THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 4•- San Francisco's Royal Jewish King By WARREN FREEDMAN NEW YORK — In 1819, Joshua Abraham Norton was born in London, and for his first 30 years led an un- eventful life as an English Jew. (He was Bar Mitzva in South Africa). But in November 1849 Norton arrived in San Francisco, with the enor- mous sum of $40,000. He attended Temple Emanu- El, occasionally accom- panied by his two dogs! He speculated in rice and other commodities, building San Francisco's first rice mill. At one time he had over $250,000. His first financial adven- ture was an effort to corner the rice -Market, but with his colleagues he lost his fortune. Norton went into seclusion, becoming men- tally unbalanced. He sent a notice in 1857 to the local newspaper identifying himself as "Emperor Norton I, High Ruler of the United States and Protector of Mexico." Norton dressed himself in a shabby uni- form with a military cap, a small sword dangling at his side, and a blue um- brella in his hand. He paraded about the streets of San Francisco, and soon became a familiar figure. From time to time, he is- sued his "imperial" procla- mations to the press: he dis- solved the Republican and Democratic parties; he dis- solved a steamship com- pany because a purser had thrown him off the ship; he ordered the citizens of San Francisco to replenish his military wardrobe; and he proposed a bridge across San Francisco Bay. Emperor Norton was treated kindly by San Fran- cicans who permitted him to eat, drink and amuse him- self without charge! Banks recognized his checks up to 50 cents (drawn upon his non-existent account). Nor- ton also issued 50 cent bonds which were similarly honored. (These "docu- ments" are today housed in the library of the California Historical Society.) In January 1880, at the age of 61, he collapsed and died on a San Francisco sidewalk, and was buried in Redgrave Sisters Disagree Over the Issue of Zionism By HERBERT LUFT (Copyright 1980, JTA, Inc.) HOLLYWOOD — Lynn Redgrave was attending a foreign press interview ses- sion dealing with her cur- rent television series, MCA's "House Calls," when an Israeli correspondent pointed out that his listen- ers and readers back home were interested to hear Vanessa Redgrave's per sonal view point on Zionism but the actress' phone was always answered by a secre- tary and Lynn's sister never returned the call. Lynn replied that she dis- agrees with her older sister on almost everything but didn't wish to get into this subject. The Israeli jour- nalist persisted with his line of questioning and the actress cut him off by re- peating that she is not in ac- cord with Vanessa "but, after all, she is my natural sister." • ROMAIN GARY, who died so tragically in Paris at the age of 66 earlier this month, was a Lithuanian- born Jew, son of Jebba Kacew,. who was proud of his heritage. During World War II, he served with the French army and after the fall of Paris joined the Free French forces in Britain serving with the "Lorraine" squadron in North Africa, Palestine and Russia. While flying with the RAF, he took the najne of "Gary." He held post-War diplomatic posts with Charles De Gaulle and Andre Malraux and was French Consul General in Los Angeles in the early 1960s. LEE GRANT makes her debut as a film director with "Tell Me A Riddle," from the award-winning novella by _Tillie Olsen with a screen play by Joyce Eliason and Alev Lytle. The picture was made by Michael -Rosenberg and Saul Zaenth, with three young ladies under thirty, Mindy Affrime, Rachel ZLyon and Susan O'Connell putting the financial deal together and acting as pro- ducers. Melvyn Douglas and Lila Kedrova, both Academy Award winners, star in the heartwarming simple story dealing with the tragic plight of two elderly people who have drifted apart and find towards the end of their lives that their childhood love has been rekindled by their common fate of being alone. ALLEN GOORWITZ who, under the assumed name of Garfield, has ap- peared in numerous films and stage plays whose sc.; reen credits include the most recent "The Stunt Man,'" also "Nashville," "The Conversation," "The Front Page," "Brinks Job," and "The Candidate," now has been signed for a key role in the modern romantic comedy, "Continental Di- vide," scripted by Lawrence Kasdan and Jack Rosent- hal. It deals with a muc- kraking columnist (por- trayed by John Belushi) who -has to cool off. Goorwitz, himself a fomer journalist-turned actor, also is a lyricist-composer and conducts his own acting classes on both coasts. On the stage, he received na- tional attention in the thought-provoking play, "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?" In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich. —H. W. Beecher the old Masonic cemetery. Fifty-four years later, on June 30, 1934, his body was reinterred with formal ceremonies (20,000 mour- ners) at Woodlawn Cemet- ery in Colma, Calif. Finally in July 1980 Emperor Nor- ton's remains were reinter- British War Hero Let Adolf Hitler Off the Hook red in the cemetery of the Beth Israel-Judea Syna- gogue. It took 100 years for Em- peror Norton to receive his proper burial in a Jewish cemetery. Since Norton had proclaimed himself "King of the Jews," the local rabbi- nate in 1880 had refused to allow burial in a Jewish cemetery. LONDON — Private Henry Tandey, Britain's most decorated soldier of World War I, may have gained more notice for a war feat he didn't perpetrate, than the acts of heroism that earned him the Vic- toria Cross, the Distin- guished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal. In 1918, during hand-to- hand fighting, Tandey held a wounded and frightened young German corporal at bayonet point, and then let him go. Tandey often re- gretted his compassion later when the young German also went on to make a name for himself— as Adolf Hitler. The incident was recalled recently at an auction of Tandey's war medals at London's Sotheby House. The collection was sold for $65,000. Friday, December 26, 1980 23 Bloom Ne Bloom Registered Electrologists Come in and let us remove your unwanted hair problem and improve your appear- ance. Ask For Shirtee or Debby. Appt. 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