The Motion Picture & Television Fund is a charitable organization that offers assistance and care to those in the motion picture and television industries without resources. Jump to: navigation, search Film refers to the celluloid media on which movies are printed Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general. ...

The need for a fund to benefit fellow colleagues who fell on hard times was seen by many in the early days of motion pictures. It began with coin boxes at studios, where industry workers would drop their spare change. A movie studio is a company which develops, equips and maintains a controlled environment for the making of a film. ...

In 1921, the Motion Picture Relief Fund was incorporated with the help of Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith, among others. Joseph M. Schenck was president and Pickford was vice president. The original Board of Trustees included many big names, including Charles Christie, Cecil B. DeMille, Fairbanks, William S. Hart, Jesse L. Lasky, Harold Lloyd, Mae Murray, Hal Roach, and Irving Thalberg. Jump to: navigation, search 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Chaplin in his costume as The Tramp Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, (16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977) was a British actor, the most famous actor in early to mid Hollywood cinema, and also a notable director. ... Jump to: navigation, search Mary Pickford Mary Pickford (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979) was a motion picture star and co-founder of United Artists, known as Americas Sweetheart and the girl with the curl. ... Douglas Fairbanks is a name shared by two actors, father and son: Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. ... David Lewelyn Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 - July 23, 1948) was an American film director (commonly known as D. W. Griffith) probably best known for his film The Birth of a Nation. ... Joseph M. Schenck, born December 25, 1878 - died October 22, 1961, was a pioneer executive who played a key role in the development of the United States film industry. ... Charles H. V. Christie (April 13, 1880 – October 1, 1955) was a motion picture studio owner. ... Cecil Blount DeMille (August 12, 1881 - January 21, 1959) was one of the most successful filmmakers during the first half of the 20th century. ... Categories: Actor stubs | 1872 births | 1946 deaths | Cinema actors | American actors ... Jesse Louis Lasky (September 13, 1880 - January 13, 1958) was a pioneer Hollywood film producer. ... Harold Clayton Lloyd (April 20, 1893–March 8, 1971) was an American actor. ... Mae Murray (May 10, 1889 - March 23, 1965) was an American actress and dancer, who became known as The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips and The Gardenia of the Screen. ... Harold Eugene Hal Roach (January 14, 1892–November 2, 1992) was a United States film and television producer from the 1910s to the 1980s. ... Irving Grant Thalberg (May 30, 1899–September 14, 1936) was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. ...

To raise money, the fund held celebrity benefits such as balls, movie premieres, polo matches, fashion shows and card parties. Talent was provided by Chaplin, Pickford, Fairbanks, Will Rogers and many other stars. These events raised thousands of dollars in aid. Will Rogers. ... A movie star is a celebrity who is well known for his or her starring, or leading, roles in motion pictures. ...

In 1932, Pickford began the Payroll Pledge Program, a deduction plan for those earning over $200 a week. Studio workers were asked to pledge one-half of one percent of their earnings to the fund. In 1938, participation in the program was increased by including talent groups, unions and producer representatives. SAG helped by ruling for compulsory contributions by its Class A members. Jump to: navigation, search 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1938 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is the labor union representing film actors in the United States. ...

Major stars were asked to appear on the radio program The Screen Guild Show and donate their salaries to the fund. Members of the Directors and Writers Guilds also contributed their services to the show, which premiered in 1939 and became one of the most popular shows on the air. Millions of dollars were raised. Radio broadcasts have been a popular entertainment since the 1910s, though popularity has declined a little in some countries since television became widespread. ... Directors Guild of America (DGA) is the labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry. ... The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and television industries. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Eventually, the fund offered services to those working in television, and the name was altered to reflect the change. Attempting to meet the needs of an entire industry, it has expanded to include network, cable and independent stations, as well as video, radio, live theatre, dance, recording, music and industry media.

Besides offering emergency money and operating the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, its comprehensive services operate five outpatient health centers throughout the greater Los Angeles area as well as a children’s center. The Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital is a retirement home, hospital and community center serving the show-business community of Southern California. ... The City of Los Angeles (from Spanish Los Ángeles , meaning the angels), also known as L.A., is the second-largest city in the United States in terms of population, as well as one of the worlds most important economic, cultural, and entertainment centers. ...

The motto of the fund is "We Take Care of Our Own."

External links

• Official Web Site