National vaudeville artists fund (1925)

The Ninth Annual Benefit ' HE great good feeling which exists on the part of the public toward vaudeville, the admiration with which it regards its artists, its methods and managers, is the finest tribute which could possibly be paid to this branch of the theatrical profession. For the first years of its existence, vaudeville had an uphill struggle for recognition. Burdened from the beginning with the old taint of variety, it was but slowly that the general public became cognizant of the great scope, the infinite diversity and boundless possibilities of this new field of amusement. But from year to year the number of prominent artists associated with vaudeville became greater. Grand opera, the drama, the musical comedy, the ballet and the concert stage gradually began to send us their greatest stars to add to the fame of vaudeville, until now the National Vaudeville Artists, Inc., including more than 20,000 members, is the largest and most representative, the most effective and harmonious organization that the world of the theatre has ever known. From its ranks, every field of stage endeavor continues to draw its brightest stars, its most unusual attractions for vaudeville has become the great developer of genius in the theatre. Look at the casts of the current Broadway successes, and you will find the leaders selected from the ranks of vaudeville. During the nine years since the establishment of the N. V. A. and the simultaneous launching of the Vaudeville Managers Protective Association, the peace and prosperity of vaudeville, its stupendous growth in distinction and influence have won the admiration of the American public, and its wholehearted allegiance. The fraternal and equitable agreements entered into and unswervingly maintained in the combined spirit of good fellowship and common sense have created a new and glorious era in our profession and set up standards which has the approval of the industrial world. This last year has been particularly noteworthy, due to the fact that the N. V. A. has opened a new and beautiful clubhouse in Chicago. This club, which is located in the Wood’s Theatre building, was dedicated on the sixteenth of last September, and the representative group of artists and city officials who attended the ceremonies was eloquent of the position which vaudeville now occupies in the public mind. A large and luxurious clubhouse is already planned for Los Angeles, to be erected next year, and it is hoped that these are but the first in a series of clubs which will soon establish headquarters in every large city for these wanderers of the theatre, who sacrifice so much in the way of home comforts to their task of entertaining an ever-increasing public. Vaudeville artists have greatly endeared themselves to the public by the willingness with which they offer their services for every good cause, for charity, patriotism, or the constructive enterprises of religion, education and art. The public in turn has entered with such enthusiasm upon the annual N. V. A. celebration, that for the last two years the original N. V. A. Day has been extended to a week, which has taken on the aspect of a national celebration in every city and town from coast to coast and from the Rio Grande to and including Canada. This year the celebration of N. V. A. Week, which fell on Easter Week, from April 12th to 19th, was greater and more enthusiastic than ever before, with more than 1,400 theatres enlisted in special gala performances, to say nothing of balls, receptions, luncheons and other outside celebrations in which many local organizations participated. Tonight, with five great benefits running simultaneously in New York City, and one in Chicago and one in Los Angeles, the culmination of the celebration is reached. In New York, the Metropolitan Opera House, the Manhattan Opera House, the Hippodrome, the New Amsterdam Theatre and the Knickerbocker Theatre have been found insufficient to accommodate the crowds who wish to participate. The list of stars on the programs is a list of “Who’s Who’’ in every branch of the theatrical profession, grand opera and concert. This souvenir program is striking evidence of the loyalty, not only of members of the profession, but of leaders in the world of finance, manufacture and ev'ery field of business. It is the boast of the N. V. A., sustained through nine years of extraordinary achievement, that no member of this profession, whether or not he belong to this organization, shall go uncared for in time of trouble. The Sick and Benefit Fund reaches out a helping hand to every struggling vaudevillian, no matter what his nationality, creed or condition. The funds to carry on this great work are made possible through the co-operation of the managers, the artists and public in this great cause.