the National
with Louie Goldberg, and during the summer of
1927 and 1928 in English vaudeville on the Fox
circuit.
Following a
recording contract with Columbia Records, and
playing the Fox & Orpheum circuits with the
likes of Sophie Tucker, Clayton, Jackson &
Durante (Jimmy), G. was Molly Picon's leading
man in Philadelphia, and then on Second Avenue
as well.
His first
marriage to actress Goldie Lubritsky ended in
divorce after seven years, but it produced a
daughter, Gloria. In 1935 he married Yiddish
actress Diana Goldberg. The two performed
together in Yiddish vaudeville, the cabaret
circuits of the Catskills and Miami and
headlined on Second Avenue in such shows as "The
Queen of Broadway," "Warsaw at Night," "Fishel
De Gerotener" (along side Menasha Skulnik), and
countless others.
In the 1950s he and
his wife partnered with Irving Jacobson, Mae
Schoenfeld, Julius Adler and Henrietta Jacobson
at the Second Avenue and National Theatres,
producing and starring in numerous musicals
written by Rumshinsky and Secunda. Their musical
comedy night club act took them all over the
world, and they were featured in the reviews,
"Bagels & Yox" and "Farfel Follies."
G. made his film
debut in 1949 with "Catskill Honeymoon."
Known as an avid "fund raiser," G. appeared at
many events for the early sale of Israeli Bonds
in the 50s, and his renditions of Hymie
Jacobson's epic "Lozt Mich Leben (Let Me Live)"
and "Sing, Israel, Sing" helped fill the coffers
for the newborn state.
For most of his life
G. was heavily involved in theatrical unions and
organizations. Under the mentoring of Reuben
Guskin, G. served as president of the Hebrew
Actors' Union from 1952-54, a board member of
the Yiddish Theatrical Alliance for some thirty
years, a national board member of AGVA (The
American Guild of Variety Artists), and their
delegate to the 4 A's; the overseeing body of
all performing artists' unions.
In 1960 G. retired
from active performing and producing and became
an executive of AGVA. He passed away on 24 March
1964 in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was
survived by his wife Diana, son Rick, daughter
Gloria Winarick, brother Joseph, sister Miriam
Grossman Blake, two grandchildren and several
nieces and nephews.
M. E.
and Sh. E. by his son Rick Grossman.