Abraham Ellstein (1907-1963) Papers
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains Hebrew, Yiddish and English sheet music compositions, programs, playbills, and reviews, with extensive files relating to the operas "The Golem" and "The Thief and the Hangman" and the musical "Great to Be Alive." There are also some photographs and correspondence.
Dates
- undated, 1925-1965
Creator
- Ellstein, Abraham, 1907-1963 (Person)
- Regan, Sylvia (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in Hebrew, English, and Yiddish.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open to all researchers, except items that may be restricted due to their fragility, or privacy.
Use Restrictions
No permission is required to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection, as long as the usage is scholarly, educational, and non-commercial. For inquiries about other usage, please contact the Director of Collections and Engagement at mmeyers@ajhs.org.
For reference questions, please email: inquiries@cjh.org
Biographical Note
Abraham Ellstein, songwriter, composer, conductor, and director of the American Yiddish theater, was born on the Lower East Side of New York City on July 7, 1907. He sang at his local synagogue as a chorister, and at the Metropolitan Opera Children's chorus. At age 18, he was awarded a scholarship to The Julliard School. He was a well-known accompaniest to numerous stars of the Yiddish theater, including Molly Picon, Dave Lubritsky, Dina Goldberg, Yossele Rosenblatt, and many more. He was the resident composer and music director at Ludwig Satz’s Folk Theater during the 1929-1930 season and the resident composer and director of the Public Theatre for the 1930–31 season. He composed over thirty scores for the Yiddish theater and film and more than 500 songs and was known as one of the “big four of Second Avenue,” along with Shalom Secunda, Joseph Rumshinsky, and Alexander Olshanetsky. In addition to composing music for Molly Picon's roles in Shmendrik and Oy iz dos a meydl (O, What a Girl!), two of his most famous film scores are for Mamele and Yidl Mitn Fidl, both starring Molly Picon, which were among the most successful Yiddish movies of all time.
Ellstein was also involved in Yiddish radio, hosting several regular programs on WEVD, including Yiddish folk music, theatrical music and cantorial and liturgical music. Additionally, he wrote and arranged English music for Broadway, radio, telelvision, popular music concerts, and films. His opera The Golem, based on the Jewish legend as well as on H. Leivick's work, was commissioned by the Ford Foundation and premiered at the New York City Opera in 1962. Ellstein died suddenly on March 22, 1963 in New York City.
Extent
2 Manuscript Boxes
1 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection contains Hebrew, Yiddish and English sheet music compositions, programs, playbills, and reviews, with extensive files relating to the operas "The Golem" and "The Thief and the Hangman" and the musical "Great to Be Alive." There are also some photographs and correspondence.
Physical Location
Located in AJHS New York, NY
- Title
- Guide to the Abraham Ellstein Papers, undated, 1925-1965 P-32
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by marc2ead_ajhs.xsl
- Date
- © 2009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2016-09-14: PDF box list converted to dsc. Finding aid encoding revised. Biographical Note and Related Material added. Rachel S. Harrison
- March, June 2020: EHyman-post-ASpace migration cleanup
Repository Details
Part of the American Jewish Historical Society Repository