Musical Mutual Protective Union

Musical Mutual Protective Union
Founded 1863
Members musicians
Affiliation was Local 301 of the American Federation of Musicians from 1902–21
Office location 209 East 85th Street, Manhattan, New York City
Country United States

The Musical Mutual Protective Union (MMPU) was a New York union of musicians, formed in 1863, with a focus on payment made to musicians in theaters and at balls.[1][2][3]

In 1885, the union was open to “all instrumental performers, who have been residents of the United States for the period of six months previous to application.”[4] Foreign musicians were not allowed to play in orchestras unless they were in a union.[2]

The union become Local 301 of the American Federation of Musicians in 1902.[5] In 1904, it had 5,000 members, who were almost entirely German.[2][6] In 1910, approximately 300 black musicians were members in the roughly 8,000-member union.[4]

The Musical Mutual Protective Union at 209 East 85th Street

It was located at 209 East 85th Street in Manhattan, New York City, between Second Avenue and Third Avenue, in a severely classical buff brick and terra cotta structure, which was built in 1919 as part of one of the most elaborate labor union halls ever constructed with extensive meeting space and club rooms, assembly room, lodge rooms, dining room, and kitchen.[7][8] The building was later a theater and hall, a casino, and a waiters' union.[4][5] The basement of the building now houses The Amsterdam Billiard Club.[5] City Cinemas East 86th Street's entrance is on East 86th Street but its theater portion is behind the 85th Street facade, which the building owner decided to keep as a memento.[5]

The union lost its charter in 1921 in a disagreement with its parent union, and went out of business thereafter.[5] In 1929 the union planned a mass march against joblessness, claiming 35,000 unemployed, but was unable to secure a parade permit from the police.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ John Spitzer (2012). American Orchestras in the Nineteenth Century. University of Chicago Pres. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nancy Toff (2005). Monarch of the Flute: The Life of Georges Barrere. Oxford University Press. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ THIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE MUSICAL PROTECTIVE UNION. (November 13, 1865). "The Musical Mutual Protective Union. – CARD TO THE PUBLIC.". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Goldberg, Jacob (February 11, 2013). "Breaking the color line | Associated Musicians of Greater New York". Local802afm.org. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Christopher Gray (June 6, 1999). "Streetscapes /Readers' Questions; Echoes of a Union Hall; Artificial Sunlight". New York City: New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  6. ↑ John Koegel (2009). Music in German Immigrant Theater: New York City, 1840–1940. University Rochester Press. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ Christopher Gray (June 6, 1999). "Streetscapes /Readers' Questions; Echoes of a Union Hall; Artificial Sunlight". New York City: New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ John Koegel (2009). Music in German Immigrant Theater: New York City, 1840–1940. University Rochester Press. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  9. ↑ Howard Zinn, Dana Frank, Robin D. G. Kelley (2002). Three Strikes: Miners, Musicians, Salesgirls, and the Fighting Spirit of Labor's Last Century. Beacon Press. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ Donald Crafton (1999). The Talkies: American Cinema's Transition to Sound, 1926–1931. University of California Press. Retrieved June 10, 2014.

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