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