Acclaimed author Neal Gabler makes his White Theatre debut, November 6th.
Not the dark and cynical side that we see in Sunset Boulevard—that’s far too real; but the world of glamour, glory, and glitter that Norma Desmond so desperately wanted to inhabit.
It was a world that shaped the American Dream, and the irony is that it was largely created by a small group of immigrant Jews whose path to success was blocked by prejudice and prohibitions. During the 1950’s when Sunset Boulevard opened in theatres, major universities imposed quotas on the number of Jews they would accept; Jews were prohibited to live in certain neighborhoods, join social clubs, find employment in prestigious businesses, practice medicine in city hospitals, and more.
It had been this way since these eastern Europeans had arrived in the United States and so early in the 20th century, they had gone west. In California, they found a haven where social conventions weren’t yet institutionalized, a place that was ripe for new ideas.
Barred from traditional fields, these new Americans created a new one: the motion picture industry. It was a natural fit for men whose Judaism was steeped in an oral tradition, whose values were shaped by stories and sermons and who brought memories from the old country that morphed easily into American tales on the big screen.
Pogroms in Russia became tales of violence in the wild west. The outsider status of American Jews was animated by King Kong; and, for better or worse, assimilation was possible. Jews on film became part of high society, love transcended convention, and hundreds Jewish actors became “Americanized”. A short list includes Joan Perske, who became Lauren Bacall; Bernie Schwartz (Tony Curtis), Isadore Demsky (Kirk Douglas) and Emanuel Goldenberg (Edward G. Robinson). And the penniless immigrants who started it all and ran the business with iron clad control? In Norma Desmond’s Hollywood, they became the movie moguls whose legacies continue to this day.
Award-winning author Neal Gabler chronicled their journeys in An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood. He received the Los Angeles Times Book Award for history and his book was described by the Chicago Tribune as a “wonderful history of the golden age of the movie moguls”.
The public is invited to hear Gabler share remarks An Empire of Their Own at 4:30 on Sunday, November 6, immediately after the matinee showing of Sunset Boulevard in the White Theatre of the Jewish Community Center. His presentation will be followed by a book sale, signing and light reception. Entrance is $10 ; pre-registration is kindly requested at thejkc.org/exploremore.
SUNSET BOULEVARD
Saturdays | November 5-19 at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays | November 6-20 at 2 p.m.
Thursdays | November 10-17 at 7:30 p.m.
Directed by Tim Bair
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Book and Lyrics by Don Black & Christopher Hampton
Based on the Billy Wilder Film
Sunset Boulevard is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals and The Really useful Group, Ltd.
Tickets available at thejkc.org/boxoffice
