Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History

accessible at thejewishnews.com

62 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 J
N

The Candy Man
I

recently wrote about the release of Maestro, a Bradley 
Cooper film about the great American composer/direc-
tor Leonard Bernstein. Another movie released last 
month caught my attention: Wonka. 
Wonka is the third musical film based on Roald Dahl’s 
1964 book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The first, 
1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring 
Gene Wilder, has become a classic. The 2005 remake with 
Johnny Depp as Wonka bombed.
The general premise of the book and orig-
inal movie is that Willy Wonka hid five “Golden 
Tickets” in chocolate bars. The lucky kids who 
found the tickets were invited to an exclusive tour 
of Wonka’s chocolate factory, along with their cho-
sen adult. Wonka, however, has an ulterior motive: 
He is testing the moral fiber of the children, hoping 
to find an heir who will continue with his work 
and protect the “Oompa-Loompas” that operate the 
factory. Wonka is a prequel about a young man entering the 
chocolate business.
Of course, chocolate, or a chocolate factory, or chocolate maker, might 
always be a worthy topic for a column. Who doesn’t like chocolate? I decid-
ed that Willy Wonka might also be a good topic to search in the William 
Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History. 
A search showed that the original movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate 
Factory, really has staying power. Nearly 75 years after the book was 
released, it has become a children’s classic. The movie also spawned stage 
productions such as the 2017 Broadway play with the same title as the book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as 
Willie Wonka candies, a brand that lasted until 2015. 
Over the years, Willy Wonka has had an impact upon the local Jewish community. The drama department at Camp Maas 
produced Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in 1992 (Jan. 15, 1993, JN). A few years later, Congregation Beth Ahm held a 
gala Willy Wonka-themed Purim celebration (March 1, 2012). The March 2, 2018, issue of the JN featured William Eisenberg’s 
Willy Wonka simchah. In addition to plenty of goodies and the movie, Eisenberg was photographed both in a Willy Wonka 
costume and holding a “Wonka Bar.”
Indeed, Willy Wonka is an often-referenced character. Consider the Sept. 7, 2001, JN article about Alan Rosen, chocolatier 
and owner of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. It opens by stating: “You could call him [Rosen] the Willie Wonka of 
West Bloomfield.” In another reference, Rabbi Aaron Bergman related a Torah question in relation to Willy Wonka and the 
Chocolate Factory (Jan. 31, 2013). 
Willy Wonka is not, however, without controversy. Its author, Roald Dahl, former WWII fighter ace, was a prolific writer, 
especially of popular children’s literature (an estimated 300 million copies of his works have been published). He was also a 
self-proclaimed antisemite and anti-Zionist, so much so, that his family apologized for his thoughts and words. 
It is ironic, therefore, that in both the current Wonka and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the stars of the movies are 
Jewish (Timothée Chalamet and Wilder). It should also be said that the story itself has no traces of antisemitism, regardless of 
the author’s personal prejudice.
I’ll leave you with Ari Leflein’s graduation announcement from May 20, 2021. In it, Leflein cited his favorite inspirational 
Willie Wonka line: “Wanta change the world/There’s nothing to it.” 

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN archives, available for free at thejewishnews.com.

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

inal movie is that Willy Wonka hid five “Golden 

productions such as the 2017 Broadway play with the same title as the book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as 

of Wonka’s chocolate factory, along with their cho-
sen adult. Wonka, however, has an ulterior motive: 
He is testing the moral fiber of the children, hoping 

and protect the “Oompa-Loompas” that operate the 

