In The Beginning

Founding member Barbara McLean working on 'Sing, Baby, Sing' in 1936.

The articles of incorporation of the Society of Motion Picture Film Editors were filed on May 21st 1937, signed by James Wilkinson, Ben Lewis and Philip Cahn.

The executive board of the Society was composed of two delegates from each major studio and one from each independent. It wanted a wage hike, paid overtime and, according to Variety, that "work be done in golden hours of day instead of at night."

The first meeting of the Board of Directors was held on 24 May, 1937 at the Hollywood Plaza Hotel. Eighteen directors were present. Members were classified as first editors, second editors, assistant editors, sound editors, assistant sound editors, librarians, assistant librarians, and apprentice assistants. Music editors and their assistants were added soon after.

The first officers of the Society were Edmund Hannan, president, Fred Richards, vice president, Edward Dmytryk, secretary and Martin G. Cohn, treasurer. The first office was in the Crossroads of the World on Sunset Boulevard. Soon Walter Scharf was hired as the business manager, followed in 1940 by John Lehners.