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Sabbath Readings of the Law

Pentateuchal portion—.Nuns. 13:1-16:41
Prophetical portion—Joshua 2

Rosh Chodesh Tamils Readings of the Law
Wednesday and Thursday, June 13 and 14

Numbers 28:1-15

June 8, 1934

Sivan 25, 5694

Keeping Community Intact

At this writing, the final figures of sums
raised in the present Allied Jewish Cam-
paign are not known. The only thing that
is certain is that the current drive had a
slow start;- and that there is difficulty in
securing the $175,000 quota. Something
else is certain: that the task should have
been an easy one, and that the goal Was a
comparatively small one, considering that
a community of 75,000 people is askqd to
give it for so many important local, na-
tional and international causes, in such an
hour of 'crisis for Jewry everywhere.
Every conscientious Jew must not only
hope for the reaching of the complete goal
in the present campaign, but must work
for it. Failure in securing the sum needed
for the budgets of the various agencies in-
cluded in the $175,000 quota may mean
the disintegration of the united front cre-
ated under the leadership of the Jewish
Welfare Federation. If ever there was a
time when unity was needed, it is now. If
ever there was a time when disunity would
give comfort to the enemies who surround
us, it is now.
A comparatively small number of Jews
have thus far contributed to the Allied
Jewish Campaign, and many among those
who have made their contributions have
given too little. Are we to be branded as
a miserly people? Our issue last week
contained a very fine bit of verse, under
the title "The Miser and the Fisherman,"
translated from the Hebrew of Ben-Zeeb,
a 17th century poet. We quote the poem
again for the benefit of the non-givers:

A Miser once into a river fell.
Hard by a boatman heard his frenzied yell.
He swiftly ran, and cried, "Give me your
hand,
And I shall safely bring you back to land."
"Give?" moaned 'the miser, "when I've ne'er
before
Given anything? No—never will I give!"
And (sinking, he was heard or seen no more.

This is exactly what it amounts to: by
giving liberally we help to preserve the
community; by failing to give we sink, and
the community is in danger of sinking
with us.
The task before us is a clear one: the
community must be kept intact. Our in-
stitutions must be preserved. The campaign
must not fail.

Commencements in Seminaries

Commencement exercises in Jewish
. theological seminaries in this country this
year assume particular importance by vir-
tue of the honors that were conferred upon
outstanding Jewish and non-Jewish lead-
ers.
For Detroiters, the graduation exercises
at the Jewish Theological Seminary of
America provide much local interest be-
cause two rabbis—Dr. Abraham Moses
Hershman of Congregation Shaarey Zedek
and Rabbi Max Weine of the faculty of
the United Hebrew Schools—have earned
the degrees of Dpctor of Hebrew Liter-
ature.
The Jewish Theological Seminary also
provided an angle of national importance
by conferring the honorary degree of Doc-
tor of Letters upon Gabriel Davidson, who
for 27 years has been associated with the
Jewish Agricultural Society, and for many
years has served as the society's general
manager. Dr. Davidson has made an im-
portant contribution to the Jewish farm
movement in this country, and has earned
the honors conferred upon him.
Similarly important is the honorary de-
gree of Doctor of Hebrew Literature con•
ferred by the Jewish Theological Seminary
upon Felix M. Warburg, eminent philan-
thropist and Jewish leader. For Mr. War-
burg it was a double honor in that he was
'_chosen to deliver the commencement ad-
dress.
Another deserved honor that came from
the Jewish Theological Seminary was the
conferring of the honorary degree of Doc.
for of Hebrew Literature. in absentia, on
Rabbi Immanuel Low of Szeged. Hungary.
But the most important honors conferred
upon outstanding men were those awarded
by the Jewish institute of Religion upon
Ilf enahem Ussishkin, world president of
the Jewish National Fund, and Prof.
Charles Cutler Torrey, head of the Sem-
itics department of Yale University.
Dr. Torrey is an outstanding Semitics
scholar, and is the author of important
works dealing with Biblical studies and
commentaries. Perhaps his best work is
his moat recent—"Jewish Foundations of
Islam," published by the Jewish Institute
of Religion. This volume is composed of
a'series of lectures which Professor Torrey

delivered at the Jewish Institute of Re-
ligion.
By selecting Mr., Ussishkin of Palestine
for an honorary doctorate, the Jewish In-
stitute of Religion proved that it is more
than a mere American Jewish theological
school. It *proved that its interests em-
brace the numerous Jewish movements and
ideals, and that the effort for the restora-
tion of Palestine as the Jewish National
Home is akin to its theological program.
To the numerous graduates, and partic-
ularly to those chosen for honorary de-
grees, we extend our sincere congratula-,
thins.

The "Stage Jew"

When the vaudeville performers were
in the height of their glory, the chief sub-
ject of attack by anti-defamation groups
in Jewry were the so-called "stage Jews."
Every time an actor abused the Jews on
the stage, there was a cry of indignation.
Occasionally, such a protest would result
in the drawing of comparisons, with Jews
being reminded that the Irish, the Scotch,
the Germans, are similarly made the sub-
jects for poking fun without raising the
hue and cry that is the Jew's habit.
While, in many instances, the non-
Jewish reply to Jewish protests was justi-
fied, one type of defamation was always
subject to severest condemnation because
it - involved Jews who did the mimicking
and Jewish audiences who became hilar-
ious over stupid antics of their fellow Jews
who reviled their people. - This type of
abuse, spelling a lack of self-respect, is the
most dastardly and should be severely con-
demned whenever it becomes noticeable.
The popularity of the night club and
the cabaret threatens again to revive this
obnoxious type of stage Jew. We make
particular reference at this time to the
appearairce in a local night club of a very
able Jewish master of ceremonies who is a
fine dancer, a good singer, an excellent
entertainer, but who occasionally shames
his people with his mimicry of what he
purports to be "Jewish boys" and a silly
effort to be funny at the expense of his
people. He rolls up his coat collar, pulls
the derby over his ears and begins to
shriek and shout in such unintelligible lan-
guage—which is supposed to be a Jewish
dialect but which is. merely a conglomera-
tion of stupid sounds. This entertainer is
not the only guilty person. On the occa-
sion to which we make reference he had an
unusually large audience of whom at least
90 per cent were Jews, and he was given
an ovation for his antics.
If this is self-respect, then give us de-
famation and abuse! It is impossible to
conceive of a worse type of self-degrada-
tion than this Jewish display of hilarious-
ness at the expense of misrepresentation of
Jewish. characteristics.
Jews can not afford thus to sacrifice
their dignity. If Jews so defame their ap-
pearance and actions, with Jewish audi-
ences applauding it, how can we complain
about non-Jewish actors and non-Jewish
audiences who laugh at our expense?
We can't afford to be too sensitive about
such matters, but we dare not remain si-
lent when Jews are the defamers of the
Jewish name. It is immaterial where such
burlesque is enacted—whether it is on the
stage, in the cabaret or at synagogue so-
cials—and many synagogue and philan-
thropic groups have similarly been guilty
of such- misconduct. Jews dare not mis-
represent the Jewish character. If there
is one thing which we must not lose, it is
our sense of humor. But far more impor-
tant is the need for retaining our self-
respect.

The Boycott Merger

German barbarians were given the only
answer that is possible at this time, when
the American Federation of Labor and the
Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League to Cham-
pion Human Rights joined their efforts to
advocate the boycott against German-
made goods.
It is too late to back out now. The boy-
cott has been started, it did much damage
to Germany, and Germany's present rulers
persist in pursuing a policy of hatred and
discrimination against Jewry.
There are many who now enjoy saying:
"I told you so." This element will tell us
that the boycott did the present damage
to German Jewry, and that Nazi persist-
ence in persecuting our people is due to
our retaliations. We doubt whether any-
one has the right to act as the prophet on
the boycott question. We, too, advocated
action by the governments and preferred
the silent to the publicly-advocated boy-
cott. But we refuse to believe that Hitler-
ite bigots and barbarians would have acted
otherwise even if we had failed altogether
to retaliate, to protest and to boycott, and
if we had turned the other cheek to be
smitten.
Naturally, the boycott is limited to Ger-
many and German-made goods, and not
to Germans in this country or their pro-
ducts. As Americans we expect American
Germans similarly to be honest in their
citizenship and not to adeneate boycotts
against American Jews and &may trans-
plant the seeds of IIitlerite hatred to this
country.

Angel Adolf's Scapegoat

A news report from Berlin states that
the drought in Germany is endangering the
Hitlerite economic program.
But the Nazis need not worry. Angel
Adolf has the Jewish scapegoat ready for
them.
•

Our Film Folk

By HELEN ZIGMOND

BY-THE-WAY

POLISH JEWS ON THE SPOT

Tidbits and News

IIOLLYWOOD.—The story be
By ALEPH KATZ
hind "Men in White" and its au
thor, Sidney Kingsley, is just
Chip,' right, 1D71.
1D71.Jewish Thp
e aphIc Agency. It.c 1
about a Horatio Alger set-up .
you know, the boy who encoun
tern obstacle after obstacle unti
kD TIDINGS about the condition of the
he climbs to recognition and
throughout the country. It has also prevailed
riches.
,000,0000 Jews of Poland were brought by
upon the government to permit entry duty-free
Kingsley, a quiet, unassuming
leriashe Unger, young Yiddish writer who ar-
to packages sent Polish Jews by their relatives
fellow, conceived the idea for the
rived in New York recently on the S. S. Kosciuski
in other countries. This means much to the im-
play some six years ago while
poverished Polish-Jewish population.
spending a month with an interne . of the Gydnia-American Line.
at Lebanon Hospital in New York.,
Unger, who is the son of the Zhanner rebbe
Worked in Palestine
The play was written . . . tagged
of Galicia, a member of the Rapshitz dynasty,
About Palestine, where he spent several years,
the "Crisis" . . . made the rounds '
also told the writer in some detail about an ambi-
of Broadway producers . . . re-
Nlenashe Unger had a number of interesting
tious work he has in preparation on the history
ceived only rejections. Finally it
things to relate. While there he was a member
of the Chassidic movement, its leading figures
made its non-professional debut
of the Yiddish writers' league and of the Achduth-
as a satire on what doesn't hap-, and its holy rabbis.
Hapoalim, an organization formed to create
pen in it hospital . . . produced
Political
Situation
Worse
Daily
by the internes of another New
Jewish-Arab solidarity.
The political situation df the Polish Jews gross's
York hospital for their annual,
When the talk turned to the question of Yid-
show .. . Was voted the funniest worse from day to day, Unger said. The new
dish in Palestine, Unger said that in his opinion
play ever staged.
anti-Semitic party, NARA, is very active and has
Yiddish
was not in rivalry with Ilebrew there.
Kingsley relegated the scrip to
come out in full hooligan strength against the
Jews recognized Hebrew as the national language,
his trunk ... hopped a westbound
Jews.
Just
where
these
anti-Semites,
who
are.
in
train ... took a small writing job
he said, but they also like Yiddish. Unger be-
essence, the heirs of the former anti-Jewish par-
with Columbia Pictures in }lolly
lieves that in Palestine Yiddish should have at
wood. Ile showed his bosses the
ties, get funds for their activities is a mystery
least the some rights and be tolerated in the same
masterpiece . .. offered it almost
to everyone.
fashion as are the other minority languages, such
gratis to the company if they ,
The economic situation is virtually unbearable,
would raise his pay. Hospital pic-
as German. He believes that a Zionist news-
especially
in
the
border
regions
and
the
small
tures weren't in vogue . . . the
paper should be printed with a Yiddish supple-
offer was refused .. . and when
towns, Unger continued. The various income
ment for the Jews who have just conic from
option-time came around his con-
sources are being closed to Jews and artisans are
Eastern Europe, in the same way as the recent
tract was not renewed.
being barred from their trades. The young peo-
Disheartened after other re-
German arrivals have been permitted to publish
ple
are
despondent.
Eager
for
productive
ac-
buffs, he returned to New York to
a newspaper in German. Unger believes that
tivity, they have no opportunity to engage in it.
try Broadway again. This time
such a newspaper in Yiddish would help the East
Doris Warner, daughter of the
There are now in Poland 60,000 Chalutzim ready
European Jews to acclimate themselves to the
movie man, bought an interest in
to leave for Palestine at a moment's notice, Unger
land.
the play . . . it was produced .
said.
hailed a hit . . . bought for the
Encyclopedia of Chasaidica
movies ... won the Pulitzer prize.
Cultural Workers Persistent
In Palestine Unger attended the Hebrew Uni-
Now Sidney Kingsley may have
But despite the terrible economic plight, the
most any writing job for the ask-
versity and studied cabala under Professor
efforts to spread culture among the Jewish popu-
ing.
Shalom. While there he began the extensive
lation are going ahead persistently, the visitor
And that, boys and girls, is the
encyclopedia
on Chassidism and the holy rabbis
reported.
story of a determined young man.
• • •
which he hopes to publish in Hebrew and in
The schools conducted by the Zisho (Central
Incongruous a s it seems • • .
Yiddish. lie has already collected more than
Yiddish School Organization) are in great diffi-
the new two-inch'plush carpet
300 volumes on the subject. The encyclopedia
culty. Both students and teachers frequently go
in Samuel Goldwyn's adminis-
will contain the biographical and bibliographical
hungry and make great sacrifices to the cause
tration building is the cause of
material on the various rabbis who figured in
of Jewish education. The same is true of the
noise. The boys in the offices
the history of Chassidism, from its beginnings
are fidgety and are missing their
Tarbuth Ilebrew schools.
afternoon siesta because they
until the year 1914. The contribution of each
There are no publishing houses for Yiddish
, can't hear the footsteps of ap-
to Chassidic philosophy will be but a part of the
books because the depression has put a stop to
proaching execs.
valuable data to be included in the compendium.
book sales and such books as appear are published
Unger has come to America in the hope that
at the expense of the author himself. The theater
The reason you haven't seen
he will find much important material for his
Lowell Sherman in a flicker for no
is having a hard time, but the Yiddish actors
long is that he lost his voice some-
work in the library of the Schechter Seminary.
continue at their performances and stage-craft,
time ago ... no can speak above
Ile plans to stay here two months, in which time
getting only minimum compensation. The press
■ whisper.
he will also study the life of the Jewish labor
• • •
plays an important role in cultural work, and
masses and report on it to Unser Express, the
Sam Seidelman, theater man-
there are now 12 daily Yiddish newspapers in
Ilajnt and Literarische Bletter in Poland. At
ager, adds his bit to the jokelore
Warsaw and 500 various other publications
concerning the "Private Life of
the same time he will endeavor to explain the life
throughout the country.
Henry VIII." Says that the other
of Polish Jews to those of this country.
Loan Funds Great Aid
night a couple rushed into the
The various relief activities carried on by the
theater asking how much longer
Began Writing in 1924
the picture would run. "Not
Joint Distribution Committee, the On and vari-
Unger made his literary debut in 1924 in the
I much longer," answered the usher,
ous other organizations engaged in healing the
Folks-Shtimme and the Wilno Tog. Among his
They're just knocking off the
ailing Jewish community, have brought much help,
works are "The Immigration of Chassidim to
fifth wife!"
• • •
Unger said. Loan funds, known as the C. K. B.,
Er tzz Israel"; "On the History of Mesh Shearim''
Dots and dashes: Message from
were established with the help of the J. D. C., and
in
usalem, a bibliography of the Yiddish Press
Storkville reports the Phil Bergs
received a government subsidy of 100,000 zloty.
in Palestine (to be printed shortly in the IWO
(she's Leila Ilyams) are expecting
The C. K. B. is under the management of Isaac
Bletter, publication of the Yiddish Scientific
a delivery . . . Mrs. Bessie Lasky,
Gitterman and Isaac Borenstein, statistician and
Institute) ; a manuscript novel called "The Down-
wife of the producer, is exhibiting
economist.
60 paintings (her own work) at
fall of a Chassidic Dynasty," and a book of stories,
the Stendahl Galleries . . . Irving
The organization has about 20,000,000 zloty
some of which have appeared in the Menorah

S 3

(Turn to Next Pagel

at,its disposal. It has established some 800 funds

flfl iGl 4101 FIR

51 //1/7-/A4 /f0EN/C —

--

EPRESENTATIVE ANDREW this time; but I want to say that
;
L. SOMERS of New York is
tin fully cognizant and appreci-
;quite perturbed over Nazi propa- ate that he has worked on this
ganda activities in the United bill, and, in fact, as early as in
States. The congressman from February, he submitted a draft of
the Empire State is particularly a bill which, I felt, was legislation
concerned over those propaganda in the right direction, and its prin-
activities in this country which are ciples and some of its provisions
supported by foreign funds.
are now embodied in the bill be-
He points out that so far as Get fere us."
•
•
many is concerned, the propaganda
activities are for the purpose of
Only a few hours before Repre-
fostering hatred against the Jew. sentative Sabath made this state-
In order to foster this hatred, Rep- went, Representative Kopplemann
, '
resentative Somers say s , the Ger a member of the Banking and Cur-
man ministry of propaganda dur- rows, Committee, had been Instru-
ing the last year has been author- mental in getting the committee to
ized to appropriate in connection agree to an amendment to the bill
with its activities in foreign coon- on loans to small industries. This
tries "an amount varying from amendment, which later was adopt-
130,000,000 to 40,000,000 reich- ed by the House, was sponsored by
' marks, equivalent to about $16,- the Congressman from Illinois. It ,
000,00n.
will make possible loans to public '
• • •
schools. in places where teachers
The Hitler government's expen- have been forced to go without pay
diture-for foreign propaganda ac- and schools have been closed for''
tivities, coupled with that govern- lack of funds.
ment's increase in the military
• • •
budget last year. makes a total
Representative Sol Bloom of New'
expenditure of 6156,000,000, ac-
fork, chiefly known for his activi-
cording to Representative Somer's
figures. This. he says, "is more ties as chairman of the George
Washington
Bi-Centennial Celebra-
than 15 times the annual interest
requirements of the German gov- tion Committee, has added new lus-
tre to his name. Recently he was
ernment's direct obligation to the
American, people, most of which, it in charge of the Congressional com-
olappens. is owed to Americans memoration of the one hundredth
anniversary of the death of Gilbert
.s0Werman
du Motier, Marquis do La Fayette,
"the last Major General of the
Another interesting comparison
made by the New York Congress- Revolutionary • Army."
• •
man is that the 1156,000,000 "rep-
In connection with the George
resents more than 12 per cent of all
German obligations held by Ameri- Washington Ili-Centennial Cele-
can investors, who, in time of Ger- bration, Representative Bloom had
many's need, were friendly enough thousands of pictures and pamph-
lets printed by the Government
to lend."
; "Thus," the New Yorker said, Printiag Office for distribution
throughout
the country, "with the
"are the American people placed
in the position of paying for the compliments of Representative Sol .
Bloom."
very propaganda that is aimed at
• • •
the overthrow of American institu-
Now that Congress has commem-
: lions. If Germany were to put the
, money she is using to persecute the orated the one hundredth anniver-
new into paying her debts to our sary of the death of La Fayette,
'citizens, she would have a better Representative Bloom has intro-
duced a resolution in the House
•laim to our confidence."
• • •
"to print, with illustrations, the
roceedings" of the event.
; For one reason or another corn- proceedings"
' pliments fly freely in the House of Should the resolution be adopted,
Representatives. When this hap- the Government Printing Office
pens, there usually is • good reason will no doubt he required to print
thousand , of copies of the proceed-
In back of it all.
, Recently when the House had ings. The printing work will he
under consideration the bill pro- excellent. And just as in the case
viding for loans to small indus- of the pictures and pamphlets
tries, Representative Adolph J. printed for the George Washing-
Sabath of Illinois delivered • few ton celebration, the matter will
remarks in favor of the bill. in the carry the name of Representative
midstef the discourse, Represen- Sol Bloom, for• posterity to -read.

l

: tative Herman P. Kopplemann of
;Connecticut asked Representative
!Sabath if he would yield the floor
to him.
Pressed for time, Representative
, Sabath said he could not yield to
the gentleman from Connecticut.
Ile did, however, take time to say
; • few kind words about Represen-
i tative Kopplemann as follows:
, "I regret that I cannot yield to
, the gentleman from Connecticut at

,copyright. 1934. JT At

BROTHERHOOD

Lord, set Thy churches free
From foolish rivalry!
all free!
Lord,

mike

Let all past bitterness
Now and forever cease

And all our souls possess
True charity,
—JOHN OXENHAM.

Journal.

By DAVID SCHWARTZ

W0 14 , 41 111, 1934, J. T. A.)

, BARUCH AND LUTHER

There is a rather interesting
; story being told of an encounter
•at some Washington official func-
tion between Bernard Baruch and
the German Ambassador, Dr.
; Luther.
;
According to the story, Luther
was presented to Baruch and ex-
' tended his hand. Baruch, refus-
ing to take the hand, walked off.
"Am I supposed to shake hands
, with one who has done so much
evil to my people?" remarked
Baruch in explanation, as some of
those present gathered about him
after the incident.
We trust Dr. Luther gave a
complete version of the incident to
his superior, the fellow with the
loud reaping voice, who suffered
no physical injuries during the
war, except that of being blinded
by shell-shock. I refer to Mr.
Hitler.
I think it was Ernst Toiler who
was the only one who commented
on the strange fact that Hitler,
; who was blinded in action, re-
gained his sight as soon as he left
the front:
• •
ANOTHER NAZI STORY
But going back to the story of
Luther and Baruch, I am reminded
of another Nazi story told by Dr.
A. A. Roback.
The story is probably less au-
thentic, but it has an idea. Ac-
cording to the story, a Nazi was
very much excited at the way a
certain Jewess Was looking at him.
"Look at her she wants to de-
vour me," said the Nazi.
"Don't you know," replied the
Jewess, "that our religion forbids
us to eat pork?"

,PALESTINE'S POPULATION
What is the Jewish population
of Palestine? Officially, it is given
as 250,000. But Louis Lipsky is
iust back from Palestine, and he
' estimates the Jewish population as
320,000.
If that estimate is true—and
Lipsky is not a man given to ex-
aggeration—it is very significant.
The thing that impresses you
most of all about Palestine today
is the tremendous energy manifest
. on all' sie s says Lipsky.
Great things are happening in
Palestine, which even Jews do not
appreciate to the full.
• •
THE ARAB PROBLEM
I remember some years ago lis-
tening to a discussion of the Arab
problem in Palestine. One of the
Jews was making the point that
not enough effort was being made
by Jews to win over the Arabs.
That if suds an attempt were not
made, we were sure of trouble,
that Arab nationalism was grow-
ing, etc., etc.
Then another Jew who was lis-
tening—and who had been in Pal-
estine—joining in the discussion,
commented that the Arabs' prob-

(Turn to Next Pagel

Hitlerites Made by !Backward Glance .at Jewish
`Merchant of Venice'

Contributions to the Theatre

Anspacher Says Book Patterns
Children's Mind to Reli•
gious Prejudice

By VIVIAN COHEN

117

teopyrIght, 1934, J. T. A.)

"Why make little IAtlers out
. school children?" Dr. Louis
K .it sLpea ec g
h e e r , ef odu
ere, of t t h e
fel l ow
Dram a
e L teeatge u
d e for th ePtokl let cal Fdeuec aytei n,
ye a r.
I have tried to get the 'Mer-
chant of Venice' out of the
hands of the public schools. And
I wish everyone would help me.
There is no excuse for pattern.
ing children's minds to a reli-
gious prejudice."

K

Thus spoke a leader of the
theater whose Bible is, in the
orthodox tradition, Shakespeare.
The statement is not heresy for
him. lie contends that the
"Merchant of Venice" is an in-
ferior play. It contains one
role—but one that has present-
ed enough difficulty even in the
hands of the great. When Mans-
field or Warfield undertook to
play Shylock, there had to be
much changing of She script,
and elision of the most glaring
brutalities.

" 'I wish my daughter were
dead with the ducats in her
ear'." Malevolence lined the
speaker's features.
"There it
is.
You shrink from the char-
acter. And children, whose
minds are wax to receive and
marble to retain, are fed the(
sort of thing. In Shakespeare's
day it was a matter of expedi-
ence to write such a play. Anti-
Semitism was rife in England,
and the topic pleased the Queen.
"It was an elaboration of •
bit of gossip that had reached
the court through the 'Now
Yorker' of the day. A Jewish
g eitmhblaer Goef ntRiloem
‘‘
ferim
enaddethaatwaNglea r-
gellan would fail in his project
of encircling the globe. The
winner might demand • pound
of flesh to be taken from the
breast of his adversary. When
Magellan's succe.s was an-
flounced, the Jew, who had lost.
was forced to flee his murderous
playmate, who pursued him with
a knife. That is the first point,
you see. It was not the Jew

(Turn to Next Pagel

By HENRY W. LEVY

tettPYrtgAt,

I

JewIttli Telt, grApht, A gen y1.

ITH

THE Pulitzer diadem ; was one of the long run hits of the
VV safely ensconced on the season. With Arthur. Guiterman,
youthful brow of Sidney Kingsley ; the rhymester, Mr. Langner adapt-
' and with the thoughts of the pro- es] the Moliere comedy, "The School
!ducing fraternity pointed towards for Husbands," the Theater Guild's
Europe and other points, the ; second production of the year. His
theater is best described as inert. third bit of craftsmanship this
Oxygen, in the form of artificial season was his adaption of the
refrigeration, is prolonging the Johann Straus operetta, "Die Fled-
gasps of some few shows. Another ermaus," which appeared in New
couple, late Spring starters, like York under the title, "Champagne,
The Milky sVay" anti "New ' Sec." Robert Simon, music coin-
Faces," are managing to get by mentator for the New Yorker, did
under their own wind. And from ' the new lyrics for this production,
time to time intrepid, some would Mr. Langner will later enter this
call them foolish, producers will survey as a producer, as one of the
attempt to overcome climactic con- six directors of the Theater Guild.
litmus with what are called sum- John Wesley, a nephew of Maur-
ma shows, naked musicals and airy ice Schwartz, first achieved fame
; farce comedies. But aside from as the author of "The Last Mile"
the summer tryout theaters in out- and was hack on Broadway this
lying sectors the theater, like Mi- season with a red hot pieceZtlikm-
lady's furs, is tucked away in earn- ing propaganda, "They Shall Not
phor and cold storage. Always a Die," a play based on the actual
I perishable commodity, this most incidents of the Scottsboro trial.
:delicate of the arts cannot stand Young Wesley, who in his short
the withering influence of the heat. career has been everything from
a
; All of which makes it proper and betel bellboy to a stoker on a ship,
fitting, at the moment, to review was at one time an actor in the
the past theatrical season. ''''' Yiddish Repertory Theater of his
As always, an Innumerable ar- uncle.
ray of Jewish talents have contri- ;
Moss Hart and Irving Berlin
butts] to the art and the hocus are lthe authors of the smash hit
emus that is Broadway's gaiety. ' of the season, "As Thousands
tinder the heading of art, and lead. Cheer," a satirical review that
ing it by reason of its professional makes faces at the I'rince of Wales,
choice, is the Pulitzer prize win- Gandhi, Noel Coward and others
ning, "Men in White." This play of our topical celebrities. Since the
by Sidney Kingsley is the third days when he co-authored "Once
play of Jewish' authorship to be In A Lifetime" with George S.
honored with the Pulitzer Prize Kaufman, Hart has risen to a posi-
since its inception in 1918. To corn- lion as a wit second only to Kauf-
plete the Jewish picture surround- : man himself. O
Irving
bresaR Berlin,
ing this production one should note nothing much need d
that it is produced by the Group man who started his sensational
Theater (Lee Strassberg and liar- career with "Alexander's Ragtime
old Clurman in association with Band," this season had, among
Sidney Harmon and James R. Ull- other hits, "Easter Parade."
man), directed by Lee Strassberg,
Collaborators
and has a cast including J. Edward
As for Mr. Kaufman, with !dor-
Bromberg, Luther Adler, Herbert ris Ryskind and the Gershwins, he
Ratner, Sanford Meisner, Bob authored "Let Them Eat Peke,"
Isewb, Morris Carnovsky and Clif- the sequel to the Pulitzer prize-
ford Odets. There is also the added winning "Of Thee I Sing" of two
fact that the "angel" of the show seasons ago. Ile also joined hands
and its third owner, is Doris War- with Alexander Wollcott in the
ner of the movie family who spot- collaboration of "The Dark Tower,"
ted it before her elders, who in their a
blood-curdling mystery murder-
leisurely contemplation of the farce, a play that had literary as
play's values lost the movie rights well as dramatic qualties
for it to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
John Howard Lawson, whose
Other Playwrights
"Processional" and "'Roger Bloom."
Other notable playwright. of made him a white hope of the thee-
the season were Lawrence Lagner, ter about a decade
ago, celebrated
John Watley, Moss Hart, Irving his return from Hollywood with
Berlin. Morris Ryskind, George S. two plays that had brief rune. "The
Kaufman, John Howard Lawson, Pure in Heart" and "Gentle-
Leopold Atlas, George S. Sklar and woman." Both productions opened
Albert Maltz and Jerome Kern the same week and the stage was
and Otto Harbach, set for a
Howard Lawson week.
Because he was the most pro- But the plays were not "Proses-
and at the same time very ‘ innli '' " not even were they a
successful, Mr. Langner ranks first 'Success Story," Mr. Lawson's
mention. With his wife, under the contribution of the previous season.
paeudonyms of Alan Childe and
Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach
wrote "Th e collaborated on the successful musi-
Isabelle London,
cal,
"Roberta." It was just an-
Pursuit of Happiness " • study i n
the ancient
d honorable New other triumph for this duo and the
England custom of bundling, which
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Pagel

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