T. was born on 2 February 1890 in Zhitomir, Ukraine. His
father was a well-to-do businessman, a meshkil. He was
given a traditional education with tutors, he learned
Hebrew, later in a middle school and went off to become
a purveyor.
In 1906 he came to America,
became a cutter in a factory of women's clothing and in
his free time effectively participated in the
National-Socialist movement. In 1910 he entered into the
Progressive Dramatic Club, where he dedicated himself
to stage technique for the organized productions.
In 1916 T. was stage manager
for the production of Pinski's "Gabri un di froyen",
with which he made the attempt to create a Yiddish art
theatre. In 1919 he was the secretary of the literary
artistic [beyrat] of the "New Yiddish Theatre" and the
manuscript reader for the theatre.
Since 1921 he was associated
with the "Kunst-ring" and at the same time was a
professional prompter in the Yiddish theatres in New
York and in the province, part-time also their business
director.
In February 1931 under the
pseudonym of Yakov Goldin he staged with Celia Adler in
Chicago's Lawndale Theatre T.'s play "Dorf a froy opnarn".
The same play under the name "Ir ershter lign"
(comedy-drama in 3 acts, music by Sh. Secunda) was
staged on 2 December 1931 with Jennie Goldstein in the
Rolland Theatre. T. wrote several plays.
T.'s wife, Malka Karenshteyn,
acted on the English stage with Muni Weisenfreund (Paul
Muni).
Sh. E. |