Julius Adler (actor)
Encyclopedia
Julius Adler was a Jewish actor, writer, and director in Yiddish theater.
into an orthodox Jewish
family. When his father died six years later his mother emigrated to America leaving the children with grandparents. In 1920 the family was reunited in the United States and Julius began to work in theater. He played with Julius Natanson, Leon Blank, Boris Thomashevsky, Aaron Lebedeff
, Samuel Goldenberg, Jennie Goldstein
, and others. He originally trained as a hat maker; when his stepfather learned of his desire to become an actor, Adler was put out of the family home. He got as far as the fire escape where he slept and where his mother gave him food. When Adler's stepfather learned about the amount of money his stepson was making in his acting career, he was invited to move back into the family apartment.
and Irving, not only performed but owned several prominent Yiddish theaters in New York City. When her father died, Henrietta was just seven weeks old; Bessie continued to perform and brought her four children up as performers also. Julius and Henrietta formed a team and performed together for three years. When they had an offer to perform in Belgium
, Julius proposed by remarking that they could save money on visas and other expenses as a married couple. Henrietta accepted and they were married in 1938.
Adler was accepted into the Hebrew Actors Union in 1938 and with his wife toured France
, Lithuania
, and Belgium
. They then played in Chicago, then at the Hopkonson Theater and made a revue film. They played with Molly Picon
and Jacob Kalich at the Second Avenue Theater
; in 1948 they played in London. In 1950 he became director of the National Theater and produced Yiddish vaudeville
. The couple also wrote plays. Their son Bruce
(Borekh Yosl, born 1944) played Yiddish theater when he was young. He also later worked on Broadway and was nominated for two Tony Award
s. The Adler family played the London Palladium
with Sophie Tucker
in the 1950s.
Adler also did some work in films, beginning in 1926 with Broken Hearts. He had an uncredited role as the High Priest in the 1935 film, She. Adler was cast as Aleksei (the priest) for the film Tevya (1939). The musical Fiddler on the Roof
was based on this film, though this early version of the story was non-musical. His last film role was as a comedian in the 1950 Catskill Honeymoon,
Adler and his wife were performing in non-Yiddish theater by the 1960s. In 1973, they were the stars of a St. Petersburg, Florida
production of Come Blow Your Horn
. Their son, Bruce, was also cast in the play as the younger brother.
. The section is reserved for those who were part of New York's Yiddish theater and is maintained by the Alliance.
Career
He was born in Biłgoraj, PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
into an orthodox Jewish
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
family. When his father died six years later his mother emigrated to America leaving the children with grandparents. In 1920 the family was reunited in the United States and Julius began to work in theater. He played with Julius Natanson, Leon Blank, Boris Thomashevsky, Aaron Lebedeff
Aaron Lebedeff
Aaron Lebedeff , a Yiddish theater star, was born in Homel, White Russia. In childhood he sang for the Hazzan, Borekh David. Having no interest in education, he was sent to learn a trade, but soon he ran away and began to play small roles in a Russian theaters in Boboysk, Minsk and other towns...
, Samuel Goldenberg, Jennie Goldstein
Jennie Goldstein
Jennie Goldstien , Yiddish theater actress and singer.-Early Life:Goldstein was born in New York; her father was a butcher. When she was 6, actress Rosa Margulies noticed her pretty voice and drew her into child roles at the Windsor Theater, including Hanele di neytorin with Bertha Kalish...
, and others. He originally trained as a hat maker; when his stepfather learned of his desire to become an actor, Adler was put out of the family home. He got as far as the fire escape where he slept and where his mother gave him food. When Adler's stepfather learned about the amount of money his stepson was making in his acting career, he was invited to move back into the family apartment.
Later life and career
In 1935, he met Henrietta Jacobson while both were appearing with Herman Yablokoff (Hayim Yablonik) in McKinley Square Theater. She was a divorcee with a young son from a prior marriage. Henrietta had deep roots in the Jewish theater community. Her parents, Joseph and Bessie, were Yiddish theater stars at the beginning of the 20th century, and her brothers, HymieHymie Jacobson
Hymie Jacobson was an American Jewish actor and composer in Yiddish vaudeville, films and theater. Born 1895 in Chicago to actors Joseph and Bessie Jacobson. His sister, Henrietta, married Yiddish theatre actor Julius Adler; his brother, Irving, was also a performer. He and Irving also owned some...
and Irving, not only performed but owned several prominent Yiddish theaters in New York City. When her father died, Henrietta was just seven weeks old; Bessie continued to perform and brought her four children up as performers also. Julius and Henrietta formed a team and performed together for three years. When they had an offer to perform in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Julius proposed by remarking that they could save money on visas and other expenses as a married couple. Henrietta accepted and they were married in 1938.
Adler was accepted into the Hebrew Actors Union in 1938 and with his wife toured France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. They then played in Chicago, then at the Hopkonson Theater and made a revue film. They played with Molly Picon
Molly Picon
Molly Picon was an American actress of stage, screen and television, as well as a lyricist and dramatic storyteller....
and Jacob Kalich at the Second Avenue Theater
Second Avenue (Manhattan)
Second Avenue is an avenue on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan extending from Houston Street at its south end to the Harlem River Drive at 128th Street at its north end. A one-way street, vehicular traffic runs only downtown. A bicycle lane in the left hand portion from 55th...
; in 1948 they played in London. In 1950 he became director of the National Theater and produced Yiddish vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
. The couple also wrote plays. Their son Bruce
Bruce Adler
Bruce Adler was an American Broadway actor. After debuting on the Broadway stage in the 1979 revival of Oklahoma!, he went on to a career that saw him nominated for Tony Awards as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Those Were the Days and Crazy for You...
(Borekh Yosl, born 1944) played Yiddish theater when he was young. He also later worked on Broadway and was nominated for two Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
s. The Adler family played the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
with Sophie Tucker
Sophie Tucker
Sophie Tucker was a Russian/Ukrainian-born American singer and actress. Known for her stentorian delivery of comical and risqué songs, she was one of the most popular entertainers in America during the first half of the 20th century...
in the 1950s.
Adler also did some work in films, beginning in 1926 with Broken Hearts. He had an uncredited role as the High Priest in the 1935 film, She. Adler was cast as Aleksei (the priest) for the film Tevya (1939). The musical Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem...
was based on this film, though this early version of the story was non-musical. His last film role was as a comedian in the 1950 Catskill Honeymoon,
Adler and his wife were performing in non-Yiddish theater by the 1960s. In 1973, they were the stars of a St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
production of Come Blow Your Horn
Come Blow Your Horn
Come Blow Your Horn was Neil Simon's first play, which premiered in the United States in 1961 and had a London production in 1962 at the Prince of Wales Theatre.-Act Summaries:Time: The Present...
. Their son, Bruce, was also cast in the play as the younger brother.
Death
The couple is buried in the Yiddish Theatrical Alliance section (Block 67) of Mount Hebron CemeteryMount Hebron Cemetery
Mount Hebron is a Jewish cemetery located in the Flushing neighborhood of New York City. It was founded in 1903 as the Jewish section of Cedar Grove Cemetery. It is noted for its Yiddish theater section....
. The section is reserved for those who were part of New York's Yiddish theater and is maintained by the Alliance.