NARRATOR: Max took such pleasure in the relating of their experience with Hollywood! With just two children left at home, Max and Jennie put great hopes into going to California to foster the career of their son the actor. 1944, the middle of the romantic war movie era, was a time when tragedies and comedies, great success stories and monumental losses were the stuff of daily newspapers. The Yiddish theatre had thrived on the Lower East Side for decades; great names like Jacob Adler and Molly Picon had emerged from this very unique form of drama. The Yiddish theatre had evolved from a people released from oppression; as the assimilation process began to take hold, the genre naturally became absorbed into American society.

It made sense, therefore, for Max and Jennie to be attracted to Hollywood. They were not victims of a doctor/lawyer syndrome concerning their sons. After all, there were five of them. Most prevalent for Max and Jennie was for their sons to be successful at whatever they chose to do with their lives.

Although Pauls contract fell through, his talent as an actor was utilized later on in life, successfully manifesting itself in his role as an independent business entrepreneur. I see his vitality and forcefulness come out of that love for acting; it was a natural part of him then, and certainly has been fully utilized.