Charlotte Cooper- Yiddish Actress

Partial Transcript: Charlotte Cooper introduces herself and discusses her early life, including her upbringing in Nashville (Europe) and traveling across various European countries for Yiddish theater.

Partial Transcript: Her grandfather Moshe Ziegler led a Yiddish theater troupe. Initially a troubadour, he later developed a traveling theater company involving seven family members and additional actors.

Partial Transcript: The troupe performed varied pieces ranging from serious dramas such as "The Kreutzer Sonata" to Yiddish plays about Jewish history.

Partial Transcript: The company often traveled by sleighs and horse-drawn carriages, facing challenging conditions, including potential bandit attacks.

Partial Transcript: The troupe was well-received, even by non-Jews, and provided important cultural and entertainment value to Jewish shtetls.

Partial Transcript: Charlotte’s father was not involved in the theater; her mother and children then joined her grandfather’s troupe.

Partial Transcript: The outbreak of Nazi aggression significantly affected Charlotte’s family, leading to struggles for exit visas and eventual separation from her mother.

Partial Transcript: Charlotte immigrated to America through the Hebrew Actors Union, adjusting to life alone in a new country while pursuing her career.

Partial Transcript: Worked in theaters across New York and other cities, performing with prominent Yiddish actors and doing nightclub acts.

Partial Transcript: She performed in South Beach theaters and hotels, contributing significantly to the local Yiddish cultural scene.

Partial Transcript: The Jewish population in Miami Beach has decreased, shifting the focus of performances from hotels to other venues like condos and temples.

Partial Transcript: The Jewish population in Miami Beach has decreased, shifting the focus of performances from hotels to other venues like condos and temples.

Partial Transcript: Emphasis on the importance of preserving Yiddish culture to maintain Jewish heritage.