August 12 - Singing a Union Tune

Labor History in 2:00 · Aug 12, 2026 · 1m

On this day in Labor History the year was 1919.

That was the day that the chorus girls of the Ziegfeld Follies formed a union.

They called their organization the Chorus Equity Association.

The Ziegfeld Follies were the hottest ticket on Broadway during the early 1900s.

The show was most famous for their chorus girls in elaborate costumes, bedecked with feathers and sparkles.

In 1919 performers on Broadway as well as Chicago were standing up for fairer wages and better treatment on the job.

The Actors Equity Association’s contract had expired, and the actors demanded a fair contract.

The…