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Max Sosin, Jewish Detroit's
favorite storyteller, will have to
hear a few himself on Sept. 17
when he is honored by the Israel
Cancer Association.

BILL CARROLL SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

One time, he even stepped in at the last
hen Max Sosin was 3 years old, forming, Mr. Sosin boasts that he always
he sat on his father's lap in their has done "a clean act — maybe some sug- minute to play Santa Claus at a Detroit
home in White Russia and sang gestive jokes with double entendre, but no church. "Without the beard and red out-
dirty stuff." And he does his shows with- fit, everyone probably would have realized
songs for guests.
As a teen-ager, he told jokes to cus- out notes or cue cards, "just what comes I was Jewish," he says.
After entertaining at a Saginaw busi-
tomers at his brother's candy store at to mind as I go along," he says.
ness
luncheon, he went hungry because
"For
example,
two
women
meet
on
the
Hastings and Theodore streets in Detroit.
And as an adult, he has even "played street, and one says: 'I heard you got mar- they served pork and beans. "That really
choked me up," he quipped.
Peoria," performing at a synagogue in that ried. Is he handsome and rich?'
Mr. Sosin cites his twice-a-year shows
`No.'
northern Illinois city.
for
a group of developmentally disabled
`Is
he
kind
and
gentle?'
It has all been part of 81 years in "show
adults as probably his most rewarding per-
`No.'
business" for the 84-year-old entertain-
formances. "And these are important oc-
`Then why did you marry him?'
er/humorist, one of the most popular fig-
casions for them because I sort of turn the
`Because he drives at night.'
ures in the Detroit area's Jewish
tables on them and make them perform
Mr.
Sosin
learned
to
sing
in
a
synagogue
community.
During those years, Mr. Sosin has per- choir as a youngster, but the cantor ad- for me. They just love it and it makes them
formed at countless synagogues, schools vised him not to pursue a professional ca- feel good.
"One time, they all sang 'Silent Night'
and concerts, and for many fraternal, civic reer as a singer — just do easy songs to
at
the Jewish Community Center. I just
embellish
his
jokes.
and charitable organizations. He has de-
"Which reminded me," Mr. Sosin recalls, swallowed hard and joined them."
lighted and cheered up Jews and gentiles
Throughout his show-business career,
alike, adults and children, the elderly and "of the father who got upset when his
Mr. Sosin learned never to give up
the handicapped, earning a rep-
his day job — first as a salesman
utation as the area's unofficial
for Wayne Drug and Sundries,
ambassador of good will.
then as a manufacturer's rep for
And Mr. Sosin has never re-
Sosin Sales, which he sold in the
ceived "one cent" for any of his
1980s — always telling the latest
thousands of performances over
jokes to his customers along the
the years, which now average
way. He now maintains an office
about two to three per month.
at Gala Industries in Southfield,
"Why? Because I never needed
and tinkers in greeting-card sales.
the income from this," he ex-
When Mr. Sosin is honored by
plains. "It has been a hobby — a
various organizations, such as Is-
labor of love the love of en-
rael Bonds and the Golden 80s
tertaining and the love of the peo-
Club, he feels embarrassed, com-
ple I entertain. Besides, if I do a
paring it to someone hearing his
poor job, I don't have to worry
own eulogy. He draws the line at
about the money I didn't take."
pulling a "Georgie Jessel" (the old-
Now, in a small way, the com-
time entertainer whom he knew
munity will pay him back. The
personally) and doing eulogies
Friends of Israel Cancer Associ-
Mr.
Sosin
entertains
seniors
at
Shaarey
Zedek.
himself.
ation, Michigan Chapter, will honor Mr.
"It's like one of Jessel's eulogies, when
Sosin at its 16th annual dinner-dance Sun-
he called the dead man a scoundrel and a
day, Sept. 17, at Congregation B'nai
daughter told him she was going to mar- thief, then he said: 'The only thing good
Moshe in West Bloomfield.
I can say about this man...is that his broth-
The evening will begin with cocktails ry a cantor. The girl pleaded with him,
er was worse."'
saying
he
would
make
a
good
husband.
at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7, then en-
Mr. Sosin's all-time favorite comedians
The
father
said
he
would
go
listen
to
the
tertainment and dancing.
are Milton Berle, Buddy Hackett and Joey
cantor
on
the
Sabbath.
On
Sunday,
he
told
The Association is composed of U.S. res-
Bishop. The new comics, like Jerry Sein-
idents, mainly in the Detroit area, who her it was OK to marry him. She asked feld and Tim Allen, don't impress him, nor
her
father
why
he
changed
his
mind.
He
have banded together to help fight cancer
do those appearing at local comedy clubs
in Israel, purchasing up-to-date equip- said he heard him sing — and he's not a
and on cable TV.
cantor."
ment for diagnosis and treatment.
"Most of the new comedians are filthy;
Mr. Sosin has performed at Detroit's
The Friends of Israel Cancer Associa-
they use every dirty word in the book," Mr.
annual
Balfour
Celebration,
the
former
tion is one of many organizations benefit-
Sosin laments. "Most of the old-time co-
ing from Mr. Sosin's active participation Jewish Home for Aged, at many events medians did clean acts, and told the great,
for
the
Zionist
Organization
of
America,
,,,f-- and good humor. He entertained at last
for B'nai B'rith, Israel Bond rallies, with old-fashioned story jokes, which are be-
year's dinner honoring Mel Kepes.
. ,,
Reminiscing about eight decades of per- the old Mickey and Sammy Wolfe band, coming a lost art today."
One of Mr. Sosin's fondest memories is
with the late Cantor Hyman Adler of Con-
a joke-telling session with Henny Young-
.>-
gregation
B'nai
David,
and
for
many
oth-
Bill Carroll is in public relations at Ford
er charitable groups.
STORY KING page 77
y Motor Co. and an amateur comedian.

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