IATSE Local 33 - A History of Stagehands in Los Angeles Theatre and Television

The First 100 Years

Local 33 of the IATSE started with only 20 stagehands, working in Los Angeles, California, in 1896. Theaters served by this group of men included the Los Angeles Opera House, Hazard’s Pavilion, the Philharmonic Building, and Merced Theater. Also the First Street Varity Theater was theirs to service.

They received their charter on March 1, 1896 from the National Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Local 33 entered history. The original charter remained in effect until 1903 when several locals from Canada joined the alliance. The Alliance became the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

At the turn of the century membership grew as well as the theaters in the area of Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. Mason Opera House, the Belasco, the Regal, the Hippodrome, the Burbank, the Orpheum, the Morosco, and the Princess were among the new theaters. The unofficial office for the local was located at the Capitol Bar.

In 1918, Movie studio jurisdiction was granted to Local 33. The local’s membership grew to 2400 in the early 1920’s. The local established an office at Third and Hill Streets and shortly after that moved to Second and Spring Streets. In a strike against the movie studios, in 1921, carpenters and electrical workers replaced local 33 members. The union membership shrank to 500 and local 33 lost the jurisdiction to the film industry. The local once again moved its office to Tenth and Grand. Theaters kept the local working and as new theaters were built the local stayed busy until the Great Depression. The local found a new jurisdiction in radio shows for members to start servicing the radio networks.

Again a new technology stepped up to help the local: television.

The local celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1946. Gold cards were given to members who had worked with the International for 50 years. That was the year the local office moved to Ninth Street.

1950, the local moved to a building they built on Eighth Street. A Pension plan was started 1951, and it was during the 1960’s the local started it's present Pension-Health/Welfare program that continues to this day.

1971 saw the 75th anniversary of the local held at the Century Plaza Hotel.

In the 1980’s the local started an annuity plan for its members. The 1984 Olympic games and its Olympic Arts Festival brought to the local an increase in work that summer. In 1986, Local 33 made a major change by electing two Business Representatives, one for Television and one for Legitimate Theater.

In 1996, Local 33 held it's 100th Anniversary Party at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. From the 20 original members Local 33 has grown to over 1500 members. This local will continue to lead the entertainment industry into the next millennium.

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