looking back
Books and bags in hand, students attending Congregation Shaarey Zedek’s Religious School arrive at the Detroit building for Hebrew school
classes, circa 1955. Courtesy Prof. Samuel and Lillian Levin Archives of Congregation Shaarey Zedek. •
Historic photos are curated by the
Jewish Historical Society of Michigan.
From the DJN
Davidson Digital Archive
T
his week, maybe we try to forget about the unforgettable
— the War — for just a moment and look at the home
front and cultural affairs in Detroit. There were many
items to consider in the Oct. 9, 1942, issue of the JN.
First, the great Russian pianist and composer Sergei
Rachmaninoff was coming to town to give a recital at the
Masonic Temple. You could buy your tickets at
the Grinnell Brothers music store in Detroit.
This would be one of his last major perfor-
mances. Rachmaninoff died on March 20, 1943,
at age 70.
And, this same week, another type of per-
former declared he was suspending his work
for the duration of the war. Before there was
TV or video cameras, or before there was an
Mike Smith
internet, there was George Pierott and his World
Detroit Jewish News
Foundation Archivist
Adventure Series at the Detroit Institute of Arts
62
October 5 • 2017
jn
(DIA). Pierott’s work was simple: Show a film on a foreign land
and sit with a commentator, usually the filmmaker, and discuss
that part of the world. The World Adventure Series continued at
the DIA until 1979 and was a popular local television show from
1948 until 1976.
Finally, the City Committee of the Jewish National Workers’
Alliance announced that Bronislaw Huberman, world-famous
violinist and founder of the Palestine Symphony Orchestra, would
perform at the Masonic Temple on Nov. 29. The show would also
feature “Emma Shever.” This may be an error (not that the JN ever
made an error over the last 75 years!!). I’ve searched without luck
for an “Emma Shever” who would have performed in Detroit in
the 1940s. I’m thinking this is a misspelled reference to local and
international Jewish singer Emma Schaver, who did indeed earn
many headlines and accolades during her career. •
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives,
available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.