THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Fourteen
How Molly Picon's theater
Autobiographical Honor A.Littman
Play Was Prepared at Performance
Purely
COMMENTARY
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
YIDDISH THEATER'S FUTURE
Molly Picon, the charming actress
who is beloved not only among Jews
lialt also among non-Jews. is mak-
ing a cony-back on the Yiddish
stage. "Suet- A Life" is the title
of her play, and we are told that
her cast will include 33 good
act ors.
Can Molly do what so many oth-
ers have failed to accomplish?,Will
the Yiddish theater be given a new
breath of life?
Truly, Molly Picon can draw a
audience anywhere—for two
performances. But that does not
save the Yiddish stage. What mat-
ters is a long run, a deeu-rooted
interest, some measure of devotion
to the Yiddish cultural value;.
'On th' face of things, the situa-
tion is dark in the Yiddish ranks.
.We were accustomed to seeing
young people In Yiddish audiences.
Today they are rarities.
The decline of the Yiddish stage,
the Yiddish press, the Yiddish de-
bating groups, reacts negatively in
some quarters. They always con-
tributed something to Jewish life.
They were, in fact, the mainstays
of Jewish communities. Today, the
Yiddish radio is Interspersed with
Engilah. the number of Yiddish
readers has declined, the Yiddish
theater struggles. It is pitiful.
It is just as important to find a
substitute as it is to strengthen
tnit which matters in Yiddish
quarters. That is why it becomes
necessary to build a better English-
Jewish press, to advance interest
among the English-speaking Jew-
ries. to create understanding and to
improve values.
But if Molly Picon and Maurice
Schwartz and others can make a
good come-back they will have im-
proved Jewish life. Well, we shall
watch Molly and her courageous
efforts.
• • •
IN THE HEBREW-
SPEAKING QUARTERS
Let us not irmi gine. however, that
the decline of Yiddish has brought
much [roc(' to Hebrew. Yiddish
helped Hebraists, and though the
decline of the former may not hurt
the latter, the Hebrew front is not
as strong as it could be.
Yet it is holding its own—and
that's important. The educators
are creative, they are courageous,
they are to be commended for their
efforts. But too many Bar Mitzvahs
begin and end with the Bible bear-
ing the Rabbi's autograph as a gift
f rom t he synagogue. Very often
the Bible is not even used. There
is a big field to be covered in Amer-
ica. Anil our educators have a job
that is endless.
• • •
THE SPIRITUAL APPEAL
April
I
Molly Picon's newest vehicle,
"Such a Life", a Yiddish musical
comedy by Jacob Kalich, with a
musical score by Joseph Rumschin-
sky, which will mark the return
of the piquant comedienne to the
Yiddish stage after an absence of
four years at the Wilson Theater
Sunday afternoon and evening,
April 19. might just as well be
euphemistically hailed, "I'd Rather
Be Molly Picon"—and let it go at
that, for the play is autobiograph-
ical in stature and theme, depict-
ing the robust and colorful life of
a comedienne who has spanned two
hemispheres.
Playwright Jacob Kalich, hus-
band of the comedienne, has been
whirring his cranium with scores
of ideas and dramatic plots.
"No story," he rightfully reasoned,
"is as good as the real story of
Molly Picon." He confided this to
the composer Joseph Rumshinsky,
who wrote most of the scores for his
librettos and lyrics.
Molly entered and joined in. They
recalled humorous and tragic epi-
sodes and scenes. days and hours
of glory, joy or profound sorrow.
Molly finally discovered the reason
for this reminiscing and was elated
with the idea to portray herself in
a theatrical production.
That very night, work was start-
ed on the script, and several weeks
lat;r. under the guiding scrutiny
of Edwin A. Relkin, who is spon-
soring Miss Picon's return to the
Yiddish stage, rehearsals were under
way.
Proceeds from the matinee per-
formance will be devoted to the
Russian Relief fund.
NAZISM
(Continued from Page 2)
going around ever since. It has
now been established that none is
alive."
Confidential
Tidbits from Everywhere
Strictly
(Copyright, 1942, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate)
ZIONIST NEWS
The negotiations between Zion-
ists and non-Zionists, carried on
for quite some time now with a
view to reaching full understand-
ing, are getting very warm .
street . . . The optimist's cheerful
tidings is: "Well, it locks as if
we're going to lose this war" . .
And the pessimist dolefully whines:
"Yes—but when?" . And there's
another story, which has come over
the trans-Atlantic grapevine in a
That is, they may, to everybody's
number of versions, and which
surprise, actually get somewhere.
Fodor tells in this way; A Nazi is
. . . In the inner councils of the
bragging to a friend about his won-
Emergency Committee for Zionist
derful job , . . "I stand in a big
Affairs much confusion reigns be-
tower," he explains, "and the in-
cause of the—as yet unaccepted—
stant Germany controls the whole
resignation of Emanuel Neumann,
go and tell the
its chief of public relations . Al world I am to
Fuehrer" . . And he adds proudly:
Strelsin, the man behind many im-
"I get 10 marks a week for that"
portant projects in Jewish life, is
. . . "Ten marks!" exclaims the
devoting much of his time to the
friend . . "That's not so much
activities of the Committee for a
money" ... "No," concedes the job-
Jewish Army.
holder, "but it's a lifelong job."
• • •
Copyright 1942 by . Seven Arts
Feature Syndicate
PRESS REPORT
PM, New York's fighting nickel
tabloid, has gained an enormous
amount of circulation since it
launched its new exposes of the
ABRAHAM LITTMAN
Saturday Evening Post, and of
Ben Zion Witler, noted guest star
Father Coughlin's seditious activi-
at Littman's Yiddish People's thea-
The newly elected officers and
ties since Pearl Harbor . . . Inci-
tre, remains in Detroit for three
dentally, if you will carefully re- directors of the Men's Club of
more performances, Friday evening,
read Milton Mayer's piece in the . Bnai Mashe will outline their plans
Sunday matinee and evening, April
for the coming year, at their first
Will Outline Nam
For Bnai Moshe
Saturday E;ening Post of a couple
10 and 12. Together with the entire
lof weeks ago—the one which pro-
cast, this famous European actor
vcked such a storm—you will find
will appear in the musical perform-
that the trouble is not so much
ance, "His Greatest Love."
with what Mayer says as with the
Tuesday evening, April 14, a tes-
timonial performance will be given
in honor of Abraham Littman,
manager of the theater. On that oc-
casion, marking the completion of
50 years' activities with the Yiddish
theaters, beginning with his early
childhood, Sholem Aleichmem's
"Hard to Be a Jew," will be staged.
"MY SISTER EILEEN"
AT SHUBERT-LAFAYETTE
"My Sister Eileen", the uproar-
ious laugh comedy which enters into
its fourth week in Detroit at the
Shubert - Lafayette Theater next
STOCKHOLM, (JTA) — Three
Sunday night, is proving one of the
thousand 'Jews, including many
most popular theatrical attractions
women, have been rounded up in
that has come to the city in a long
while. The fact that this return en-
gagement of this play is so success-
ful may be attributed to the fact
that it is a hit play, presented by
an excellent company, and with an
admission charge that is geared to
the average pocketbook. with the
I
way the magazine presented it . . .
If the article had been called "The
Case for the Jews" instead of "The
nd d a kif
ibe
e pw
hhs o, "ish a am
Case r A gs i i n os p t Fatr h ao e :J aw
here and there, few Jews
omitted
ha
would have
objec ct t ed to it.
• • •
WEEKLY GIGGLE
ng a
collection of jokes about Hitler and
the war, we are indebted for the
one about Hitler's experience in
Bavaria ... It seems that, as Adolf
was walking along a country road.
he came upon a farmer who stood
despondently beside an ox that
stubbornly insisted on lying down
! in the middle of the road. So
miracle-man Adolf went over to
the animal, whispered a few words
in its ear—and lo. the ox got up.
on its feet .. . The amazed farmei
cried: "How did you do it, my
Fuehrer?" . . . Whereupon Hitler
looked at him coldly and replied:
"In Germany there are 80,000,000
oxen who obey my every command.
... Why should this one be an ex-
meeting Wednesday 'evening. April
15. Edmund Laba, president, will
take charge of the meeting follow-
ing the installation addresses by
Rabbi Fischer and Rabbi Nathan.
INSCRIBED IN GOLDEN
BOOK OF THE J. N. F.
An inscription in the Golden
Book of the Jewish National Fund
was presented by Mr. and Mrs.
Louis Fienman of E. Ferry Ave. in
honor of the marriage of their son,
Bernard, to Helen Brown. daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Brown
of Cherrylawn Ave., and their
daughter Belle to Seymour Owens,
son of Mr. and Mrs.- Benjamin Co-
hen of Sturtevant Ave.
LITTMANS PEOPLES THEATRE
12th St. and Seward - TR. 2-0100
Final Week of the Season!
Friday Eve. Sunday Mat. and Eve.
April 10-12th—Last Week of
BEN ZION WITLER
Famous European Star
in a New Romantic Play with Music
HIS GREATEST LOVE
Supported by Our All Star Cast
LILY LILIANA, LEON LIEBGOLD,
ABE LAX, ETHEL DORF. MISHA
FISIIZON and Entire
COM pas,'
Tuesday Eve., April 14th
Testimonial Night for A. Littman
"HARD TO BE A JEW"
By Scholom Aleichem
Also Big Concert
highest priced seats selling for SI.
There is more than passing inter-
est locally in the fact that Robert
Bernard is a member of this corn- ception?" . Then there's the one
pany, playing the role of the Greek about the German optimist who
landlord of the Greenwich village meets a German pessimist on the
apartment in which the action of
the play takes place. His mother
PA
N A D e l 0 N
c H a e n r d B R2 U1S,
lives with his sister on Webb Ave.,
while another brother lives on Rich-
Two Performances Only — Sunday Mat. and Eve., April 19
ton Ave. Other relatives live on
EDWIN A. DELKIN PRESENTS
Collingwood Ave. The Bernards
No.1 LADY OF THE AMERICAN-YIDDISH STAGE!
came to Detroit from Baltimore
back in 1922. but Robert remained
in the East to pursue a stage
WILSON THEATRE
There is one certain thing that
will emerge from the present crisis.
4, There will be a greater spiritual
appeal. It will come from the
army camps and through the in-
career.
fluence of the chaplains. It will
come from a renewed—let us call it
a survivalist—effort from the syna-
gogue's.
Watch out for one man—Dr. TOLD TO MARK DOORS
Israel Goldstein, dynamic president WITH YELLOW STARS
of the Jewish National Fund of
ZURICH, (JTA)—A number of
America, who Just became presi- Rabbis and Jewish leaders were
A distinct honor came this week
dent of the Synagogue Council of arrested this week in Slovakia for to A. C. Lappin, well known De-
America. He has some splendid alleged "anti-State activities" and troit Jewish leader, who has been
ideas, and we predict that he will on the charge of "spreading alarm- named special arbitrator for the
make the synagogue a power again ing reports," according to a report U. S. Conciliation .Division.
in Jewish life.
by the Slovak News Agency reach-
Mr. Lappin will also be subject
The war is bringing some good to ing here.
to call from the U. S. War Labor
Jews in the spiritual field. There
A decree issued in Slovakia this Board as arbitrator.
will be more thought of the syna- week under the signature of Sano
The announcement was made by-
gogue. People will think more se- Mach, the Minister of Interior, or- Dr. J. R. Steelman, U. S. Director
riously of spiritual values, the aver- ders all Jews to mark their doors of Conciliation.
age American will follow F. D. R.'s with a yellow Mogen David. This
footsteps in resorting to prayer. was ordered in order to make it
(Remember his first act after Pearl easier for the Nazi-controlled Slo- Radomer Package Party
Harbor—he declared a day of vak police and secret service men
prayer for all Americans on the to distinguish between Jewish and
Radomer Friendly Society will
civil New Year's Day.)
Inon-Jewish homes when carrying have a Pesach package party, Sun-
That's the story of the urge back out night raids on Jews.
day evening, April 12, at Assembly
to spiritual values and to a re-
Hall, 12th at Clairmount.
ligious life.
A musical-literary program has
(Copyright, 1992, by Independent
been arranged. Songs will be ren-
Jewish Press Service, Inc.)
dered by Edith Rossin Reznick,
soprano, who will be accompanied
Joseph 'Alvin: Funeral services at the piano by Miss Sylvia Rossen.
CLASSIFIED
A Sholem Aleichem reading will
were held at the Chesed Sheal
s..„, ROOM TO RENT: Neat, attrac- Ernes, April 5, for Joseph Litvin, be given by L. Rosenberg of the
tive room for refined gtntleman. 75 years old. He is survived by his cultural committee. Other members
Davison 5770, 12078. N. Martin- wife, Pearl, and three sons, Dave, of the committee are A. Koviti and
Joshua Joyrich, chairman.
Harry and Irving.
dale.
OBITUARY
PNINEAS J. BIRON'S
Ben Zion Witler Remains
Here for Appearances
April 10 and 12
• • •
ALL SLOVAK JEWS WILL
LOSE CITIZENSHIP
the town of Sarrissko, in the Zemp-
lin district of Slovakia, and sent
Ito forced labor camps, it was re-
ported here this week. Hlinka
Guards , the Slovakian storm-troop-
;
ers cocperated with the Slovak
police in apprehending the Jews,
the reports disclose.
In Bratislava, the Slovak capital,
deportation of Jews to concentra-
tion camps and "ghetto towns" in
the interior continue, the reports
;state. Speaking at a press confer-
l ence in Bratislava, Sano Mach,
Minister of the Interior, declared
; that the Jews will be deported from
the country "in the same way as
they came, with bags and pack-
ages in their hands and their re-
turn to Slovakia will be prevent-
led." Another Slovak spokesman
said Michalovce have now regained
their Slovak character." Slovak
authorities also revealed that all
Jews will shortly be deprived of
their citizenship.
10, 1942
D o
MOL LY
Lappin Named
U. S. Arbitrator
o
IN HER NEW MUSICAL COMEDY
"01 IS DUS LEBEN
111
Music by Jos. Rumshinsky — Book & Lyrics by J. ICalich
CAST OF 25—CHORUS OF 20
Tickets now on sale at Theatre Box Office. GrinnelS
Music Store and Chesluks Book Store
Prices: 75c - $1 - $1.50 and $2 (Plus Tax
Matinee Performance Benefit for Folks Comm. Russian War Relief
LATIVIT f,
TONIGHT SUNDAY
AND EVERY NIGHT
1 %
AT 8:30
DETROIT'S BIGGES T SHOW BARGAIN!
Special Prices
Jew i sh Lodges,
5th BIG WEEK:
Give A Party—Make a Profit!
Freak McCoy 'masts
7Ityl io rthg eo t/
:e .
.
"IT'S A HONEY OF A SHOW"—Walter Wincheil
Seats Now for Next Week
,o•
FIRST TIME AT
POPULAR PRICES,.,
411 Price,
Plus Tax al
EVERY EVE.
INC.
SUNDAYS
850 :Ns $ I
OTHERS 504, 758
WED. MAT.
°RCN. 50c
BALCONY
25c
SAT. MAT.
75C
samosa
50c
SICH.
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