A Nostalgic Look Back at Jewish Comedy On Second Avenue

In 2005 the Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre staged a tribute to the Jewish comedy performed in the early twentieth century on Second Avenue on the Lower East Side of New York City. The show included some classic skits from the Yiddish theatre.

On Second Avenue was created by Moishe Rosenfeld and Zalmen Mlotek. The bi-lingual English-Yiddish musical revue also starred Joanne Borts, Lisa Fishman and Robert Abelson. It featured the songs of Yiddish composers such as Abraham Goldfaden, Sholom Secunda, Alexander Olshanetzky and Yosef Rumshinsky, and excerpts from landmark shows.

Videos of these skits are rare, but we found one featuring Lisa Fishman as a friend visiting Mr. Blitz in the hospital. This is the hospital visit from hell, one that we don't wish on anybody. But it's funny.

Enjoy!
 
(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)