Max Bacon - Jewface?

We have had much misguided talk about Jewface, where the addition of a prosthetic nose for Bradley Cooper has sent the usual suspects into a frenzy. Thank goodness that in a recent article about Julian Rose in the JC the record was put straight, but it is not the full story.

 There was a very English purveyor of what might be called the “Hebrew Actor,” who was at his peak was much better known and much better loved than Rose, but now seems to have been completely forgotten. Max Bacon 

Man, oh, Manischewitz

Warning: This contains a number of swear words

From the book "Counting the Stars:The Jewish Journey to the Cosmos"

To begin with, Manishcewitz is the brand name for a range of kosher products, specifically to be found in the United States, although it exports its products world-wide. At Pesach it really comes into its own.

One of its slogans was “Man, oh, Manischewitz," and it was generally reported that “In 1973, Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan shouted, "Man, oh, Manischewitz," in the middle of his moonwalk.

Specifically, the Washington Post, who you would expect to verify its sources, went even further. “It is December, 1972, Apollo 17 time, and Cernan is on the moon. He sees something especially spectacular and what does he say, with the entire civilized world listening in, but "Man, oh, Manishewitz."

Sadly, they were wrong. The truth is more mundane, and no, Cernan was not a secret Jew promoting Manischewitz products.

In reality, it is all to do with swearing, by which I mean profanities. 

IF G-D HAD A PC

IF G-D HAD A PC

 

In the beginning, there was the computer.

And G-d entered:

C:\>Let there be light!

Enter user ID

C:\>G-d

Enter password

Lou Preagar

One of the lesser known Jewish bandleaders, but for ill health, Lou Preagar (sometimes spelt as Praegar) would have lasted the distance. He showed himself willing and able to accept the new styles of music that abounded post-war.

 

He was born in 1906 in Poplar son of a tailor (we are told). He appeared in the music scene in a professional manner in the mid-twenties, aged 19, having dabbled with bands in a semi-professional way before them while working in an accountancy office.

Harmonica (Part 3) - Harry Pitch

No not Harry Patch

The third of out three is the least well known by name, without even a Wikipedia page, but his music continues to endure long after his passing, and in terms of British popular culture his contribution was outstanding. His name was Harry Pitch.

In his obituary it stated “Harry was one of the handful of players who have turned harmonica playing into an art form. A player of enormous fluency and invention, his career has spanned six decades and innumerable gigs and sessions. He was one of Larry Adler´s favourite players.”

Harmonica (Part 2) - Larry Adler

Turning to Adler, whereas Geldray’s musical career was largely European, and Pitch’s British, Adler’s was largely American.. In his lifetime, too, he knew and worked with or for some of the greats of the music business.

Harmonica (Part 1). Max Geldray.

The Harmonica, sometimes called the mouth organ, is an instrument with a unique sound. While it is not mainstream, some harmonica tunes have become iconic in their own right, such as the Ennio Morricone’s harmonica track in “Once a Time in the West” or in Britain, the theme tune of “Last of the Summer Wine”.

Arguments rage over the ‘best’ harmonica players of all time; from obscure but gifted specialist blues/jazz players to those who have made the most famous use of the instrument such as Bob Dylan,  Stevie Wonder and John Lennon. Of the latter three musicians stood out in the British public consciousness…… and were Jewish. They were Max Geldray, Larry Adler, and Harry Pitch, a Dutchman, an American, and a Brit.

To avoid them becoming part of the Forgotten History of the Jews, we need to refresh our memories and remind ourselves of the impact that they made in Britain during their careers, so here they are……