Messiahs of 1933 : How American Yiddish Theatre Survived Adversity Through Satire

Joel Schechter has rediscovered the funny and often politically-charged plays of the American Yiddish theatre of the 1930s. In "Messiahs of 1933", he celebrates their satire, their radical imagination, and their commitment to social change. He introduces readers to the once-famous writers and actors - Moishe Nadir, David Pinski, Yosl Cutler, and others - who brought into artistic form their visions of peace, social justice, and satire for all. "Messiahs of 1933" greatly enlarges our understanding of Yiddish theatre and culture in the United States. It examines the innovative stage performances created by the Artef collective, the Modicut puppeteers, and the Yiddish Unit of the Federal Theatre Project. And it introduces to contemporary readers some of the most popular theatre actors of the 30s, including Leo Fuchs, Menasha Skulnik, and Yetta Zwerling. Throughout are included are relevant photographs and contemporary comic strips, along with the first English-language publication of excerpts from the featured plays. Contents......Page 6 1 Messiahs of 1933: How Playwright Moishe Nadir and Artef Led America Out of the Great Depression to a Future of Full Employment, Justice, and Yiddish Satire for All......Page 10 2 Nadir’s Rivington Street: The Lower East Side Arises......Page 46 3 Prayer Boxes as Precious as Diamonds: How Soviet Yiddish Satire Fared in America......Page 66 4 The Federal Theatre Project in Yiddish: “The Society of the Sorely Perplexed” Takes the Stage......Page 80 5 The Messiah of 1936: It Can’t Happen Here in Yiddish......Page 114 6 Pinski’s Prelude to a Golden Age: The Tailor Becomes a Storekeeper......Page 130 7 Menasha Skulnik Becomes a Bridegroom: Popular Yiddish Theatre Reconsidered......Page 150 8 Prosperity’s Crisis on Stage: The Yiddish Puppetry of Maud and Cutler......Page 166 9 Leo Fuchs, Yiddish Vaudevillian in “Trouble”......Page 186 10 Yetta Zwerling’s Comic Dybbuk......Page 202 11 Menachem Mendel’s False Profits: Sholem Aleichemand the Communists......Page 212 12 The Anti-Milkhome Zamlung of 1937: The Yiddish Anti-War Catalogue Reconsidered......Page 230 13 Conclusion: Still Waiting for the Messiah......Page 240 Appendix......Page 248 Acknowledgments......Page 254 Notes......Page 256 Bibliography......Page 288 Index......Page 296

Joel Schechter has rediscovered the funny and often politically-charged plays of the American Yiddish theatre of the 1930s. In Messiahs of 1933 he celebrates their satire, their radical imagination, and their commitment to social change. He introduces readers to the once-famous writers and actors-Moishe Nadir, David Pinski, Yosl Cutler, and others-who brought into artistic form their visions of peace, social justice, and satire for all.

Messiahs of 1933 greatly enlarges our understanding of Yiddish theatre and culture in the United States. It examines the innovative stage performances created by the Artef collective, the Modicut puppeteers, and the Yiddish Unit of the Federal Theatre Project. And it introduces to contemporary readers some of the most popular theatre actors of the 30s, including Leo Fuchs, Menasha Skulnik, and Yetta Zwerling. Throughout, it includes relevant photographs and contemporary comic strips, along with the first English-language publication of excerpts from the featured plays.

Joel Schechter has rediscovered the funny and often politically-charged plays of the American Yiddish theatre of the 1930s. In "Messiahs of 1933" he celebrates their satire, their radical imagination, and their commitment to social change. He introduces readers to the once-famous writers and actorsOCoMoishe Nadir, David Pinski, Yosl Cutler, and othersOCowho brought into artistic form their visions of peace, social justice, and satire for all. "Messiahs of 1933" greatly enlarges our understanding of Yiddish theatre and culture in the United States. It examines the innovative stage performances created by the Artef collective, the Modicut puppeteers, and the Yiddish Unit of the Federal Theatre Project. And it introduces to contemporary readers some of the most popular theatre actors of the 30s, including Leo Fuchs, Menasha Skulnik, and Yetta Zwerling. Throughout, it includes relevant photographs and contemporary comic strips, along with the first English-language publication of excerpts from the featured plays. " Joel Schechter has rediscovered the funny and often politically charged plays of the American Yiddish theatre of the 1930s. In this text he celebrates their satire, their radical imagination, and their commitment to social change