Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1985 - 11

void. Such a center was established and
supported by numerous leaders in the
country on various levels both within
and outside the theatre community.
But there were those activists who were
convinced that this was not enough and
that an American national organization
was needed. The die was eventually
cast in this direction. It was this group
of people, from national organizations,
who had formed a nucleus favoring the
establishment of a center for a foreign
organization who now became the supporters of an American national organization. Thus the idea for an American
In titute evolved.
The proposed constitution and bylaws for the USITT were revised four
times between April and June 1960,
prior to the submission to the State of
ew York for incorporation. Among
the contributors and signers were Tom
DeGaetani, Joel Rubin, Ben Schlanger,
Henry Wells, Peter COlt, David Hays,
Arthur Benline, John Cornell, Harold
Burris-Meyer, Hans Sondheimer, Harry
Horner and Jean Rosenthal. The conent document, granting a certificate of
incorporation to "United States In ti-

tute for Theatre Technology, Inc." as a
membership corporation was signed by
the Commissioner of Education, James
E. Allen, Jr., October 19, 1960. This
established the U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology, an organization which
was officially launched at the first Annual Conference held at the Juilliard
School the following February 4th and
5th in the midst of one of the worst
snow storms to hit ew York City since
the famed blizzard of '88. In spite of
the hostile weather and two feet of
now, 150 hardy souls were present.
The First Annual Conference concluded with election of those individuals who were to guide the fledgling organization for the following year; the
Officers, Executive Committee and
Board of Directors had served pro tem
to this point. The elected slate was as
follows:
Executive COllllllillee
President: Thomas DeGaetani; VicePresident: Ben Schlanger; Technical
Secretary: Joel E. Rubin; SecretaryTreasurer: John Cornell; Harold
Burris-Meyer; Felix Graham; David
Hays; Carolyn Lockwood; Robert
Rowe Paddock;
orman Redmon;
Henry Wells; Melvin White; Counsel: Benjamin Kaye.

Board oj Directors
Arthur Benline, Valerie Bettis, James
Browning, Harold Burris-Meyer,
Bob Cahlman, Edward C. Cole, John
Cornell, Peter Cott, Donald Crabs,
Thomas DeGaetani, Walter Diehl,
Robert Fischer, Felix Graham, David
Paddock, Eric Pawley, Joel Rubin,
Ben Schlanger, Gunther Schuller,
Hans Sondheimer, Barrie Stavis,
Shepard Traube, Henry \Vells, Helge
Westermann.

This was a distinguished group of individuals, all of whom exemplified the
goals of the Institute by bringing together representatives from all areas of
the theatre and associate arts and crafts
(performing artists, engineers, architects, labor representatives, technicians, educators, playwrights, choreographers, members of industry, designers, el al.). Membership organizations
are generally homogeneous in focus
(i.e., teachers, bankers, doctors, etc.)
but the common bond of theatre
brought together a wide variety of
disciplines.
Creation of a new organization is
eldom easy but is often made easier by
being tied to an ideal or dream which
excites interest. After the creation,

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Number Six

October 1966

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1985