BEVERLY HILLS
September 5, 2014 | Page 31
Chairman Emeritus Paula Kent Meehan President & Publisher Marcia Wilson Hobbs ******
Senior Editor John L. Seitz Special Sections Editor Stephen P. Simmons ****** Founding Publisher March Schwartz (Publisher 1965-2004) Clifton S. Smith, Jr. (Publisher 2004-2014)
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From The Publisher
MARCIA WILSON HOBBS This past February, Beverly Hills lost one of its more colorful citizens, television pioneer Sid Caesar. On Monday, he would have celebrated his 93rd birthday. Rabbi Jerry Cutler reflects...
REMEMBERING SID CAESAR By Jerry R. Cutler This coming Monday Sid Caesar would have been 92 years old. His hit TV series, Your Show of Shows, which ultimately gave way to The Sid Caesar Show, were the finest, funniest and most entertaining shows at the time and never equaled, since. And, they were done—”live.” His staff of comedy writers including Woody Allen, Larry Gelbart, Carl Reiner and Neil Simon and, oh yes, a young fella named Mel Brooks, were the best ever assembled in one room. His spoofs on movies and the passing cultural scene were screamingly funny. I was one of the millions who watched the Emmy telecast last month and waited for a special mention of the iconic Caesar, yet none came. His passing last February was memorialized by a fast glimpse of his photograph and printed name beneath. When I saw a compassionate speech by Billy Crystal in a moving memorial to Robin Williams, I thought, surely, there will be one for Sid. After all, Williams’ brilliance was an extension of the great Caesar’s talents. There was nothing, just a photograph with the caption, “Sid Caesar.” The last few years weren’t kind to Sid as his fully acknowledged foray into drink and drugs, took its toll in his later years. Thanks to the kindness of two wonderful Beverly Hills residents, Lou and Fran Zigman, it was decided that Sid, when it was difficult for him to physically get around, needed a reason to continue his life. They provided that impetus by having a once a month, Sabbath candle lighting and the blessing over the bread and wine and inviting his close friends to meet at his house and kibbitz, reminisce, tell jokes and most importantly, laugh. Sid–thanks to his guests who included regulars Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Joe Bologna, Renee Taylor, Monty Hall, Theodore Bikel, Connie Stevens, Jack Carter, Richard Lewis, Jeffrey Ross, Estelle Harris, Michelle Lee, Lainie Kazan, Rudy Deluca and periodic attendees such as Dick Van Dyke, Larry King, Hal Linden, Diane Ladd–was given a new lease on life. Sid looked forward to those Friday nights as well as every birthday bash and Passover Seder. Participating in the Sabbath prayers was one of the highlights of my own rabbinical career. Theo Bikel would chant the blessing over the wine (when he wasn’t there, the substitute cantor was Deluca who babbled something in Italian and returned to his seat, satisfied with his input) and I said the prayer over the challah (bread). Then we sat and ate and talked. It wasn’t your usual “talk” because nobody there usually talked. Instead, they laughed. Carl would send around a cup imprinted with the Broadway hit Old Jews Telling Jokes. Everyone who took the cup had to tell a joke. Laughter reigned supreme for Sid. The best was when he, Mel and Carl reminisced about the good old days and yes, indeed, they were the good old days. Sid fought to stay alive and with his group of friends surrounding his wheelchair, he relived the glory days and brought into focus his invaluable contribution to American culture. He would crack a smile when Brooks and Reiner told a joke imitating two chickens talking about the price of eggs in Yiddish. His eyes twinkled when the stories of the “mishugas” (craziness) of performing a live production every week was not only an impossible task but, one that was filled with non-stop laughter. Always the perfect host, when we left, he told us how much he loved us. Whenever Lou and Fran came up with an idea for a party, he always acquiesced. I don’t know what was going on in his brilliant head but I can surmise that he reflected back to his New York childhood in Yonkers, when his original family gathered together on the holy days. We were his new family and I was proud to be a part of show business history eavesdropping about a time when Sid Caesar was actually, “Caesar!” In memoriam, Carl Reiner said that Sid was the “template for everyone and without a doubt the greatest sketch comedian/monologist that TV ever produced.” He could do everything, Carl said: “improvise and do anything necessary to make people laugh.” From 1951 to 1958, Sid made America forget their problems. He was nominated for 11 Emmys, winning two, and among his many honors in 1985 was his induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. Most recently, in 2011 Sid Caesar received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame. He was the most original and creative force in comedy during our lifetime. And, when he passed, all he got at last week’s Emmy Primetime Awards was his photograph with a caption, “Sid Caesar.” Jerry Ram Cutler is The Courier’s film critic and rabbi at Creative Arts Temple.
The Courier appreciates and welcomes “Letters to the Editor” Remember to follow these simple guidelines: (1) The shorter the better; (2) Keep to a single topic; (3) Do not send letters appearing elsewhere. Mail: The Beverly Hills Courier, 499 N. Cañon Dr. (#100), Beverly Hills CA 90210 Email: myopinion@bhcourier.com Fax: 310-271-5118
Rabbi Jacob Pressman THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE Have you heard about the Ice Bucket Challenge? It’s a fundraising campaign which seems to be going on all over the world. The idea is to film yourself pouring a bucket full of ice over your head, share the video with your friends, donate to a charity and challenge your friends to do the same. The non-profit which benefits from this viral phenomenon fights Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as A.L.S. The disease, which affects 1 in 1,000 Americans, destroys motor nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in a progressive but fast paralysis and death. Everybody is doing the Ice Bucket Challenge: individuals, celebrities such as Kermit the Frog, and organizations alike. The Beverly Hills Hotel, for example, has done it recently using leftover ice cubes from its restaurant. If you are susceptible to cold, do not try this? It’s actually interesting that the challenge is spreading during hot summer days in California with so much success, because it’s not clear how the challenge originated. It seems its original version involved jumping into cold water in the northern states, then nominating another to do the same. If you were not brave enough to take a plunge, the price to pay for your cowardice was a donation to a charity. With people donating now each time they pour ice over their heads, ALSA.org has received $106 million in Ice Bucket donations from over 3 million donors.
Cartoon for The Courier by Janet Salter
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR I wish to retract my remarks in last week’s edition of The Courier. After communication with Kate Stern, the curator of the Arts of Palm project, I have learned that this planned art project is not putting sweaters on trees, but rather an installation of colorful knittings on the palm trees along Burton Way. This is known as “yarn bombing.” The installation will be done by artists yet to be chosen and cost far less than was reported in the Aug. 22 edition. As the conclusion of the Arts of Palm project, which has so creatively highlighted Beverly Hills’ wonderful palm trees, photographed every day by tourists from all over the world, this sounds like a fun and worthwhile project. I withdraw my hastily written remarks, which were based on incorrect information, and apologize to Kate Stern, Mayor Lili Bosse, the City Council, and anyone else I may have offended. Daniel Fink
Editor’s Note: The funds to be expended on this “yarn bombing” represent the surplus remaining from the Arts of Palm’s original Centennial allocation. City staff recommended that the money be used for this project rather than return it for the future benefit of Beverly Hills’ taxpaying citizens. ****** Joan Rivers made us laugh, think and look at ourselves for decades. Her brand of talent was like no other. In short, she was a genius. We will miss Joan, but always love her. In closing, I want to say to The Courier ...Please don’t hire someone to replace Joan Rivers. Start another column because she can't be replaced. George Vreeland Hill