On Crying 'Foul!' Over 'Crunchbird'
BY CHARLOTTE DUBIN
r
By now, the crunchbird joke is
all over town, thanks to Detroiter
Ted Petok, who produced the
Academy Award-winning animated
cartoon.
But who's had the joke on
whom? A Philadelphia American
Jewish Congress official was so
upset over the use of "Jewish"
dialect and "ethnic caricature" in
the 2u2-minute production that he
assailed the Oscar award to such
an "offensive" film.
Whether or not it deserved an
Oscar for technical brilliance is
not for us to debate here. But just
how offensive was "Crunchbird"
and are we to cry "foul!" for this
"regrettable act of insensitivity
toward the Jewish community"?
The dialect is quite obviously
"Jewish." About as Jewish, say, as
the dialect in television's "San-
ford and Son" is Negro. The
brief dialogue between husband
and wife in "Crunchbird" is con-
ducted in "old-time" Jewish—
the way some first generation
American Jews speak. Perhaps
the NAACP should argue that
Sanford does not talk like all
American Blacks do. And few
are junk collectors.
Now, is the dialect germaine to
"Crunchbird"? Probably not. But
from the first word uttered in the
film, we are prepared for a com-
edy. Why? Perhajis we should flat-
ter ourselves. Jewish humor is re-
nowned, and Jewish comedians
frequently effect a "Jewish" accent
to elicit a laugh. Are we laughing
at an entire people who speak
that way, or at the humor we've
come to expect from Jewish com-
edians?
Just what was the "ethnic cari-
cature" in "Crunchbird"? The
story, in brief, revolves around a
woman in search of a birthday
present for her husband, a hard-
working businessman who, the
film points out, is constantly pay-
ing his wife's bills. "Ethnic cari-
cature?"
The woman finally settles on a
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pet—a unique bird that devours
anything on command. When the
husband returns home from the
office and asks what is that crazy
thing, his wife replies, "A crunch-
bird." He explodes with "Crunch-
bird, my ass . . ." And from the
sounds of crunching • you can guess
the rest.
The combination of "Jewish"
accent and a businessman who
constantly pays his wife's bills
("ethnic caricature"?) was suffi-
cient to set off our friend from the
American Jewish Congress. But as
one of the Jewish community who
was insensitively defamed. I can-
not get overly excited.
We eagerly awaited the reac tion
to a pilot TV program "Keep the
Faith" revolving around a Reform-
Conservative rabbi which was tele-
vised last Friday Itch, tch) eve-
ning. It "defamed" Jews who have
shortened their names, bossy syna-
gogue sextons and other "typical"
aspects of Jewish life. But we've
heard no reaction other than plea-
sure.
If Archie Bunker has heralded
a new era of laughter at ourselves,
we should hail the breakthrough.
Vigilance against defamation is
one thing, overkill is another.
Marriages
SIEGEL - GREENBERG: L or i
Greenberg became the bride of
Ronald Siegel in a recent cere
mony at Beth Abraham Syna
gogue. Rabbi Israel Halpern and
Cantor Shabtai Ackerman officiat-
ed. The bride is the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Irving T. Greenberg
of Votrobeck Dr. The bridegroom
is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samual
Siegel of North Plainfield, N.J.
Karen Ebert was maid of honor,
and Mrs. Darlene Rose and Mrs.
Marlene Werner, twin sisters of
the bride, were matrons of honor.
Edward Siegel, the bridegroom's
brother, was best man. Ushers
were Rabbi Gerald Werner and
Harvey Rose. David Siegel and
Robert Griesmeyer accompanied
the bridegroom's grandmothers,
Mrs. Ida Siegel and Mrs. Anne
Slottodin. Following a honeymoon
in the Netherlands, Israel and
Italy, the couple will reside in
North Plainfield.
• • •
Summer Youth Programs
Set in Tri-County Area
1 Special s \ m ,4,
4 mer programs for
398-9111 or 895-8805
'Pilot Project' to House Retardates;
Parents' Assn. Forms Advisory Group
1
Announcement was made this eight who are now -icing screened
week by the Parents' Association for that purpose.
oceirLino, n pfroersident of Pa r-
en ItisarrAyssB
for Jewish Residential Care for
Jewish Resi-
the Mentally Retarded that an ad- dential Care, said an available
the
board of prominent Detroit- home for the first group of Jew-
ers is being formed to help ex- ish retardates' is expected to he-
pedite plans for a "pilot project" come a reality during the cooling
weeks.
of housing for retardates.
Dr. David Levadi, prominent
Arrangements are being made,
psychiatrist, was scheduled `to ad-
the association announced, for the
dress the association's meeting
opening of the first of the pro- Thursday evening at the Jewish
posed homes for retarded, to com-
Center.
mence - with housing for six to
MR. AND MRS. ARON CANNON
JNF Arranges 18-Day
Israel Pilgrimage
Aron and Gloria Cannon of Free-
land Ave. will be honored by their
children and grandchildren on the
occasion of their 50th wedding an-
niversary at a Lag b'Omer party
May 2.
The Cannons, who were married
in Poland, have three children.
Sonny, Mrs. Art (Shirley) Munch
and Mrs. Mason (Anna) Himel-
hoch; and eight grandchildren.
Hebrew U. Alumnus
Recommended as
Medical Examiner
Dr. Werner U. Spitz. Maryland's
deputy chief medical examiner,
who holds a medical degree from
Hebrew University. has been
recommended for the job as
Wayne County's chief medical
examiner by the Board of Com-
missioners' Public Safety and
Judiciary Committee.
Dr. Spitz, a native of Germany,
is a nationally known pathologist
and serves on the faculty of the
University of Maryland medical
school and Johns Hopkins Uni-
versity in Baltimore. He served
both his internship and residency
in pathology at the Hebrew Uni-
versity Hadassah Hospital.
A final vote on offering Dr.
Spitz the $39,000 post was to be
taken Thursday by the full board
of commissioners. He would suc-
ceed Dr. Gilbert E. Corrigan, who
was forced to resign Nov. 16 in
the wake of criticism of practices
at the Wayne County Morgue, in-
cluding a Sabbath Day autopsy
on an Orthodox Jew.
yne. Oakland and
I youngsters in
Macomb countiet.,,yoene...er.sp red
I after an announcement by the
United Foundation.
For the eighth consecutive year.
United Community Services (USC)
will provide the programs. The
money comes from the United
Foundation, UCS and New Detroit.
.. inc. These funds are supplemented .
by federal and state government '
money.
Th. UF has set aside $310,000
for the programs.
Last summer, 5450.000 was made
available, $300,009 of it from the
UF.
New Detroit contributed $100.000 ,
I in 1971, and $50,000 came from '
I (JCS.
1.1.
0.14
Friday, April 21, 1972-29
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
MORGAN-MASH: In a recent
The eleventh annual PIANO
home ceremony. Rose Mash of
Greenfield Rd., Southfield, became TEACHERS INSTITUTE will he
held
at Oakland University May 4.
the wife of Hy Morgan of Addison
Ave., Southfield. They are the Co-sponsored by the university's
parents of Mrs. Daniel (Gail) Pik- music department and the division
stein. Mrs. Ronald (Diane) Weiss. of continuing education, the insti-
David Nash. Mrs. Rudy (Linda) tute will be conducted by Beth
Laslo and Martin Morgan. Follow- Miller Harrod, founder of the
Rocky Ridge Music Center near
ing a honeymoon in the Caribbean.
the couple will reside in South- Estes Park, Colorado. The plan-
ning
committee includes Mrs. Dan
' field.
Frohman.
Criterion to See 'Fools'
Call
to
ron, Gloria Cannon
.Marl' AnniversaJ v
The sixth Metropolitan Detroit
Pilgrimage and Study Mission to
Israel has been announced by
David P. Zack. president of the
Jewish National Fund.
The 18-day mission, limited to
40 persons, is scheduled to leave
Detroit July 19, and includes a
three-day visit to Copenhagen.
In Israel, JNF will supervise the
pilgrimage and show its various
projects.
For reservations, contact the
Jewish National Fund, 22100 Green-
field Rd., Oak Park, 968-0820.
tried to join the new Dance
Classes at the Art Linkletter
Schools and they told me to
come bock when I was 3.
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be on stage.