Its better with a union man...

April 15, 2010 12:29 PM

When the economy is bad, you can scream, strike or sing.

In 1937, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) opened "Pins and Needles," a musical review. It was so successful, the garment worker/actors were able to make a full time job of it.

25 years later, a young Barbra Streisand recorded 6 of the songs.

posted by QIbHom (10 comments total)

If you have JSTOR, here is a bonus link.
posted by QIbHom at 12:29 PM on April 15, 2010

Heh, reminds me of this choir for the unemployed in Germany.
posted by longdaysjourney at 12:51 PM on April 15, 2010

Ah, the thirties.
posted by blucevalo at 12:54 PM on April 15, 2010

When the economy is bad, you can scream, strike or sing.

Or you can go full monty.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:03 PM on April 15, 2010

Can't help but be reminded of this little tidbit from Woody Guthrie, via Pete Seeger.
posted by tmcw at 1:20 PM on April 15, 2010

Thanks for this!
posted by rosswald at 1:27 PM on April 15, 2010

(as I work for what is now the ILGWU - UNITE, and my grandfather worked in the garment industry and district, I will be forwarding this to a lot of people)
posted by rosswald at 1:30 PM on April 15, 2010

I keep waiting for someone to bring back the dance marathons a la "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?"
posted by SuzB at 1:58 PM on April 15, 2010

And speaking of the economy, foreclosure rates have surged again.
posted by HP LaserJet P10006 at 3:11 PM on April 15, 2010

I thought this was going to be the inevitable Victoria Jackson sings "Communist in the White House" thread.
posted by vapidave at 3:51 PM on April 15, 2010