![]() ![]() But 1942 was the first Christmas that millions of American soldiers would spend away from their homes, and “White Christmas” struck a deep chord both overseas and at home. And in the 1940s, as a deeply troubled America watched the world collapse amidst the horror of World War II, Jewish songwriters provided comfort by creating a songbook for a secular Christmas that they invented purely out of their own imaginations.īefore Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” broke all sales records in 1942, composers had spent little time focusing on Christmas songs because it seemed as if their appeal could only be short-term and seasonal. As outsiders, they were extraordinarily sensitive to the hopes and dreams of the American middle class they so desperately wanted to enter. ![]() However, in their desire to become mainstream Americans, most of them left behind not only their names but all traces of their Jewishness, as well. Russian-born Israel Isidore Beilin took on a new name in New York - Irving Berlin. Israel Baline became Irving Berlin, Jacob and Israel Gershowitz became George and Ira Gershwin, Hyman Arluck became Harold Arlen, Asa Yoelson became Al Jolson, and Isidore Hochberg became “Yip” Harburg. The overwhelming impulse among the children of Jewish immigrants was toward assimilation, and the first step in becoming “American” nearly always involved changing their names. When asked why there were so many Jews in show business, Minnie Marx-the mother of the Marx Brothers-said, “Where else can people who don’t know anything make so much money?” Since the Jews were forbidden entrance into nearly all of the professions and had restricted access to higher education, a surprisingly large number found their way into the world of popular music. Many of these poor immigrants congregated in the filthy tenements of New York’s Lower East Side, where they desperately tried to eke out a living in whatever menial jobs they could find. Though the influx of Jewish immigrants had a major impact on the country as a whole, no single city was affected more than New York City. According to one of Alexander’s closest advisors, the hope was that “one-third of the Jews will convert, one third will die, and one-third will flee the country.” The plan worked, and between 18 more than two million Jews left Russia, with America being the prime destination. What was not nearly as clear was that his regime would also have a major impact on the history of the Broadway musical and the entire soundtrack of America’s Christmas.Īlexander III did everything he possibly could to undo his father’s liberal reforms and stigmatize the Jews. ![]() ![]() When Alexander II, the great Russian reformer who freed the serfs, was assassinated in 1881, his son Alexander III ascended to the throne, and it quickly became clear that his repressive regime would have an enormous impact on every aspect of Russian society. ![]()
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