Lives in the Yiddish Theatre
SHORT BIOGRAPHIES OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE Yiddish THEATRE
aS DESCRIBED IN zALMEN zYLBERCWEIG'S "lEKSIKON FUN YIDISHN TEATER"

1931-1969
 

Max R. Wilner

 

Born on 25 December 1881 in New York, America. Father -- the owner of a tailor workshop. He learned in a public school, and later traded houses and land.

Due to the marriage of his mother, Rae, with David Kessler, there was formed a partnership in 1907 in the management in the Thalia Theatre, where he was for two seasons, and in 1909 brought from Europe the actors Esther Rukhl Kaminska, Misha Fishzon and Vera Zaslavska.

In 1909 the Kessler Second Avenue Theatre was built (New York, Second Avenue and 2nd Street), where he was together with Kessler manager of the troupe until 1918. In 1912 he, together with Edelstein, Adler and Thomashefsky, built the National Theatre (New York, Second Avenue and Houston Street), where he was a manager for them until 1914.

1918-21 -- was, together, with Maurice Schwartz, manager of the Irving Place Theatre, 1922-25 -- by himself a manager of the same theatre, and 1925-27 -- again, a partner with Charlie Weinblatt.

In 1926 W. opened the theatre as the Irving Place Art Theatre with Ben-Ami at its head and brought from Europe the actresses Lidia Pototska and Helene Zhelinska.

 

In 1927 he had transformed the same theatre into an English burlesque.

Simultaneously, W. in 1924-29, together with Max Gabel, was manager of the People's Theatre, and 1928-30 -- owner and partner with Morris Lipshits, manager of the Folks Theatre in New York.


M. E.

  • B, Gorin -- "History of Yiddish Theatre", Vol. II, p. 227.


 

 

 

 


 

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Adapted from the original Yiddish text found within the  "Lexicon of the Yiddish Theatre" by Zalmen Zylbercweig, Volume 1, page 718.
 

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