Jerry James

In 1933, I was working as a dancer at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood and a chap by the name of Eddie Cantor was beating the drum for SAG. It was a great idea and I joined. They held secret meetings in homes, garages and local pubs. You had to keep it hush-hush because the studios were against actors unionizing. The pay was low and the hours long and if you didn't like it, why, don't let the door hit you on the way out. I worked as a dancer, an extra, anything. I was only 11 years old when I made my first movie. I played hookey and got a dollar a day and lunch. I met my wife of 45 years, who was also a dress extra, when the director asked us to pair-up in a ballroom dance, because he thought we looked good together. So the business has been good to me.