Photograph from a production of "Eretz Yisrael," taken by an unidentifed photographer from Rappoport Studios in New York. The image depicts Boris Thomashefsky, standing facing front, with his right arm around the shoulder of a crouching Bessie Thomashefsky, who has both her arms around two kneeling, unidentified child actors (boy and girl); all are in costume.
Content: Title devised by cataloger. The Yiddish title of the work has variant transliterations; "Eretz Yisrael" is the form generally found in in contemporary English language press accounts of the original New York production.
Content: Name of photographer from recto of print.
Content: Date of creation from the performance date of first known New York production.
Content: Print in Dorot Jewish Division has handwritten note in ink by unknown hand on verso: "Standing, Boris Thomashefsky in 'Eretz Israel.' (He was the author) Play given at Public Th [crossed out], National Theater [written below]".
Content: Print in Dorot Jewish Division is damaged with most of the upper left corner missing, as well as the entire left vertical edge where the remnants of the photography studio's name "Rappo Stud" are inscribed in white on recto. It most likely originally measured 11 x 14 inches and would have been used as a lobby or small window card at the theatre.
Biographical/historical: Rappoport Studios was a commercial photography studio in New York City that operated from approximately 1905-1980. During the 1920s to early 1930s, the firm supplied publicity photographs for numerous Yiddish theater productions in New York, while specializing in college yearbook photographs in its later years.
Biographical/historical: "Eretz Yisrael" was a Yiddish operetta with a libretto by Boris Thomashefsky and music by Abraham Ellstein. It was performed first in Paris on October 14, 1930 and had its New York premiere at the Public Theatre (66 Second Avenue) on November 26, 1930. In addition to writing the script, Thomashefsky appeared in the role of "Yisroel" [?].
