The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-30
THEATRICAL MEN
INITIATE MEMBERS
Delightful Smoker is Given by
the T. M. A.
VISITORS ARE OBLIGATED
Many of the Employees of the Gaskill
Carnival Company Join the Order
Here-Association In 6lr-
mineham Is Prosperous.
VISITORS ARE OBLIGATED

In the small hours of yesterday MORN
ing when other folks had gone to bed
the Birmingham members of the Thea
trical Mechanical association, having fin
ished their work for the night, met in
Eagles hall and after initiating twenty
three candidates for st. Joseph, Mo-, en-
joyed two or three hours of genuine Bo-
hemian fellowship.
1t would be surprising to many to know
that there are as many as 100 persons be-
longing to the theatrical profession liv-
ing in Birmingham but as fact not
man less than that number took part in
the delightful smoker given by the asso-
citation after p o'clock Friday night.
The Thea 4rical Mechanical association
of Birmingham now has a membership
of rs and there are several candidates to
be initiated at an early date.
Visitors Are Put Through.
Most of the men who took the oblga-
ton at the meeting. just referred to, are
from ST. Joseph, Mo-, and are employed
by the Gaskill Carnival company which
for the past week has been playing Bir-
mingham with the Red Mems Carnival,
just closed. They put in their applica-
ton in st. Jo," as the Missouri city is
commonly known, but had to leave before
taking the ;:ecessary obligation. The Of
ficers of The association at that place
wired the Birmingham officers to take
the men in and with a very few hours
notice the local theatrical men got to-
gether and gave the visitors the obli-
CATION and a genuine gooS time in addi-
ton.
After the serious side of the meeting
had ended a social session was held and
the guests we're entertained in that true
Bohemian style which only theatrical
people can furnish. Many of the singers
from the Biiou and the Jefferson, assist
ed by those from the Carnival company
and some from local talent kept the hall
ringing with dance and songs while the
visitors muached sandwiches and slipped
light drinks.
Benevolent Organization.
The Theatrical Mechanical association
is fraternal and benevolent organiZa-
ton, pure and simple, and it is not
branch of the federation of labor, as is
generally supposed. 1t was not organized
as a union, but its purpose is to promote
good fellowship and give help in time of
distress. The stage men have a union
separate from the Theatrical Mechanical
association, to which most of them be-
long.
Those who are eligible to membership
in the Theatrical Mechanical association
organization are managers, acting mana
gers, advance agents, treasures, actors,
musicians, vaudeville performers, prop
erty men and assistants, stage hands,
ushers, bill posters and door keepers.
The objects of the order are principally
to unite fraternally all white men Of
sound health and good moral character,
who are socially acceptable, and who
have been employed in the theatrical
profession at least six months. Allevia-
ton of the difficulties attendant upon
sickness, distress or death is another OBJ
ject.
The Officers.
The officers of the local association are:
President, Andy Marx; past president, w.
P. Lother; vice president, Emil w. Hille;
recording secretary, A. A. Montebarro:
financial secretary, Walter Blackman; as
sistant financial secretary, w. w. Bea-
son; treasurer, w. H. Tice; marshal, j.
F. Staley; sergeant at arms, C. G. Cooper;
physician DR.. Bert Fox; trustees, Ed
Cox, J. F. Staley, Wyatt Hefin.
Since the organization of the local as
ISOLATION 1t has prospered and the mem
bership has grown rapidly. 1t is expected
that within few months every man of
the theatrical profession in Birmingham
will have become a member.