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THE STAR OF THE MOTION PICTURE

viewers.
Yehuda Press).
Cultural passion has led to the rab-
Rosenfeld's newspaper assignment
bi's latest book, Shtick Shift (Barricade to cover Brecher for the Calendar
Books; $15.95), which he will discuss
section of the Los Angeles Times, on
at Book Fair Sunday, Nov. 16, at the
"Golden Age of Hollywood " subjects
two Jewish Community Center loca-
being archived for posterity, became
tions — 3 p.m. in West Bloomfield
the start of a beautiful relationship.
and 7 p.m. in Oak
Rosenfeld was so
Park.
struck by Brecher's
"I've always been
stories
that their
The Wicked Wit
somewhat of a come-
lunches
(over pas-
of the West
dian, the class clown
trami sandwiches in
The last great Golden-Age screenwriter shares
the hilarity and heartaches of working with
and a fan of comedy;
delis all over L.A.)
Grouch°, Garland, Gleason, Burns, Berle,
Benny & many more
and I wanted to show
and talks developed
how Jewish comedians
into a seven-year
in the 21st century
friendship.
differ from those in
The Wicked Wit of
the 20th century;' says
the West, as Groucho
Weinstein, rabbi at
Marx dubbed Brecher,
the Pratt Institute, the
tells juicy tales about
renowned New York
Hollywood legends
art school, and author
John Wayne, L.B.
by Irving Brecher.ku to flank Rosenfeld
of a book exploring
Mayer, Jack Benny,
Jewish influences
George Burns, Ann-
in comic books, Up,.
Margret, Ernie Kovacs,
Up, and Oy Vey! "When 20th-century
Cleo the bassett hound and, of course,
comedians dealt with their Judaism,
Groucho, Harpo and Chico.
it was in an embarrassed, self-hating,
S.J. Perelman considered Brecher,
neurotic, apologetic way. In the 21st
who turns 95 in January, "one of
century, I find that comedians are not
the three quickest with a quip" he'd
afraid of proclaiming their ethnicity
ever seen. The last living MGM
nor are they desperate to apologize
studio figure from the 1940s, he
for the people they are. They are being wrote seven musicals in all, includ-
themselves for better or worse."
ing Bye Bye Birdie (whose composer,
Weinstein, who enjoys talking about Charles Strouse, appears 8:15 p.m.
pop culture with Pratt students, finds
Saturday, Nov. 15, at the JCC in West
no contradictions between Orthodoxy Bloomfield). He convinced Judy
and cultural trends.
Garland to star in Meet Me in St. Louis;
"I look at popular culture through
wrote Shadow of the Thin Man, star-
the lens of biblical archetypes and
ring William Powell and Myrna Loy,
spirituality:' says Weinstein, whose
and two Marx Brothers features, Go
book refers to many current comic
West and At the Circus; and "punched
icons, such as Larry David and Sarah
up" comedy material for The Wizard
Silverman. "I find that I'm able to
of Oz.
separate myself from the media and
Brecher, who wrote the Life of Riley
comment and write about it. It's easier sitcom and movie, also gave Jackie
to talk about it when I'm not consum-
Gleason his first TV series and a new
ing such a large amount"
set of teeth. 1:1]

Wicked Wit
Detroit native Hank Rosenfeld, now
residing in L.A., returns home to
speak at Book Fair at the JCC in West
Bloomfield 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16. He
is co-author with Irving Brecher of
The Wicked Wit of the West: The Last
Great Golden-Age Screenwriter Shares
the Hilarity and Heartaches of Working
with Groucho, Garland, Gleason, Burns,
Berle, Benny & Many More (Ben

Detroit Opera House
March 3-8 , r 2009

SI]

C I-1 A 1M TopoL,

star of the original motion picture, in

the role that earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award

HEAR the rousing, heartwarming score that includes the

nomination..

classics "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man" and

"Sunrise, Sunset."

RELIVE the glorious tradition of the musical theatre!

Get more information at BroadwayInDetroit.com .

Jewish Community Center Book
Fair appearances: Bob Morris, 10
a.m. Friday, Nov. 14 (WB); Simcha
Weinstein, 3 p.m. (WB) and 7
p.m. (OP) Sunday, Nov. 16; Hank
Rosenfeld, 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16
(WB). No charge. (248) 661-1000
or jccdet.org .

ROADWA

OIT

*Ask for TRADITION tickets. Must purchase by Nov. 22 to receive discount.

Available only at the Fisher Theatre box office, online at ticketmaster.com & by

phone at 248-645-6666. For more info call 313-872-1000. Subject to availability. Not

valid for previously purchased tickets; not valid with any other discounts or offer. No cash value;

some service fees & restrictions may apply. Deeper discounts available to groups (12 or more):

Call Group Sales weekdays 313-871-1132 or email groupsales@nederlanderdetroit.com .

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November 13 • 2008

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