SAG-AFTRA Computer Lamb Renamed for The Lambs
May 5, 2019
On April 17, 2019, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Computer Lab, located at 1900 Broadway, 5th Floor, was renamed in recognition for the long-term support of The Lambs Foundation. The space offers classes and access to computers for members of SAG-AFTRA to work on their web sites, resumes, to learn Photoshop, screenwriting, and an assortment of other educational programs to help with their careers. The Lambs Foundation will be offering 10 years underwriting of the lab and, as a result, the space has been named “The Lambs Computer Lab of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
The Lambs Foundation has been actively supporting numerous education programs in entertainment and the arts. The Robin Williams Center of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation has a chair named in our honor, along with a plaque in the theater lobby.
Read the full press release about The Lambs’ Computer Lab here: 4-22-19 SAG-AFTRA Foundation Release
Lambs Computer Lab @ SAG-AFTRA Foundation NY
April 23, 2019
(April 17, 2019) – The Lambs ® is proud to announce it is the new sponsor of SAG-AFTRA New York Computer Lab program and facility. On April 17th, our two organizations, which share a commitment to the professional development of performing artists, held an official ribbon cutting ceremony to designate The Lambs’ Computer Lab of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
The photo of the ribbon cutting: (L-R) SAF-AFTRA Director, NY Projects and Events – Maura Walker; SAG-AFTRA Exec. VP and SAG-AFTRA Foundation VP – Rebecca Damon; SAG-AFTRA Foundation Treasurer and SAG-AFTRA Nat’l Board Member – Maureen Donnelly; Shepherd of The Lambs and SAG-AFTRA NY Board Member – Marc Baron; SAG-AFTRA NY Board Member, Lambs Councillor and Lambs Foundation member – leslie Shreve; Lambs Boy. Peter Kingsley; Lambs Councilor and Lambs Foundation Member – Sarah-Ann Rogers
Located at 1900 Broadway within the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s New York offices, the Lab offers the latest in video and audio editing programs, writing software, professional websites and industry trades to SAG-AFTRA performing artists at no cost – allowing union artists to create, edit and submit reels, demos and resumes to projects. In addition, the Lab offers free classes including Intro to Screenwriting, Intro to Narrative Video Editing, Building Your Website and Intro to Photoshop, Building Your Demo Reel and more.
Marc Baron, a NY SAG-AFTRA Board member, who has been serving as the Shepherd of The Lambs and president of The Lambs Foundation for seven years, stated, “Thanks to the generous bequest of Lamb Scott Glascock, our Lambs Foundation will continue its mission for many years to come. We are particularly pleased to commit to long-term support of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation in recognition of the benefits its computer lab provides members.”
SAG-AFTRA Foundation President JoBeth Williams expressed her gratitude for the new partnership stating, “We want to thank The Lambs for supporting the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and the New York artists we serve by sponsoring our Computer Lab. It’s a wonderful example of how our creative community in New York supports each other and it makes us all better.”
About SAG-AFTRA Foundation
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a philanthropic 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides vital assistance and educational programming to SAG-AFTRA professionals while serving the public at large through its award-winning children’s literacy program Storyline Online®. The SAG-AFTRA Foundation relies entirely on grants, sponsorships and individual contributions to maintain its free programs and resources and is the benefitting charity of the annual SAG Awards. For more information, visit sagaftra.foundation.
About The Lambs and The Lambs Foundation
The Lambs, Inc., is America’s oldest professional theatrical organization, founded in NY in 1874. The Lambs ® is a social gathering place of entertainment industry and arts professionals, located at 3 West 51st Street. Members of The Lambs were founders of The Actors’ Fund of America, ASCAP, Paramount Pictures, Actors’ Equity, United Artists, Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, and three were part of the merger that created SAG-AFTRA.
In 1943 The Lambs Foundation, a 501(c)(3) arts-based charity was created. Now in its 75th year of supporting education in the arts and non-profit theater, The Lambs Foundation is funded solely through bequests and donations. For example, as thanks to years of support, and for meeting Alan Jay Lerner at The Lambs, Frederick Loewe assigned royalties of Brigadoon to The Lambs Foundation. More information may be found at The-Lambs.org and TheLambsFoundation.org.
Lambs’ Exhibit short films not seen in nearly a century!
March 14, 2019
Monday, March 11th, 2019
In the early 1930’s, The Lambs ® created 2-reel comedy short films with Columbia Pictures. These shorts were created as a means to raise fund for the Club during the Great Depression. Most of these films have never been seen in almost a century. The films offer a rare historical look at The Lambs, its famous members and activities. The presentation included: Shave it with Music (1932), The Curse of the Broken Heart (1933), Poor Fish (1933) and Hear’em and Weep (1931).
A columnist for Classic Images magazine and Lambs’ member, Robert Tevis, who organized the screening, said, “It’s exciting to open the door to forgotten film history.”
George Willeman, of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center of the Library of Congress, plucked these rare gems from the Library of Congress vaults and presented them at The Lambs 51st Street Clubhouse to a packed house. Willeman, who is the nitrate film vault manager, brought the films to the attention of his friend, Mr. Tevis.
Mr. Tevis and Marc Baron, Shepherd of The Lambs, rolled up their sleeves and visited the Special Collections room at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, facilitated by Steve Massa of the library staff. The Library holds 35 linear feet of 192 boxes of Lambs’ archives.
Robert Tevis did archival research to put these films into their glittering context. He stated, “I was ecstatic to find a letter on George Gershwin’s personal stationary to the then Shepherd of The Lambs, saying in effect “count me in.” Another letter from famed actor Spencer Tracy in 1932, sadly declining the opportunity to participate, read, “You must believe there’s nothing in the world I’d rather do than this thing for The Lambs’ club.” “What it shows is how much giants of entertainment loved their Club and wanted to help,” said Shepherd Baron.
Acting greats and Lambs Tracy and William Powell were prohibited to participate due to their contracts at the time with major studios.
“In addition to theater, Lambs members have always been involved movies. Paramount Pictures and United Artists were formed by Lambs, as was Screen Actors Guild – and more recently the merger of SAG-AFTRA.”
The evening’s film program was made possible to by the generosity of Sony Pictures, which owns the rights to the Columbia film library. The company allowed the presentation of the films to Lambs members and invited guests and allowed The Lambs Foundation to keep a copy for their archives.
Willeman also spoke about the Library of Congress’ film facility in Culpepper, VA. He pointed out that the Film Foundation estimates that 90% of silent films no longer exist, and the Library estimates that 75% of all films ever made are lost.
Founded in 1874, The Lambs is America’s first professional theatrical organization. Its member included Fred Astaire, George M. Cohan, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers, and John Philip Sousa. Lerner and Loewe first met at The Lambs, and Loewe left a bequest of royalties from Brigadoon to The Lambs Foundation. Current luminaries include Joyce Randolph (Trixie of The Honeymooners), Don Pippin, and Honorary members Jim Dale and Matthew Broderick.
Tevis said his favorite scene in The Curse of the Broken Heart – a spoof of melodramas of the day – occurs when the heroine is attempting to rescue the hero. Both are airborne in the cockpits of two separate biplanes. The hero is tied up and cannot fly his plan. His girlfriend in the other is trying to shoot the ropes with which her lover has been villainously bound. Shooting at his plane, she hit’s him. When we cut back to see he is bleeding. Still, he urges her, shouting, “Don’t worry, darling, I still have confidence in your aim.”
Willeman concluded by inviting everyone to visit the Library’s Culpepper, VA, facility, which houses a cinema that is open to the public. In reference to the fact that the Library of Congress is America’s library and funded at taxpayer expense, he told the audience, “I always say about our screenings – you’ve already paid for them!”
The evening was underwritten by a grant from The Lambs Foundation, founded 75 years ago to promote education in the arts and support non-profit theatre.
To download press release – CLICK HERE.
Below is an assortment of photos taken by Lamb Jim Manley:
An Evening with Helen Gallagher
February 7, 2019
– Monday, Feb 4, 2019
Acclaimed actress and acting teacher, Helen Gallagher, gave a talk at The Lambs about her great career in musical theater, soap operas, film and teaching the craft. Interviewed by Foster Hirsch, a profession of film at Brooklyn College and author of 16 books on theater and film. This was another great evening in collaboration with our friends at Harvardwood. The house was packed with members of The Lambs and Harvardwood, and friends and former students of Helen. Thanks to Lamb Magda Katz for videotaping Helen !