* * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
$5.00 OFF
PASSOVER,
4'
With any carry-out order of $19.95 or more with this coupon
Limited time offer. Exp. April 4, 1010
The Jewish Roots
Of Curious George
H. A. & MA R GA RE T Rey Pap ers/ H MH
Escapees from Nazi Europe created
the beloved children's lit character.
Final illustration for "This is George.
He lived in Africa," published in The
Original Curious George
Eric Herschthal
New York Jewish Week
T
he story of Stan Lee, Jack
Kirby and the creation of the
modern American super-
hero is well known. In short, Kirby,
Lee and the guys at Marvel Comics
were American Jews who in the early
'60s created superhuman alter egos:
Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk and
so on. For them, their comics offered
a fantasy landscape where social mis-
creants could end up saving the world.
In the aftermath of the Holocaust, it's
no wonder that illustrators like Lee
and Kirby felt a compelling need to
create a subtly Jewish uber-mentsh.
Well, Curious George is decidedly not
an uber-mentsh. But his creation had
a similar context. Margret and Hans
Augusto Rey were adventurous young
European Jews who had met in Brazil.
Once married, they decided to make a
life together in Paris. They moved there
in 1935 and began collaborating on a
children's book, with H.A. Rey (his pen
name) illustrating and Margret writing
the story. But in 1940, as anti-Semitism
in France became increasingly fierce,
they fled Paris and eventually landed in
the United States.
In their suitcase were several early
drawings for the first book of the
Curious George series. Published in
1941, the first book told the story of
a cuddly brown monkey who gets
captured by the Man with the Yellow
Hat and is shipped off to a zoo. The
next book, Curious George Takes a Job,
appeared in 1947 and tells the story
of George's escape. Both books were
a huge success in the United States so
the husband-and-wife team contin-
ued writing and illustrating Curious
George books until the 1960s.
The Holocaust parallels — capture
and escape — were less obvious as
the series evolved, and certainly less
so now, with Houghton Mifflin creat-
ing new George stories with a notice-
ably more banal, if glitzy appeal, "in
the style of H.A. Rey." But the Jewish
roots are clear.
The Jewish Museum sticks mainly
to the original Rey books in its current
exhibit tilled "Curious George Saves
the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A.
Rey." It focuses on the Jewish back-
story of the cartoon's creation. Several
original manuscripts from that same
suitcase are on display. Even if you're
merely curious, this exhibit won't dis-
appoint. ❑
• Great Passover Lemon
Chicken, Turkey, etc.
• Great Gefilte Fish &
Matzo Balls
* • Great Fried Matzo!
• Great Charoset &
•
Kugels
248-932.0800
6646 Telegraph
at Maple
Bloomfield Plaza
*
PASSOVER
www.stevesdeli.com
* * * * * * * * *
JN
4'
* * * * * * *
* * * *
WISHING OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS
A HAPPY & HEALTY PASSOVER
Robert and Staff
L
4170 Orchard Lake Rd. (near Pontiac Trail)
Orchard Lake, MI 48323
(248) 682-3400
1581270
Fine Italian Dining in a
Casual Atmosphere
10%
OFF
TOTAL FOOD BILL
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
(248) 538-8954
(Monday-Sunday)
Please present this coupon to receive discount!,
One coupon per customer • Exp: 04/25/10
(Not valid on holidays)
33210 W. 14 Mile Rd
In Simsbury Plaza, just east of Farmington Rd.
West Bloomfield
Mon-Thurs: 4pm-10pm • Fri: llam-11pm
Sat: 4pm-11pm • Sun: 4pm-9pm
As Eat Free after 4P
from the kids menu.,.
2 and under, one child per adult
The Jewish Museum's show focuses on
the Jewish back-story of Curious George,
created by Margret and H.A. Rey.
"Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey" runs
through Aug.1 at the Jewish Museum, Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street, in
New York City. (212) 423-3200; www.thejewishmuseum.org .
Buy a regular BIG 1
MOUTH sandwich
get the second BIG
• MOUTH sandwich for 'I
1 /2 off with purchase 1
N
of large drink
any purchase
of $15.00
or more
Valid after 4p.m. not good with any
Not good with any other offer,
Plirr;9tferfif"90Linen„Exp 4/10/10
:
u
Home of the Big to1outh Sandwich!'
,
includes deli trays Exp 4/10/10
Deli Sandwiches, Soups, Salads
8, - erigtte
Open Mon -Friday1049 ---
Saturday 11-6 closedSundd
247 S. Telegragh,1 mile north of
Orchard lake on the east side.,,,
www.bronxdeli.com 248-681-5555'
Catering. Carry out Dine in
• ;
March 25 • 2010
61