| Although the Israelis and the Jewish people | | | | entertainment industry. The then Rabbi Samuel |
| are typically associated with banking and | | | | Hecht is reported to have appeared before the |
| finance, one field, where they have | | | | Los Angels City Council of Greater California |
| contributed enormously, not only to the Los | | | | in the year 1921 to speak up against the |
| Angeles region of California, but to the | | | | trend of censorship prevalent during that |
| world at large, has been the business of | | | | period. Not to speak against the depravity of |
| entertainment. | | | | the entertainment business mind you, but to |
| | | | protest the fact that wanton censorship would |
| For centuries now, the Jewish people have | | | | cause several Israeli and Jewish people to |
| excelled at performing arts, fine arts, | | | | lose their jobs. |
| literary arts, entertainment like music and | | | | |
| dance and even entertainment management. But | | | | But there were others who enhanced the |
| it was in America, and especially Los | | | | entertainment industry with a more active |
| Angeles, California, where the Israeli and | | | | presence. Chief among them was Carmel Myers, |
| Jewish contribution to the world of | | | | a popular Jewish actress of Israeli origin, |
| entertainment was highlighted in the form of | | | | who was the daughter of Rabbi Isidore Myers |
| Hollywood. | | | | of Los Angeles. She was not only a staunch |
| | | | proponent of the motion picture business, but |
| The trend began in the 1930s and 40s when the | | | | also a firm supporter of several charitable |
| silent movies turned the worlds gaze on this | | | | and philanthropic projects of the Jewish |
| new entertainment. But it was the | | | | communities in Los Angeles and other parts of |
| contribution of Jewish and Israeli people, | | | | California. |
| especially in the Los Angeles, California | | | | |
| region that made Hollywood possible. | | | | Over the years, several professionals of |
| | | | Jewish or Israeli origin have entered |
| Los Angeles, California and the surrounding | | | | Hollywood and have been able to make a mark |
| regions, which were home to a large number of | | | | in the entertainment industry. These included |
| people of Jewish or Israeli origin, provided | | | | recognizable entertainment names like Woody |
| the entertainment industry with actors, | | | | Allen, Mel Brooks, Billy Crystal, Robert De |
| directors, artists, technicians and other | | | | Niro, Richard Dreyfuss, Bob Dylan, Harrison |
| people. Eventually Jewish and Israeli people | | | | Ford, Richard Gere and even Jeff Goldblum. |
| in the Los Angeles region of California began | | | | Even present day entertainment media mogul |
| to own studios where the others worked. | | | | Rupert Murdoch is of Jewish and Israeli |
| | | | origin. |
| The most notable Jewish and/or Israeli studio | | | | |
| owners and producers included the likes of | | | | Many of these actresses and directors not |
| like William Selig, Jesse Lasky, Samuel | | | | only enhanced the entertainment business in |
| Goldwyn and Adolph Zukor. | | | | Hollywood, but also managed to drive up the |
| | | | real estate prices in the surrounding Los |
| There are some interesting anecdotes | | | | Angeles and California regions. Most |
| associated with the Israeli and Jewish grasp | | | | magazines also frequently place them as |
| of the entertainment business. Not all Jewish | | | | having been seeing in Los Angeles Suburbs or |
| people were staunchly against the | | | | in other parts of California. |