Yiddish Theater - Helen BLAY
Daniel Wagner
In answer to Elinor Klein's query about Yiddish Theater, here are a
few tips (and perhaps some good news for Elinor):
1) Start with the Lexikon Fun Yiddish Theater, available at YIVO (and
elsewhere I guess) in NYC. It has the most extensive listing of
biographies available.
2) If you happen to be in NYC, check with the Yiddish Theatrical
Alliance (the name there is the Hebrew Artists Union, but it is listed
in the phone book as Yiddish Theatre Alliance). It is on the East
side. They have a lot of information but you need to call first.
3) Do not overlook books on Yiddish FILMS. Two of them are:
Bridge of Light - Yiddish film between two worlds, by J. Hoberman,
Temple U. Press, Phila..
Visions, Images and Dream: Yiddish film past and present by Eric
Goldman, Ergo Media (NJ).
The last book above has two interesting appendixes on all yiddish
films which have been produced (with names of producers, actors etc),
and on those of the films that have been restored and are available
either in 16mm or in videocassette.[ I discovered that my
greatgrandfather Morris SILBERCASTEN had made 3 films (as he was a
theatre actor I never thought about the possibility of him being a
movie actor!), and that 1 of these was available as a video! ]
SPECIFIC NEWS FOR ELINOR: I searched the appendix of the book I
just mentionned, and found that Helen Blay acted in three movies:
1. Mayne Yiddishe Mame (My Jewish Mother) (1930)
2. Yidishe Tokhter
(Jewish Daughter) (1933)
3. Der Groyser Eytse Geber (The Greater Advisor) (1940)
Unfortunately, these movies do not seem to be available. To find
out, contact:
1. The National Center for Yiddish Film
Brandeis University, Waltham, Ma, Tel: (617) 899 7044
2. Ergo Home Video, PO Box 2037, Teaneck, NJ 07666
3. Films Incorporated, 5547 North Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60640
Good luck,
Daniel
______________
H Daniel Wagner
Weizmann Institute of Science
Rehovot 76100, Israel
Tel: +(972) 8 934 2594
Fax: +(972) 8 934 4137
E-mail: cpwa...@wis.weizmann.ac.il
http://www.weizmann.ac.il/wagner/home.html
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Elias
Daniel Wagner wrote on this subject on December 21:
>Unfortunately, these movies do not seem to be available. To find
>out, contact:
>
>1. The National Center for Yiddish Film
>Brandeis University, Waltham, Ma, Tel: (617) 899 7044
>2. Ergo Home Video, PO Box 2037, Teaneck, NJ 07666
>3. Films Incorporated, 5547 North Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60640
Note that the first organization is The National Center for Jewish Film and
not as stated. Full address is: Brandeis University, Lown 102, Waltham MA
02154. Area code changed too and number is now (781-899-7044), fax is (781)
736-2070.
The third organization, Films Inc., went out of business earlier this year.
Frankly, I'd recommend the National Center as the primary place to go. Films
Inc. never had any notable selection of Yiddish material. I just visited
Brandeis and ther center has hundreds of videotapes, including some very
interesting ones of old newsreels of Jewish Communities in Europe. I watched a
very nice ten-minute tape of Cracow from the 1930s while visiting.
Elias Savada
Bethesda MD
El...@aol.com
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