How the Founding of Central Casting Revolutionized Background Casting
Central Casting was founded in 1925 to streamline the hiring of background talent for studios and to offer Background Actors a reliable way to find work. As we celebrate 100 years, we want to go back to the beginning to how Central Casting revolutionized background casting in the entertainment industry.
The beginnings of Hollywood
As the film industry began to develop in the early 1900s, many directors, producers, and actors flocked to Southern California where the sunny weather and diverse terrain were perfect for filming. By 1920, Hollywood had become the hub of the film industry while celebrities became the envy of many men and women across the country. This desire for stardom led thousands to flock to Hollywood with hopes of becoming the next big star.
In 1923, The New York Times reported that up to 10,000 people a month traveled to Los Angeles to find a job in the film industry. Many believed their best chance of becoming a star was to begin as a Background Actor and try to get discovered by a director or producer. The influx of young hopefuls with no jobs lined up became so much that actress Mary Pickford warned that people should save enough money to live on for five years before making the trip to Hollywood.
Concerned about the conditions and exploitation many of these Background Actors faced, Will Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA), commissioned Mary van Kleeck of the Russell Sage Foundation to study the working conditions in the industry. While van Kleeck's report was largely positive, she found employment issues were rampant and suggested a more in-depth study be ordered.
For this second study, the Industrial Welfare Commission of California sent Marian L. Mel to Hollywood to specifically survey Background Actors. Mel found many Hollywood employment practices violated California labor laws, especially regarding the employment of women and children.
After meeting with Mel, the Welfare Commission, and the MPPDA, Hays decided the best way to improve working conditions and regulate employment was to create one background casting bureau to hire background for all major studio productions. On December 4, 1925, the Central Casting Corporation was formed.
Central Casting opens its doors
Before Central Casting, there were two main ways for Background Actors to find work. Most went from studio to studio every morning hoping to get cast in whatever was filming that day, while others paid a steep price for a private casting agency to find them jobs. For studios, this disorganized process cost them time, money, and made it difficult to find the right talent for their scenes, especially when looking for specialty roles. For Background Actors, this unregulated system often led to exploitation and required them to trek miles across Los Angeles, often by foot, every day in hopes of being cast. That all changed on January 26, 1926 when Central Casting opened its doors for registrants.
To be hired by Central Casting, Background Actors had to register at the bureau's Hollywood office at Hollywood Blvd. and Western Ave. Once registered, they could look for work by calling GARfield 3621 every 15 minutes from 6am until the switchboard closed, which would often be as late as midnight.
Within the first six months of operation, Central Casting made 113,837 placements (around 629 a day) from a roster of over 15,000 Background Actors.
Mel was hired to run the women and children's division, Charles Butler was chosen to run the African American division, and the Call Bureau was formed, which allowed actors with screen credits to register for bit parts.
Central Casting was the first stop for many actors looking to break into the industry. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, it was common for actors with screen credits to continue to work as Background Actors between principal roles. Many actors and actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood, like John Wayne and Carole Lombard, registered and worked for Central Casting early in their careers.
Become a part of Central Casting
Just visit our Sign Up page, complete the onboarding steps, then you can become eligible to work on our movies and TV shows. Want to register your minor? We also hire babies from 15 days old to teenagers 17 years old to appear as Background Actors on our productions.
Just like those legends from Hollywood's Golden Age, many of today's stars, including Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, Kelly Clarkson, and Alison Brie, began their careers as Central Casting Background Actors. Who knows, maybe you'll be the next star straight out of Central Casting.
Want to learn more about Central Casting and Hollywood history? Check out our Hollywood History article category.
