Jewish Radio Broadcasts in Pre-War Europe
Introduction
Ten or so years ago Michael Corenthal, proprietor of Yesterday's Memories in
Milwaukee and author of Cohen on the Telephone: a history of Jewish recorded
humor and popular music, 1892-1942, sent me a hefty batch of pre-war Polish
newspapers - just the kind of thing I delight in perusing in an idle hour.
None of it was without interest, but in particular I was drawn to an old
radio magazine that contained a list of broadcasts for a week in early October
1936. I was curious as to whether any Jewish programmes may have been broadcast
and read through 40 or so pages containing details of hundreds of programmes
from Poland and elsewhere in Europe. There was not the slightest indication of
any programmes of Jewish interest, but then on page 40, towards the very end of
the magazine, I found details of a concert broadcast from Vilna on Saturday, 10
October. This was listed as Koncert w wykonaniu Chóru J. Gersztejna [Concert
given by J. Gersztejn's Choir] and, although all the titles were given in Polish
translation, it was clear that this was a concert of Yiddish songs, presumably
performed by Yankev Gershteyn's well-known choir from Vilna. Among the 11 songs
performed were Nowa pieśń [Yiddish: 'Dos naye lid'], Posłuchaj, piękna
dziewczyno, pieśń ludowa [Yiddish: 'Her nor du sheyn meydele'] and Wszyscy za
jednego [Yiddish: 'Ale far ayns'].
 That, though, was all I could find and I returned to work on my discography
and thought no more about it. Nevertheless, in the ensuing years that programme
rather haunted me. Was it nothing more than an odd occurrence that I had chanced
on or was it an example of a far more widespread phenomenon? In other words, had
there been Jewish radio broadcasts in pre-war Europe on any meaningful scale?
The question never quite left my mind and then one day earlier this year,
weary of attempting to track down (unsuccessfully) yet one more matrix number
and sickened at the prospect of having to decipher another blurred label scan, I
decided to let things drop for a few days and see what I could find out about
pre-war radio broadcasts.
The ‘Schedule of Jewish Broadcasts’ on this website contains the results of
the few days I spent investigating the subject. The selection of programmes is
totally random and therefore no general conclusions whatsoever can be drawn from
it. I do, however, find it impressive that the BBC was broadcasting programmes
of Jewish and Yiddish songs as early as December 1925, only 3 years after its
very first broadcast on 14 December 1922. Clearly the Corporation's reputation
for catering to a wide cultural base goes back to its very beginnings. Perhaps I
shouldn't, but I find it equally astonishing that on Wednesday, 6 June 1928,
listeners in Britain could ease back into their armchairs, switch on the
'wireless' and listen to a (live?) relay of Cantor Gershon Sirota singing at the
Kingsway Hall, London. Life in 'stuffy' 1920s Britain may not have been quite as
we imagine it. In fact, of course, it wasn't. The whole point of the discography
and this work on pre-war radio is to blast away preconceptions about the past
and dismantle the increasingly ritualised and fatuous representations of it; but
that, as they say, is another story.
What remains to be discovered? Quite a lot, I suspect, and I intend to find
out... Schedule Of Jewish Radio
Broadcasts In Europe
|
Date of
Broadcast |
Country |
Station |
Bandwave
(metres) |
Description |
|
09/12/25
(Wednesday) |
UK |
London—Call
2LO |
(365
metres) |
8.40
pm—9 pm:— Jewish and Yiddish Folk Songs: Miss Hilda Ammo (soprano);
Mr. Raymond Ellis (baritone); Miss Katie Goldsmith (solo violin) and
Miss Effle [sic] Kalisz (solo pianoforte). Stories told by
Mr. Morris Harvey
9.15—9.30 pm:—Folk Songs (continued)
9.30 pm—10
pm:—Part Singing by Mr. L. R. Birman's Jewish Choir—Opening Chorus (Shulamit)
(in Yiddish) (Goldfaden); Socharti Loch (Lewandowski); Psalm XXIV
(Lewandowski); Refugees' Lamentations (in Yiddish)
(Mendelssohn—adapted); Veshomru (traditional); Berosh Hashono (Naumburg). |
|
16/03/27
(Wednesday) |
UK |
London—Call
2LO |
(361.4
metres) |
10.38 pm—11
pm:—Hebrew and Yiddish Folk Songs sung by the Halevi Choral Society,
from the Biblical Masquerade Ball, People's Palace, Mile End-road.
"Rabbi Elimelech," "A Calamity has befallen the Rabbi," "Yoshke,
Yoshke" (traditional); "Under the Green Trees" (words by Bialik); "Hatikvah"
(words by S. Imber, Traditional Melody) |
|
06/06/28
(Wednesday) |
UK |
London—Call 2LO
and
Daventry—Call 5XX |
(830kc)
(361.4m.)
(187kc)
(1,604.3m.) |
9.35 pm—11
pm:—Jewish Chronicle Musical Festival, organized by Alexander Kraut
; Synagogue Choir (Male voices); Sirota (Cantor - solo); Synagogue
Choir (mixed voices); Choral Society; Massed Choirs, relayed from
the Kingsway Hall. |
|
?/05/30 |
UK |
Manchester
Station |
Not
stated |
Time not stated:
Concert of Jewish music (75 minutes long) |
|
19/08/33
(Saturday) |
Poland |
Vilna |
565 metres |
2.55
p.m.:—Jewish Gramophone Music |
|
20/08/33
(Sunday) |
Denmark |
Copenhagen |
281.12
metres |
7.30
p.m.:—Chief Rabbi Dr. Friediger on, the "Zionist —Congress in Prague" |
|
25/08/33
(Friday) |
Netherlands |
Hilversum |
1875 metres |
6.20
p.m.:—R. H. van der Heide, Talk on Palestine |
|
26/08/33
(Saturday) |
Poland |
Vilna /
Wilno |
565 metres |
2.55
p.m.:—Jewish Gramophone Music |
|
29/08/33
(Tuesday) |
Sweden |
Stockholm |
4354 [sic] |
7.30
p.m.:—Professor Anton Fridrichsen, "Judaism and Christianity in the
Twentieth Century" |
|
30/08/33
(Wednesday) |
Belgium |
Brussels
(Flemish) |
337.8
metres |
6.30
p.m.:—Jewish Rhapsody by Manfred |
|
03/09/33
(Sunday) |
Latvia |
Riga |
525 metres |
8.30
a.m.:—Eili-Eili (Jewish Song on Saxophone) |
|
06/09/33
(Wednesday) |
Netherlands |
Hilversum |
1875 metres |
7.25
p.m.:—Jewish Songs, sung by Leo Fuld : 1, Ghetto (Benatzky ; 2,
Yismach Moshe (Roskin) ; 3, Gott in sein Mishpot is gerecht
(Meierowitz-Berman) ; 4, Steh auf, mein Volk (Goldfaden) |
|
06/09/33
(Wednesday) |
Romania |
Bucharest |
394 metres |
8
p.m.:—Sarvos [sic] (violin), —"Nigun," by Ernest Bloch |
|
08/09/33
(Friday) |
Sweden |
Stockholm |
435 metres |
9.10
p.m.:—Professor A. Fridrichsen, "Judaism and Christianity at the
Present Day" |
|
09/09/33
(Saturday) |
Poland |
Vilna |
566 [sic]
metres |
2.55
p.m.:—Jewish Gramophone Music |
|
09/09/33
(Saturday) |
Austria |
Vienna |
517 metres |
6 p.m.:—Dr.
Franz Horch, "Max Reinhardt's Sixtieth Birthday." |
|
09/09/33
(Saturday) |
Czechoslovakia |
Prague |
488 metres |
6.30
p.m.:—R. Rosenheim, "Max Reinhardt's Sixtieth Birthday." |
|
10/09/33
(Sunday) |
Belgium |
Brussels |
337 metres |
1.30
p.m.:—Gramophone Concert including Hebrew Songs, "Zadik Katomor,"
"Ki Lekach Tow." |
|
11/09/33
(Monday) |
UK |
Scottish
Regional |
(797kc.) (376.4m.) |
8.15 pm:—A Half- Hour's Entertainment by the Yiddish
Players, with Esta Stein, Jos Greenspun, Aron Friedenrich, Ruth
Kalisch. |
|
13/09/33
(Wednesday) |
Yugoslavia |
Belgrade |
431 metres |
8 p.m.—8.30
p.m.:—Ludwig Mandel singing Hebrew Songs. |
|
13/09/33
(Wednesday) |
Romania |
Bucharest |
394 metres |
8 p.m.:—A.
A. Sarvas (violin), —"Nigun," (Bloch) |
|
15/09/33
(Friday) |
France |
Radio-Paris |
1724 metres |
12
noon:—Jewish Broadcast: 1. Talk on Rosh Hashanah 2. Jewish Songs |
|
15/09/33
(Friday) |
Poland [sic] |
Kosice |
293 |
2.50
p.m.:—Jewish Polonaise from Suite by Moussorgsky |
|
16/09/33
(Saturday) |
Poland |
Vilna /
Wilno |
565 metres |
2.55
p.m.:—Jewish Gramophone Music |
|
16/09/33
(Saturday) |
Denmark |
Copenhagen |
281 metres |
4.15
p.m.:—Story by the poet Meïr Goldschmidt |
|
18/09/33
(Monday) |
Switzerland |
Zurich |
459 metres |
6.30
p.m.:—Dr. Nettie Sutra*, Talk on Rahel Varnhagen
*Surname
not entirely legible - appears to be 'Sutra' |
|
18/09/33
(Monday) |
Sweden |
Stockholm |
435 metres |
8
p.m.:—Engel Lund, Hebrew Songs —Yafim Haleilos Bicnaan [sic]
(Lovely are the nights in Canaan); Po Baa [rest of word illegible]
(March of Hope) |
|
19/09/33
(Tuesday) |
Poland |
Warsaw |
1411 metres |
8
p.m.:—Salecki (tenor), Aria from the Opera "The Jewess" (Halévy." |
|
22/09/33
(Friday) |
France |
Radio-Paris |
1724 metres |
12
noon:—Jewish Broadcast: 1. Talk on Yom Kippur 2. Jewish Songs |
|
25/09/33
(Monday) |
Norway |
Oslo |
1083 metres |
8.0.:—Engel
Lund, Two Jewish Songs, "Die Mamme hot mich geschicht" and
"Sabbath-Song." |
|
29/09/33
(Friday) |
France |
Radio-Paris |
1724 metres |
12
noon:—Jewish Broadcast: Talk on "Tabernacles." |
|
29/09/33
(Friday) |
Yugoslavia |
Belgrade |
431 metres |
4 p.m.:
Jewish Songs by Albers Lang (violin), 1. Isaiah (Freur), 2. Eili,
Eili (Seidl), 3. Hebrew Songs (Dobrover), 4. Hebrew Songs and Dances
(Braun), 5. Dances of Palestine Youth (Lang) |
|
29/09/33
(Friday) |
Sweden |
Stockholm |
435 metres |
9.15 p.m.:
Talk on the Swedish-Jewish poet, Oscar Levertin |
|
30/09/33
(Saturday) |
Poland |
Vilna /
Wilno |
565 metres |
2.55
p.m.:—Jewish Gramophone Music |
|
09/10/33
(Monday) |
Belgium |
Brussels
(Flemish) |
337 metres |
12
noon:—Excerpts from "Shulamith" by Goldfaden |
|
10/10/33
(Monday) |
Belgium |
Brussels
(Flemish) |
337 metres |
8.45
p.m.:—Interview with N. Rust "A Concentration Camp in Germany." |
|
17/08/34
(Friday) |
UK |
Midlands
Regional |
(767kc.) (391.1m.) |
10 pm—10.30
pm:—The Yiddish Players in a programme of original music and comedy |
|
29/11/34
(Thursday) |
UK |
Newcastle |
(1,429kc.) (209.9m.) |
9.25 pm—10
pm:—An Entertainment : Presented by Esta Stein's Yiddish Chauve
Souris Company. |
|
06/12/34
(Thursday) |
UK |
Midland
Regional |
(767kc)
(391.1m.) |
9.30 pm—10
pm:—The Yiddish Chauve Souris Company, with Esta Stein, in a
programme of music and drama |
|
07/12/34
(Friday) |
UK |
West
Regional |
(977kc)
(307.1m.) |
7.30 pm—8
pm:—Esta Stein's Yiddish Chauve Souris Company. |
|
11/03/35
(Monday) |
UK |
Western |
(804kc)
(373.1m.) |
9.30 pm—10
pm:—Esta Stein's Yiddish Chauve Souris Company. |
|
01/04/35
(Monday) |
UK |
Northern |
(668kc)
(449.1m.) |
9 pm—10
pm:—Esta Stein's Yiddish "Chauve Souris" Company. |
|
01/05/35
(Wednesday) |
UK |
Midland |
(1,013kc)
(296.2m.) |
9.30 pm—10
pm:—The Yiddish Chauve Souris Company, with Esta Stein, in a
programme of music and drama |
|
01/05/35
(Wednesday) |
France |
Paris
(Poste parisien) |
(959kc)
(312.8m.) 100kw. |
6.30
pm—6.50 pm:—Jewish Programme |
|
27/06/35
(Thursday) |
UK |
Northern |
(668kc)
(449.1m.) |
7 pm—8
pm:—Esta Stein's Yiddish Chauve Souris Company. |
|
04/10/35
(Friday) |
UK |
Midland |
(1,013kc)
(296.2m.) |
9.15 pm—10
pm:—Esta Stein and her Yiddish Chauve Souris Company in a programme
of Music and Drama |
|
09/10/35
(Wednesday) |
UK |
Northern |
(668kc)
(449.1m.) |
8.35
pm—9.10 pm:—Esta Stein's Yiddish Chauve Souris Company. Programme
arranged by Joseph Greenspun : N. Schachnoff (tenor) : Renee Barr
(soprano) : Ziporah (contralto) : Musical Director, H. Rosenberg |
|
14/10/35
(Monday) |
UK |
Western |
(804kc)
(373.1m.) |
9 pm—10
pm:—Esta Stein's Yiddish Chauve Souris Company, arranged by Jos.
Greenspun. |
|
07/12/35
(Saturday) |
UK |
Northern
Ireland |
(977kc)
(307.1m.) |
7 pm—7.42
pm:—Esta Stein and her Yiddish Chauve Souris Company in Folk Songs,
Sketches and Stories in Yiddish, Russian and English : music
arranged by H. Rosenberg |
|
14/01/36
(Tuesday) |
UK |
Midland |
(1,013kc)
(296.2m.) |
9.15 pm—10
pm:—The Yiddish Players directed by Joseph Sherman |
|
06/02/36
(Thursday) |
UK |
Regional |
(877kc)
(342.1m.) |
8 pm—8.30
pm:—Esta Stein's Yiddish Chauve Souris Company ; programme arranged
by Joeph. Greenspun ; with Nathan Schachnoff, Naomi, M. Savage,
Zyporah, L. Rosenberg, Joseph Greenspun, and Esta Stein ; music
arranged by H. Rosenberg ; piano accompanist Edith H. Godfrey |
|
08/02/36
(Saturday) |
UK |
Midland |
(1,013kc)
(296.2m.) |
4.30
pm—5.15 pm:—Esta Stein and her Yiddish Chauve Souris Company in an
original programme of Music and Drama |
|
28/04/36
(Tuesday) |
UK |
Northern |
(668kc)
(449.1m.) |
6.50
pm—7.30 pm:—Esta Stein and her Yiddish Chauve Souris Company ;
programme arranged by Joseph Greenspun : music director, H.
Rosenberg |
|
01/05/36
(Friday) |
UK |
Western |
(804kc)
(373.1m.) |
9.30
pm—10.20 pm:—Esta Stein and herYiddish Chauve Souris Company ;
programme arranged by Joseph Greenspun ; with Nathan Schacnoff [sic]
(tenor) ; Doris Taylor (soprano) ; Joseph Greenspun. |
|
13/06/36
(Saturday) |
UK |
Midland |
(1,013kc)
(296.2m.) |
10 pm—8.30
pm:—Esta Stein and her Yiddish Chauve Souris Company ; programme
arranged by Joeph Greenspun ; with Doris Taylor (soprano) ; Nathan
Schachnoff (tenor) ; Louis Rosenberg (bass-baritone) and Edith
Godfrey (accompanist) |
|
10/10/36
(Saturday) |
Poland |
Vilna /
Wilno |
559.7
metres |
15.40 pm—16.10 pm:—Koncert w
wykonaniu Chóru J. Gersztejna [Concert by J. Gersztejn's Choir] 1)
Zylberts : Nowa pieśń, 2) M. Pozner : Kładę glówkę swą, pieśń ludowa,
3) M. Pozner : Nie chodź z innymi dziewczętami, pieśń ludowa, 4) L.
Liow : Lulinke, pieśń ludowa, 5) Fajwiszyc : Posłuchaj, piękna
dziewczyno, pieśń ludowa, 6) Gelbart : Stepy, 7) Połoński : Krynica,
8) Połoński : Kto, 9) Alman : Elul-teg, 10) Gelbart : Kujenojl, 11)
L. Low [sic] : Wszyscy za jednego |
|
01/12/36
(Thursday) |
UK |
Regional |
(877kc)
(342.1m.) |
7.30—8 pm:—Esta
Stein's Yiddish Chauve Souris Company ; with Esta Stein, Joe Silver,
Joseph Greenspun, Ethel Roll ; Jewish Male Choir, conducted by I. R.
Berman ; Edith H. Godfrey (pianoforte) ; Lola Shari (Guest Artist) |
|
17/02/37
(Wednesday) |
UK |
Athlone |
(565kc)
(531m.), 100kw. |
7—7.40
pm:—Yiddish Folk Music
|
|
04/03/37
(Thursday) |
UK |
National |
(200kc)
(1,500m.) |
8—8.25 pm:—Esta
Stein's Yiddish Chauve Souris Company in a programme of music, drama
and sketches, directed by Joseph Greenspun ; orchestra conducted by
Harold Lowe |
|
29/06/37
(Tuesday) |
UK |
Regional |
(877kc)
(342.1m.) |
8—8.30 pm:—Esta
Stein and her Yiddish Chauve Souris Company in Malava Malka |
|
04/10/37
(Monday) |
UK |
National |
(200kc)
(1,500m.) |
9.35—10
pm:—Esta Stein's Yiddish Chauve Souris Company with Joseph Greenspun,
Doris Taylor, the Jewish Male Voice Choir, conducted by Ir [sic]
Berman ; programme arranged by Joseph Greenspun |
|
22/01/39
(Sunday) |
UK |
National |
Not
stated |
Time not stated:
"The Faith of Israel" (2), by H. M. Loewe, Reader of Rabbinics at
Cambridge University |
|
24/01/39
(Tuesday) |
UK |
Scottish |
Not
stated |
Time not stated:
The Glasgow Jewish Institute Male Voice Choir, Soloists, I. Balkan
and D. Markson: arrangements of Modern Palestinian Folk Songs,
"Creation's Hymn," by Beethoven, and "Zemer Le-Shabbos," by I.
Balkan. |
|
25/01/39
(Wednesday) |
France |
Poste
Parisien |
Not
stated |
Time not stated:
Special Jewish Broadcast organised by "La Voix d'Israël" |
|
