THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS October 17, 1975 19 Richard Rodgers 50-Year Career in Autobiography: 'musical Stages' Richard Rodgers . . . an electric name in the history of Broadway and the devel- opment of what has become distinctly American, the big theatrical musical. After writing more than 1,000 songs for more than 40 musicals, Broadway plays, and numerous Hollywood films, Rodgers has put his own views of his 50-year- TRU-KOSHER FOODS HEWS! i a mi Lowest Prices in Town • For All Simi= • Mini Ko-Ops • Parties • Luncheons Call TRU-KOSHER FOODS CORPORATION 547-2784 no sabbath calls career in his autobiography "Musical Stages" (Random House). Year by year, Rodgers takes the reader through the development of his ca- reer and some of the great- est stage music that the world has ever known. His 25-year association with Lorenz Hart, the drunken master, who de- veloped with Rodgers such shows as "Babes in Arms" and "Connecticut Yan- kee," is detailed along with his astounding team- work with Oscar Ham- merstein II. Of the nine stage produc- tions that Rodgers and Hammerstein collaborated on, six were made into highly successful movies: "Oklahoma!," "Carousel," "South Pacific," "The King and I," "Flower Drum Song," and "The Sound of Music." In his opening paragraph, Rodgers makes no bones about his Jewish back- ground: "They carried my great-grandmother's coffin down . . . This hurried ri- BARBAS CIGAR CUSTOMERS MAY FIND their Cigar Brands at app Michigan's Largest Retail Cigar Operation 411)0110 614r Oak Park Green 8 Shopping Center West Bloomfield Orchard Mall NEW CADILLAC? BUY OR LEASE FROM ANDY BLAU in BIRMINGHAM at WILSON-CRISSMAN CADILLAC CALL BUS. MI 4-1930 RES. 642-6836 1350 N. WOODWARD, BIRMINGHAM RICHARD RODGERS 1949 photo tual was the end of orthodox Judaism in our family. From that time on, my par- ents, my brother and I were Jewish for socioethnic rea- sons rather than because of any deep religious convic- tion." And although Rodgers seems to say that religion made little difference in his musical gifts he puzzles over the origin of his talent: "It's the old question: Are these drives genetic or envi- ronmental? . . . In my case, both motivations are possi- ble: a mother who was an accomplished musician and parents who provided me with the joys of music at a time when I desperately needed something in my life that would give me plea- sure." In considering this same question in regards to other well-known compos- ers, Rodgers reveals anec- dotes which are indicative of his entire "Musical Stages," which tells the story of his career and spotlights bits and pieces NYANA Appoints Executive Director R de STOD gives your family and home around the clock security at a LOWER COST than you ever dreamed was possible.Designed to detect intruders BEFORE THEY GET IN and to give you precious minutes warning in case of fire. Discover the greater Peace of Mind that comes with the feeling of security. Call today for a free,. valuable security survey of your home or apt. and a demonstration of the guardian Service System. No obligation of course. Average Apt. under $75 0' Average Home $300°° Call Jerry Grushoff J. G. 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Judge Not Alone Judge not alone! for- none can judge alone save one. —The Talmud about thousands of other personalities who crossed the master's stage: "Naturally, no two com- posers for the musical thea- ter have the identical back- ground and environment, nor does there seem to be any consistency in the fac- tors that shaped their inter- est and talent. In the case of George Gershwin, there was no musical leaning shown by either his mother or father . . . "Jerome Kern is a little easier. His father planned a business career for him, but his mother encouraged his musical interest and was ac- complished enough to give him piano lessons when he was five years old. "Another composer-lyri- cist, Harold Rome, was in- fluenced by a mother who loved to sing and an uncle who played the violin . ." Rodgers goes on to talk about the development of Frederick Lowe, Jule Styne and Arthur Schwartz, and concludes with: "Little is known about Irving Berlin be- yond the fact that his father was born in Russia and was a cantor, hardly enough to account for one of the greatest songwrit- ing talents the world has ever known. "Both Harold Arlen's and Kurt Weill's fathers were cantors . . ." Rodgers says that no defi- nite conclusions can be drawn from the examples he presents, but there does seem to be a musical thread woven into the family back- grounds of the masters. In any event, Richard Rodgers' "Musical_ Stages" presents a chronological passage through 50 years of American musical history. Writers, producers, publish- ers, singers: all the names and faces that swirled ar- ound what was to become of the most magnetic names in American music. Rodgers records it all as faithfully as possible in a glowing saga about Ameri- ca's entertainment indus- try. —A.H. DIAMONDS BOUGHT SOLD & APPRAISED LEON SCHOICHIT (313) 557-9338 SUNDAY ONLY 30% OFF Entire Inventory (313) 968-1780 15075 LINCOLN RD. LINCOLN OAK PARK TOWERS APTS. 10:30-5:30 Tues., Wed., Sat. MICH. 48237 MENS WEAR 12:00-8:30 Thurs. & Fri. 12-4 Sun. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS OF THE JEWISH WELFARE FEDERATION OF DETROIT Pursuant to the by-laws of the JEWISH WELFARE FEDERATION OF DETROIT, the text of three amendments to said by-laws are herewith published (in italics). The membership of Federation will meet Wednesday, October 29, 1975 at 7:00 p.m. at the Annual Meeting at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, South- field to vote on adoption. (1) ARTICLE III, Section 2 In addition to the members of the Board elected as aforesaid, the Board shall include the following .. . (d) The retiring president of the Federation and the retiring chairman of the Executive Committee for a term of three (3) years following the completion of his term of office." (2) ARTICLE III, Section 4 "There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the following . . . (f) Former presidents of the Federation and retiring chairmen of the Executive Committee for a term of three (3) years after the termination of their re- spective terms as president or Executive Committee chairman." (3) ARTICLE III, Section 1, Paragraph 2 "Any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit, or is or was serving at the request of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judg- ments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding in the manner and to the full extent permitted by Michigan law. The indemnification provided hereunder shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person. The words "employee" or "agent" as above used shall include any person who is, or may be deemed to be or have the status of a member of the Retirement and Insurance Commit- tee, an administrator or fiduciary under any employee welfare benefit plan or em- ployee pension benefit plan acting on behalf of the Federation. The words "action, suit or proceeding" as above used shall include actions by third parties as well as actions by or in the right of the Federation. The Federation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person com- prising the class of persons intended to be indemnified under the preceding paragraph in the manner and to the full extent permitted by Michigan law." JEWISH WELFARE FEDERATION OF DETROIT William Avrunin, Executive Vice-President 163 Madison Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226 965-3939