tonight. It is the one annual drive for funds in aid of the needy members of the theatrical profession. No such splendid demonstration as this of tonight would be possible without a public understanding and appreciation of the underlying purpose of so memorable an entertainment. This audience is largely representative of the best element of the 100,000,000 American people who love and support their theatres. They know, too, that the method and manner of philanthropic service established and perfected by the National Vaudeville Artists has been the admiration and the example of experts in every important fraternal, beneficiary or co-operative charitable organization in this countrv. And it is because of this well-founded understanding of the generous scope and unselfish purpose of this annual jubilee week, that the artists of every branch of the amusement world gladly volunteer, and that the gracious patrons of every form of modern amusement always respond so generously.