IATSE-2nd2018_web

This prediction was perhaps a decade too early, but it did
come to pass in the 1980s.
The video boom brought massive copyright infringement,
a persistent problem which the Alliance and others constantly
fight with great vigor. The pirating of Hollywood productions
eventually led to the commercial release of major films on the
video market, to circumvent the movie and television pirates and
to encourage the public to buy the tape before it hit commercial
TV or a pay channel.
But a new phenomenon would have an even greater impact
on the industry itself — the merger mania of the 1980s. The
buying and selling of television networks, movie studios and
individual station outlets caused great upheaval in the industry
during the twelve years of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. Out of this came a fourth network, the Fox Network,
and the takeover by Time, Inc. of the Warner communications
empire.
These two events were momentous in the evolution of
the entertainment industry — though only a prelude to what
was to come in the decades hence. Unfortunately, while these
developments increased the demand for shows to fill air time,
program quality was not immediately part of the formula.
And IA members did not benefit from the station explosion.
THE LEGACY OF WALTER DIEHL
The IATSE was fortunate to
have Walter F. Diehl as International
President during the turbulent period
from 1974 through 1986. He
began his career as a projectionist
and soon rose to a succession of
leadership roles in his local union
and the International. As International President, he built on
the record of his predecessor, Richard Walsh, to ensure that
the IA would remain the preeminent labor organization in the
entertainment industry. He was scrupulous in ensuring that
the affairs and finances of the IA and all local unions were
above reproach. And he worked tirelessly to enhance the image
of IATSE in the public eye. All of today’s members owe
him a great debt of gratitude.
Reruns of old TV shows popped up on cable, along with
old and not-so-old movies. Networks and superstations began
filling their late-night hours with news shows and talk show
programming. The increase in broadcasting hours provided
some work to IATSE members, but, as always, every job was
fought for and hard won.
THE THEATER MODERNIZES
From the 1940s onward, the theater changed rapidly, both to accommodate the evolving tastes of audiences in changing times,
and to address the competition posed by movies and television. The successful shows of the 1940s and 1950s had extremely
long runs, but the number of road companies decreased. The lure of Hollywood and the new medium of television continued
to draw many established starts and IA members away from the stage.
Throughout this period, show sets became more realistic and
were placed against stylized backdrops. Colors were bright and
strong, described by one theater expert as “posteresque.”
PLAYING IT STRAIGHT
During this period, staging of serious dramatic material became
less directly representational and more surreal. The crafts-
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