Menasha Skulnik
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Born on 15 May 1892 in
Chmielnik, Kielce Gubernia, Poland. Parents -- artisans.
He learned in a cheder and Bet HaMedrash and sang as an
alto with a cantor. In 1900, he moved with his family to
Warsaw. He often used to attend the circus and cheap
Polish productions, and afterwards with other children
imitated "theatre" acting for buttons. Later, he "made
theatre" in private houses with "amateurs" (the late
actors Yablonski, Shidlover, Silberkasten, Gershtenzang,
Vayshof), acting in the women's roles ("Dinah" in "Treyfniak,"
"Karolina" in "Kibutsenzon un hungerman"). When all the
"amateurs" traveled as a troupe under the direction of
Misha German, S. put together a troupe of children,
students, and with three plays traveled with them around
for a year across the province. After acting in Mezritch
with "amateurs," he entered into the guest-starring
troupe of Mishurat and acted later in the troupes
of Krause, Sabsey and Genfer. For a price, he went away
to Krakow and from there to Vienna, where he acted in
the "beyerishn" court/garden.
1913 -- arrived in America
and here was engaged by Mike Thomashefsky and Anshel
Schorr for Philadelphia, where for five years he was a
role writer, scenic director, stage manager, publicity
manager, part-time regisseur, and a part-time messenger,
[also] acting in small roles.
During entrance examinations
to become a member in the union, he debuted as a comical
character, and S. used that specialty for an engagement
in Schnitzer's Art Theatre, where he had acted
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with Ben Ami,
Schwartz, Schildkraut, then six years on the
road.
1927-28 -- in Brooklyn's Liberty Theatre
(director Anshel Schorr),
1928 -- guest-starring
in Argentina,
1928-29 -- acting in New York,
1929 -- again guest-starring with his wife in
Argentina, where he had, with others, staged
Chone Gottesfeld's comedy "Parnassah,"
1930-31
-- acted in Brooklyn's Rolland Theatre,
1931-32
-- in New York's Folks Theatre, (director Misha
German)
1932-33 -- (together with Oscar
Green) manager of the Hopkinson Theatre, where
he directed and acted in the main roles in
Israel Rosenberg's "Mister Shlumiel," Y. Alkan's
"Rooms For Rent," and Rosenberg's and
Fridman's "Getzel Becomes a Groom."
S. also participated
in New York and the Hebrew production of "Uriel
Acosta," P. Hirshbein's "The Blacksmith's
Daughter," and H. D. Nomberg's "Di mishpakha
(The Family)" (role of "Finkelgreen").
He also was
regisseur and acted in the Yiddish talkie "Oy a
doktor," and performed in English on the radio
in the comedy, "The Rise of the Goldbergs."
M. E.
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Dr. A. Mukdoni
-- In un arum teater, "Morning Journal," N.
Y., 18 November 1927.
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B. [N. Buchwald]
-- M. skulnik, komiker, "Frayhayt," N. Y.,
24 February 1928.
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L. Melakh --
Vegn menasha skulnik, "Prese," Buenos Aires,
25 May 1928.
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Jacob
Botoshansky -- Der debut fun menasha skulnik
in teater "ekselsior," "Prese," Buenos
Aires, 11 June 1928.
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H. Zakhak --
Menasha skulnik, der aktyor vos makht lakhen
un veyben, "Di idishe tsaytung," Buenos
Aires, 11 June 1928.
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Sh. R. [Rozhansky]
-- Tsu menasha skulnik debut in "ekselsior,"
kharakteristik fun talentfuln
kharakter-komiker, "Idishe tsaytung," Buenos
Aires, 21 August 1929.
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Nun Tsadik [N.
Tsuker] -- Der debut fun menasha skulnik, "Argentiner
tog," Buenos Aires, 23 August 1929.
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Jacob
Botoshansky -- Sara un menasha skulnik in "ekselsior,"
"Prese," Buenos Aires, 26 August 1929.
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Sh. R. -- A
leykhte komdeye, oyfgefirt fun m. skulnik, "Idishe
tsaytung," Buenos Aires, 5 September 1929.
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Dr. L.
Zhitnitsky -- Menasha skulnik, "Prese," 27
September 1929.
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Sh. R. -- A
leykhte-faarveylndike komedye in "ekselsior,"
oyfgefirt fun menasha skulnik, "Idishe
tsaytung," Buenos Aires, 20 October 1929.
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Shmeul Rozhansky
-- Menasha skulniks ern-ovnt in "ekselsior,"
"Idishe tsaytung," Buenos Aires, 25 October
1929.
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Sh. R. -- "A sud
fun a meydl" fun semuel kohn, oyfgefirt fun
menasha skulnik, "Idishe tsaytung," Buenos
Aires, 3 November 1929.
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Sh. R. -- "Di
bobe yakhne" oyfgefirt an a rezhiser (fun
menasha skulnik), "Idishe tsaytung," Buenos
Aires, 25 November 1929.
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Shmuel Rozhansky
-- "Di groyse frage" fun z. libin, oyfgefirt
fun menasha skulnik, "Idishe tsayt," Buenos
Aires, 9 December 1929.
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M. G. [Giser] --
"Di groyse frage" (fun z. libin) oyfgefirt
durkh m. skulnik, "Argentiner teg," Buenos
Aires, 9 December 1929.
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F. Chaims -- Di
gastshpiln fun der ekselsior-trupe mit der
batgeylikung fun menasha skulnik, "Rozarier
vokhnblat," N' 288, 1929.
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Chaim Reich [Z.
Zilbercweig] -- Shpasige teater mesh'lekh
vegen menasha skulnik, "Di idishe velt,"
Philadelphia, 18 March 1932.
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S. Regensberg --
Menasha skulnik's oyftrit in "artsh" als "fishl
der gerotener," "Di idishe velt,"
Philadelphia, 28 March 1932.
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Ezriel Fleishman
-- "Mister shlumiel" -- in hopkinson teater,
"Tog," N. Y., 7 October 1932.
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L. Fogelman --
Menasha skulnik in a neyer piese in
hopkinson teater, "Forward," N. Y., 21
October 1932.
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