What are the
historical roots of today’s cultural icons such as
Jon Stewart,
Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman and Larry David…and
what do they owe to
Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor and George Jessel?
In his path-breaking new book, Ted Merwin locates the birth
of American Jewish popular culture in that legendary era
known as the Jazz Age, whose creative and social epicenter
was New York City.
"In
Their Own Image is the
most complete study I know of the popular culture of Jazz
Age Jews. Ted Merwin's suggestive thesis -- that the
more Jews portrayed themselves the more American they
became -- speaks volumes not only about the culture of the
twenties, but about contemporary American Jewish culture as
well."
--Jonathan Sarna, Brandeis University
"An enjoyable read...Well researched and smoothly written.
Merwin has real insight into how Jews helped to transform
American culture."
--Robert Brustein, emeritus professor, Harvard University;
founder of the Yale Repertory Theatre and the American
Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) at Harvard.
"An informative look at Jewish vaudeville, theatre and
movies during the 1920s. The vaudeville routines of such
memorable performers as Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, George
Jessel and Sophie Tucker are brilliantly recaptured, as are
the silent films that showed Jewish families struggling to
leave the ghetto."
--Louis Botto, editor, Playbill.
"Rich and thoughtful...eminently entertaining."
--Marni Davis, Emory University
"A refreshing and stimulating look at Jewish vaudeville,
theater and movies sure to revise our understanding of the
Jazz Age."
--Deborah Dash Moore, author of G.I. Jews: How World War II
Changed a Generation.