Looking Back
From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History
accessible at www.djnfoundation.org
54 | SEPTEMBER 23 • 2021
Goodbye to a
‘Stand-Up’ Guy
T
his column was inspired by a
sandwich. That’s right, a sandwich.
But not just any sandwich. This
one has a backstory. It is really an ode to
a person who some consider one of the
greatest, if not the greatest,
Jewish comedians in American
history: Jackie Mason.
Jackie Mason passed away
on July 24, 2021, at the age of
93 after more than 70 years
of making us laugh. The son
of a rabbi, he was born Yacov
Moshe Maza in Sheboygan,
Wis. Mason also became an ordained rabbi,
but he turned to comedy in his 20s.
Like Mel Brooks, George Burns, Lenny
Bruce, Milton Berle and many other famous
Jewish comedians, Mason first worked the
Borscht Belt in upstate New York. He was
at times ribald and irreverent, often using
Yiddish in his act, and he was funny.
Mason was always hilarious but not without
controversy. The JN editorial “Jackie Mason:
Shhh!” on Oct. 13, 1989, noted how Mason
apologized and said he “learned his lesson”
over racially insensitive remarks about then-
New York mayoral candidate David Dinkins.
In his latter years, Mason switched
his support from the Democratic to the
Republican party. He once stated that there
were three things one could count on in life:
“Death, taxes and antisemitism.
”
A search for Jackie Mason in the William
Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit
History revealed 242 pages from 1950s to the
present that mention his name. There are also
several feature stories about and interviews
with Mason. In short, he had a large presence
in the JN and in Jewish Detroit.
Many pages hold advertisements for
his appearances in the Catskills, such as
the Stevensville Hotel in Swan Lake and
Grossinger’s, and for his performances in
Detroit at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, Pine
Knob Music Theatre, the Roostertail and
Andiamo’s. Mason also performed at local
benefits for Young Israel in 1962 and Yeshiva
Beth Yehudah in 1960, to name two. He had
no fear of defending Jews and Israel.
There are many articles in the JN that
cite Mason. In some, contemporary
comedians speak about his influence upon
their careers. Mason was even quoted by
Rabbi Craig Allen in a Torah portion (Dec.
20, 1996, JN): “Timing is everything.” Of
course, Mason was mentioned in several
Danny Raskin columns.
Now, for my favorite Mason story and the
sandwich that inspired this column. In May
1989, shortly after the Palace of Auburn
Hills opened, Mason was a headliner at
the new arena. In his honor, the JN and the
Plaza Deli sponsored a contest to create a
“Jackie Mason Sandwich.”
There were tons of entries, but Ida Olsen
of Oak Park created the winner. Olsen
personally presented the sandwich to
Mason at the Palace on May 24. Judges for
contest were Danny Raskin (who else?),
chefs Peter Loren and Remy Berdy, and deli
food wholesaler Larry Snider.
The Jackie Mason? Rye and
pumpernickel with lettuce, corned beef
and a scrambled egg with black olives,
then more corned beef and lettuce with
pickled tongue and tomato. Wow!
In a JN interview before he opened his
one-man show on Broadway, Jackie Mason:
Politically Incorrect, he said, “I want to offend
people. I want to offend the sick people who
are preposterous in their beliefs” (May 6, 1994).
Mason was, indeed, politically un-correct at
times, but he also made us think and laugh like
few others. He left quite a legacy.
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation
archives for free at www.djnfoundation.org.
benefits for Young Israel in 1962 and Yeshiva
comedians speak about his influence upon
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair
sandwich that inspired this column. In May
and the
There were tons of entries, but Ida Olsen
Mason at the Palace on May 24. Judges for
chefs Peter Loren and Remy Berdy, and deli