About LOCAL 524
I.A.T.S.E. Local 524 has established labor contracts with Adirondack Studios , The Cool Insuring Arena (formerly known as The Glens Falls Civic Center), & The Lake Placid Olympic Center (Herb Brooks Arena). Many of our members work in a variety of allied crafts within the Entertainment Industry (Theatre, Film, Television, Concerts/ Live Stage Events, Trade Shows, Scene Shops & more) in New York State; and frequently travel, world-wide, as needed.
If you would like to Hire any Local 524 Union Members, please complete the “Contact Us Form,” for more information.
About the International
The I.A.T.S.E. (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts) of the United States, Its Territories and Canada was founded in 1893 when representatives of stagehands working in eleven cities met in New York and pledged to support each others’ efforts to establish fair wages and working conditions for their members. Our union has evolved to embrace the development of new entertainment mediums, craft expansion, technological innovation and geographic growth.
Today, our members work in all forms of live theater, motion picture and television production, trade shows and exhibitions, television broadcasting, and concerts as well as the equipment and construction shops that support all these areas of the entertainment industry. We represent virtually all the behind-the-scenes workers in crafts ranging from motion picture animator to theater usher.
During a period when private sector union membership has been in sharp decline the IATSE has continued to grow. In early 2018, our membership reached over 140,000. This growth is attributable to our willingness to adapt our structure to protect our traditional jurisdiction and accommodate new crafts. But that alone is insufficient. The IATSE has maintained and enhanced its position in the vanguard of the entertainment industry through effective rank and file empowerment, political engagement, and our dedication to grass roots organizing. On both the International and local union levels, the motivating principle of the IATSE is to represent every worker employed in our crafts.
Local Unions
Within the U.S. and Canada, there are more than 375 IATSE local unions whose members make up the rank and file of the IATSE. The IATSE local unions are organized to represent workers by geographic and craft jurisdiction.
Each local functions independently, maintaining their own Constitution and By-Laws, elections, dues structure, membership meetings, and more. Locals negotiate labor contracts regarding wages, work rules, and grievance procedures. They also provide services to their members by administering health and retirement funds and providing training and education. The IATSE local unions work for the interest of their membership, while also representing the overarching goals of the IATSE International.
History of Local 524
(Celebrating our 100th Anniversary!)
LOCAL 524 was Founded in 1919.
On January 9th, 1919, the International President Issued a Charter to thirteen Stagehands and Projectionists to form the new Glens Falls/ Saratoga Mixed Local #524. Other I.A.T.S.E. Union Members soon transferred to the new Local, like Ralph Guy, who had belonged to the Bill Posters' Local for several years, traveling a few weeks ahead of new shows and putting up Playbills in the towns which they were booked. Ralph spent most of his career on the road, requested by such stars as Jackie Gleason.
When the Local started out, most of the work was for Stagehands, in Variety Houses like the Cosgrove Opera House (rebuilt after a fire into the Rialto in 1918), and the Empire and Strand Theatres.
The Park Theatre (1911 to 1937) was the first theatre in the state built especially to show movies. Our Union theatres existed in almost every town (Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, Fort Edward, Saratoga, Lake George, Bolton Landing, and more).
In the early 1930's the work had become fairly evenly split between Stage and Projection, shifting to mostly Projectionists in the 1940's and '50's, as more theatres installed movie screens, and Drive-In Theatres became popular.
When movie houses reigned, Phil Brilling had his own effective way of collecting Dues from over-due Members: he knew when payday came at every theatre (pay was cash, in pay envelopes then), and he'd simply show up at the door at the end of the show with his hand out, waiting.
There always remained a certain amount of stage work, but the balance didn't flip-flop again until the last few decades, with multiplex theatres and the founding of Adirondack Scenic Studios in 1975, and the Glens Falls Civic Center in 1979.
— Contributed by Brothers Brian DeMell and Adrien Dubee, 1998.
Edward W. Smith
Business Agent; Corresponding Secretary & Treasurer, Local 524
Phone: (518) 623-4427
email: ednmart@nycap.rr.com
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