Jewish Herald-Voice (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 39, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 15, 1988 Page: 4 of 40
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Page FOUR
THE JEWISH HERALD-VOICE
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The Y.W.-Y.M.H.A. building.
Don’t prink &Drive
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for 1938?
ed by the greatest depression in
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JEWELERS
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OPPOSITE THE GALLERIA
5006 Westheimer at Post Oak Blvd. • 960*1011
vising activities.
sonal automobile and all operat-
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6. It was possible because ing expenses.
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DIAMOND
DEALERS
REPAIRS A
APPRAISALS
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CUSTOM
WORKSHOP
er than the janitor), the Y.W.-
Y.M»H.A. was admitted as a par-
ticipating member of the Houston
Community Chest (now known as
the United Way) and received a
financial grant for the first time in
DESIGNER
JEWELRY
_ its history in September 1938.
This grant was awarded by the
Reported by
JOSEPH W. SAMUELS
The Y.W.-Y.M.H A was located.
on Chartres and Clay Streets. It
was one block from the present
George R. Brown Convention Cen-
ter.
Myer Kaplan was appointed by
the Board of Directors, effective
January 2, 1938, to be the first
director of the Jewish Community
Center (known at that time as the
Y.W.-Y.M.H.A.). This year, 1988,
marks the 50th anniversary of the
"Miracle on Chartres Street".
Although Myer Kaplan was the
only paid professional worker
(he was the only paid worker oth-
Y.W.-Y.M.H.A. in 1938
Miracle on Chartres Street
Robert Kaplan, (not related to
Myer Kaplan) president, inspired
everyone with his frequent visits
to the "Y".
7. It was possible because of
the efforts of the Youth Commit-
tee of.the Jewish Community
Council in renovating the "Y"
gs.
-ameg
MYER KAPLAN
... First Y.W.-Y.M.H.A. director
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deon, was played each week by
the orchestras of Benny Good-
man, Jimmie Dorsey, Harry James,
Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Gene
Krupa and Sammy Kaye. Young
men and women from all areas of
Houston attended these dances,
as well as participants from Texas
City, Galveston and Beaumont.
Occasionally, a vice versa dance
was held in which the girls
tagged the boys. At midnight the
dances always ended with the
playing of "Good Night, A Thou-
sand Good Nights". A dance for
junior boys and girls was held on
Saturday nights.
Sidney Kaplan, an actor with
the Houston Community Players,
was the volunteer director of the
Y.W.-Y.M.H.A. Jewish Theater
Group. Among the dramas per-
formed at the Center was the fa-
mous play, Awake and Sing by
Clifford Odets. The play received
outstanding reviews. It was
a drama about lower middle class
Jewish family life in the Bronx.
Members of the Awake and Sing
cast included: Carl Amdur, Sylvia
Bass, Rose Labowitz, Earl Har-
wood, Guy Rall, Dave Pollack,
Morris Silberman, Herman Mintz,
Freddie Wuntch and Sidney Kap-
lan. Chairman of the drama com-
mittee was Earl Harwood, a
board member.
A "Y" Debating Club was orga-
nized by Rabbi A. H. Blumenthal,.
a board member. The two top de-
baters were Julius Goldberg and
Peter Maniscalco; A Journalism
Class issued a mimemographed *
news letter, the "Y" Banner, twice a
month. It discussed present and
future activities of the "Y". Al
Gardner was editor-in-chief, Sylvia
Bass and Ben Scher were the asso-
ciate editors; J. P. Radoff and *
Leah Katz volunteered their serv-
ices to tutor junior and senior
high school students on Tuesday
and Wednesday evenings; Ball-
room dance lessons were given
by volunteers Max Orloff, Han-
nah Kaplan, Max Halpin and Mar-
cia Kaplan; The Spelling Bee was
won by Gus Rosen; Art classes
were set by Freddie Wuntch; A
series of 14 lectures were held on
medical subjects and presented
by outstanding Houston physi-
cians; Council of Jewish Women
furnished the "Y" with the nucleus
of a library; The Presidents' Coun-
cil, which included the presidents
of all Jewish clubs in Houston,
was organized; A class in Music
Appreciation was organized by
volunteers Irving Wadler and Sid-
ney Kaplan; Group Singing and a
Current Events Class were two
popular activities; Senior and jun-
ior organizations held their meet-
(Continued on Page Five)
THE JEWISH HERALD-VOICE
(ISSN 0021-6488)
Published weekly - plus special
editions for Passover and New Year -
by Herald Publishing Co., 3403 Audley
. Telephone 630-0391
By mail weekly -Subscription rates:
$25 per year - 3 years, $60.50
Second class postage paid
at Houston, Texas
POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to Jewish Herald-Voice,
P.O. Box 153, Houston,Texas 77001.
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One of the most popular activ-
ities, which drew capacity crowds,
was the Thursday night "pop"
dances. Members of the "Y" were '
admitted free. The fee for non-
members was 154 each or 204 per
couple. During this period the
big band music was at its peak
and music, through the nickelo-
.nt;
2 -23
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8
At *
As. I
Community Chest after reviewing building. -
Myer's program for the first nine 8.° It was possible because
months after his appointment as there was always an atmosphere
director. of friendship and warmth in the
How was the above possible Y.W.-Y.M.H.A. building.
with only one paid professional During 1938, the country was
worker and a budget of $5,000 in a recession which was preced-
1. It was possible because of American history. There were 7.8
the outstanding group of officers million Americans jobless. The
serving the Y.W.-Y.M.H A during minimum wage was forty cents an
1938. The officers were: Robert hour. The Jewish population of
Kaplar) president; Joe Weingar-1 Houston was estimated at 7,000.
ten, filst vice president; Max Na- The population of Ho'ustoh was
than, second vice president; Mose 350,000. The mayor of Houston
Feld, third vice president; J. L Zu- was R. H. Fonville, a local drug-
ber, treasurer; David White, chair- gist. James Allred was the gov-
man of the Publicity Committee. emor of Texas. The president of
2. It was possible because,of the United States was Franklin D.
the caliber of board members Roosevelt. 1938 was also the year
who served during 1938. The fol- of Kristallnacht. It was a pre-TV
lowing were board members: era. A new Ford V-8 sold for $760.
three year term - Mose Schwartz, A Hickey Freeman suit sold for
Max Nathan, Mose Feld, I. Fried- $48.75 at Sakowitz. Fresh red
lander, Joe Weingarten, J. L. Zu- snapper was available at Wein-
ber; two year term - Dr. Ray K. garten's for 15 per pound. Ad-
Daily, Max Krost, Morris Rauch, mission to the Loew's State The-
I. B. Maltz, Mrs. Mike Goldstein, ater, Houston's finest, was 254
Tobias Sakowitz, Earl Harwood;. for adults.
one year term - Sam Zeisman, The original hours of the Y.W.-
Cecil Dannenbaum, Moe Mandel, Y.M.H.A. were from 3:30 p.m. to
Pincus Juran, Ike Keller, Mrs. Ben 11 p.m. Closing time on Fridays
Leff, Rabbi Robert Kahn, Rabbi was 5:45 p.m. The "Y" reopened
A. H. Blumenthal. on Saturday at 6 p.m. A few
3. It was possible through the weeks after he became the direc-
recruitment of a large number of tor, Myer Kaplan requested au-
volunteers including some of the • thority to keep the building open
outstanding men and women of from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. This au-
the Jewish community. thority was granted and was nec-
4. It was successful even essary because of the growing
though the Y.W.-Y.M.H.A. was demand for "Y" services. A junior
housed in a small building with membership was $9 per year. An
very limited facilities. There were adult membership was $25 per
no softball fields, no tennis courts, year.
no health dub, and no swimming Due to a very limited budget,
pool. In order to accommodate there were certain items which
the large number of participants could not be purchased. Since the
in the athletic program, the City building had no air-conditioning,
of Houston was contacted and Temple Beth El loaned the "Y"
certain athletic facilities were several electric fans. Some off the
made available to the Y.W.- other items contributed to the
Y.M.H.A. without cost. Some of "Y" were carpeting and drapes by
these facilities included softball Robert Kaplan; a radio by Mose
fields, the municipal gym, located Feld; light fixtures by Tobias Sako-
above the old City Auditorium, witz; a radio by Mrs. Mike Gold-
and tennis courts. stein; use off a mimeograph ma-
5. It was possible because chine by Dr. Herman Loshak in
Myer Kaplan, director, spent 14 the Young Judaea office; and
hours a day organizing and super- Myer Kaplan furnished his per-
Camberg s cordially inVites you to an exclusive
showing of one-of-a-kind Italian ceramics —
statuettes, dolls, plates and hoWls.
dhese are magnificent objects of art, crafted on the
storied island of Sardegna — created With loVe by
tWo artisans, Women Whose artistic talent Will
neVer be equalled or found again, dhe ceramics
haVe been fired With imbedded lace and 18-k gold.
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Samuels, Joseph W. & Samuels, Jeanne F. Jewish Herald-Voice (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 80, No. 39, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 15, 1988, newspaper, December 15, 1988; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1582868/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1&rotate=90: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .