Frank Lautenberg: “I rise today to pay tribute to the members of Local 21 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and…”

“I rise today to pay tribute to the members of Local 21 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Motion Picture Machine Operators, which will proudly celebrate its 100th anniversary on July 1 of this year, and I am pleased to share with you a bit of their remarkable history in the labor movement. Since their inception in 1894, the stagehands have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the development of the American theater. From traveling theaters to the birth of the movie projector just after the turn of the century, stagehands dedicated themselves to becoming skilled laborers. Although they suffered from several setbacks when the film industry moved from its birthplace of Edison, NJ, to California, local 21 managed to rebound by involving itself in the new prosperity of burlesque and vaudeville in the 20th century. In later years, as theaters like the Paper Mill Playhouse and the Newark Symphony Hall regained their earlier popularity with revivals of old productions, the stagehands of local 21 reestablished themselves in New Jersey theatrical productions. With their attention to detail, their knowledge of the history of live entertainment, and most importantly, their cooperation with one another, the members of local 21 have survived as one of the oldest labor organizations in New Jersey. I am proud to acknowledge and praise their work.”