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ACTORS EQUITY ASSOCIATION 211
industry and as a necessary preliminary to the academy's larger purposes.
The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America questioned10 the success of Equity's attempt to organize the actors in the film industry. Film producer-members of this association believed that Equity had weakened its position in permitting the important actors of the legitimate theater to work in motion pictures under contracts with options that could be renewed as long as the producer sought to avail himself of the optional rights. It was further claimed that Equity had destroyed the so-called one-night stands, which were traveling theatrical performances shown not more than a few times in any one town, by sponsoring unionization to the point where high wage scales had absorbed all profits. For the same reason, it was argued, the lesser principals in pictures would suffer from the organization of labor in Hollywood to a point where salaries of the cast would have to be sacrificed. It was stated that a guaranty of five years in pictures, if offered by producers, would serve to counteract any sacrifice which an actor might make by not appearing on the legitimate stage.
Some producer-members pointed out that since the most important actors were already under contract, the strength of Equity would be lessened during the time required for the expiration of those contracts. These members believed, furthermore, that the fact that actors could obtain very high salaries in talking pictures would cause them to reflect seriously before declining studio offers. They also contended that the motion picture producers were in a stronger position than were the legitimate producers at the time of their struggle with Equity, since picture producers were ready to enter the legitimate theater by financing stage productions for later presentation on the screen. Such productions could be staged with screen players as actors.
Throughout June, 1929, the producers' policy was one of watchful waiting during which time there was no outward evidence of activity to draw actors from the cause of Equity. Equity officials were engaged in organizing an offense which they believed would compel producers to recognize the associations' demands. A series of weekly meetings was held, at which the Equity leaders met and addressed the actors. Presumably because of the lack
10 Variety, June 12, 1929.