Podbean logo
  • Discover
  • Podcast Features
    • Podcast Hosting

      Start your podcast with all the features you need.

    • Podbean AI Podbean AI

      AI-Enhanced Audio Quality and Content Generation.

    • Blog to Podcast

      Repurpose your blog into an engaging podcast.

    • Video to Podcast

      Convert YouTube playlists to podcasts, videos to audios.

  • Monetization
    • Ads Marketplace

      Join Ads Marketplace to earn through podcast sponsorships.

    • PodAds

      Manage your ads with dynamic ad insertion capability.

    • Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Integration

      Monetize with Apple Podcasts Subscriptions via Podbean.

    • Live Streaming

      Earn rewards and recurring income from Fan Club membership.

  • Podbean App
    • Podcast Studio

      Easy-to-use audio recorder app.

    • Podcast App

      The best podcast player & podcast app.

  • Help and Support
    • Help Center

      Get the answers and support you need.

    • Podbean Academy

      Resources and guides to launch, grow, and monetize podcast.

    • Podbean Blog

      Stay updated with the latest podcasting tips and trends.

    • What’s New

      Check out our newest and recently released features!

    • Podcasting Smarter

      Podcast interviews, best practices, and helpful tips.

  • Popular Topics
    • How to Start a Podcast

      The step-by-step guide to start your own podcast.

    • How to Start a Live Podcast

      Create the best live podcast and engage your audience.

    • How to Monetize a Podcast

      Tips on making the decision to monetize your podcast.

    • How to Promote Your Podcast

      The best ways to get more eyes and ears on your podcast.

    • Podcast Advertising 101

      Everything you need to know about podcast advertising.

    • Mobile Podcast Recording Guide

      The ultimate guide to recording a podcast on your phone.

    • How to Use Group Recording

      Steps to set up and use group recording in the Podbean app.

  • All Arts Business Comedy Education
  • Fiction Government Health & Fitness History Kids & Family
  • Leisure Music News Religion & Spirituality Science
  • Society & Culture Sports Technology True Crime TV & Film
  • Live
  • How to Start a Podcast
  • How to Start a Live Podcast
  • How to Monetize a podcast
  • How to Promote Your Podcast
  • How to Use Group Recording
  • Log in
  • Start your podcast for free
  • Podcasting
    • Podcast Features
      • Podcast Hosting

        Start your podcast with all the features you need.

      • Podbean AI Podbean AI

        AI-Enhanced Audio Quality and Content Generation.

      • Blog to Podcast

        Repurpose your blog into an engaging podcast.

      • Video to Podcast

        Convert YouTube playlists to podcasts, videos to audios.

    • Monetization
      • Ads Marketplace

        Join Ads Marketplace to earn through podcast sponsorships.

      • PodAds

        Manage your ads with dynamic ad insertion capability.

      • Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Integration

        Monetize with Apple Podcasts Subscriptions via Podbean.

      • Live Streaming

        Earn rewards and recurring income from Fan Club membership.

    • Podbean App
      • Podcast Studio

        Easy-to-use audio recorder app.

      • Podcast App

        The best podcast player & podcast app.

  • Advertisers
  • Enterprise
  • Pricing
  • Resources
    • Help and Support
      • Help Center

        Get the answers and support you need.

      • Podbean Academy

        Resources and guides to launch, grow, and monetize podcast.

      • Podbean Blog

        Stay updated with the latest podcasting tips and trends.

      • What’s New

        Check out our newest and recently released features!

      • Podcasting Smarter

        Podcast interviews, best practices, and helpful tips.

    • Popular Topics
      • How to Start a Podcast

        The step-by-step guide to start your own podcast.

      • How to Start a Live Podcast

        Create the best live podcast and engage your audience.

      • How to Monetize a Podcast

        Tips on making the decision to monetize your podcast.

      • How to Promote Your Podcast

        The best ways to get more eyes and ears on your podcast.

      • Podcast Advertising 101

        Everything you need to know about podcast advertising.

      • Mobile Podcast Recording Guide

        The ultimate guide to recording a podcast on your phone.

      • How to Use Group Recording

        Steps to set up and use group recording in the Podbean app.

  • Discover
  • Log in
    Sign up free
The On The Bookshelf Podcast

The On The Bookshelf Podcast

Arts:Books

Learn about an iconic Jewish-American Stage Star of the turn of the last century

Learn about an iconic Jewish-American Stage Star of the turn of the last century

2024-01-21
Download

“The Man Who Lit Lady Liberty: The Extraordinary Rise and Fall of Actor M.B. Curtis” by Richard Schwartz (RSB Books)

This is the incredible true story of a Hungarian Jewish immigrant actor. MB Curtis was the first actor to create and perform a Jewish character on stage that was not a caricature but a positive example. His seminal role, “Sam’l of Posen”, was acclaimed and applauded for twenty years, and then put on film in 1910. During his years as a professional touring actor, with his wife Marie, Maurice Bertrand Curtis was one of America’s most popular performers. He ran his own theatrical company, tried his hand at real estate development, managed one of the greatest black singers of his day on a tour to Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii, and showed the world that young industrious immigrants Jews could be genuine heroes. Curtis popularized the humble “drummer”, traveling salesmen.

When France gave the USA the Statue of Liberty and Congress refused to fund its necessary pedestal, Jewish Hungarian immigrant and newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer initiated a fundraising campaign that paid for it. When opening day arrived for the Statue, the US government again failed to fund the lighting of the torch. Three days after the dedication, another Hungarian Jewish immigrant, actor M.B. Curtis offered the pay to light the Statue’s torch while he was performing in New York. He gave $800 directly to the electro-dynamo workers to light the Lady.

Sadly, Curtis contended with actors in his troupes, and spent money  he didn’t have. His worst misadventure was being charged with murdering a California policeman while inebriated late one night. After two mistrials, Curtis was exonerated, but the stress was devastating, and the legal bills were about $50,000. His later years were difficult. New plays were not successful, his real estate ventures were disasters, he and his wife filed separately for  bankruptcy, and he struggled with alcoholism. Attempts to manage other acts met with mixed success. He never lost his optimism, but toward the end of his life Curtis seemed to be snake-bitten. After his film career began with a recorded version of his iconic play, the producer was murdered by a schizophrenic Japanese janitor at the movie studio. That ended Curtis’ hope for a great movie career.

He is largely forgotten now, but MB Curtis was a pioneer of the American stage. His creation of an ethnic character that was beloved by all audiences had a positive affect on relations between Jews and Christians in the USA.

 

view more

More Episodes

How Kung Fu Movies Changed the World-Grady Hendrix & Chris Poggiali
2025-07-08 1
Sam Kelly brings accessible and interesting " famous historical people on drugs"
2025-07-08
Steve Goreham returns with newest on Green Energy Breakdown
2025-06-26
Stella Ackroyd & Luke Pisano "Return of the Blues Brothers"
2025-06-26
Annapolis History Prof Abby Mullen on the 1st Barbary War
2025-06-06 1
Brian Boone on the 37th Edition of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader
2025-06-05 4
Steve Goreham shows why "Renewable Energy" is Unreliable and Wasteful
2025-06-04
Tony-winning Producer Jeff Seller on his life as a "Theater Kid"
2025-06-03
Jeff Deaver is back with a new Colter Shaw Thriller (plus sister Dorion!)
2025-06-02 1
Multi-Tony Winner Jeffrey Seller on his Career and love of musical theater
2025-06-02 5
John Stamper with "Courage to Stand: Profiles of Enduring Faith" ancient to modern
2025-05-27 4
Matt Bernstein on the Team of Giants who took us to the Spanish-American War
2025-05-24 4
Larry Tye returns with "The JazzMen" how Louis, Basie and the Duke Transformed America
2025-05-20 2
Tom Cleaver return with Mediterranean Sweep USAAF in Italian Campaign WWII
2025-05-19 6
Jude Warne on Legendary Musician Boz Scaggs
2025-05-15 1
Brandon and David Lindell with Challenge for men to be Lionhearted!
2025-05-13 2
Bob Edsel returns with "Remember Me" true story of sacrifice and devotion in WWII Holland
2025-05-13 2
DC Homicide Tec Marko Zorn is back-"Black Sun Rising" by Otho Eskin
2025-05-13 3
Detective/Apologist J Warner Wallace & son Jimmy with "Case Files GN"
2025-05-07 2
Chris Whipple Analyzes the Wldest Presidential Race Ever-2024
2025-05-07 1
  • ←
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • →
012345678910111213141516171819

Get this podcast on your
phone, FREE

Download Podbean app on App Store Download Podbean app on Google Play

Create your
podcast in
minutes

  • Full-featured podcast site
  • Unlimited storage and bandwidth
  • Comprehensive podcast stats
  • Distribute to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more
  • Make money with your podcast
Get started

It is Free

  • Podcast Services

    • Podcast Features
    • Pricing
    • Enterprise Solution
    • Private Podcast
    • The Podcast App
    • Live Stream
    • Audio Recorder
    • Remote Recording
    • Podbean AI
  •  
    • Create a Podcast
    • Video Podcast
    • Start Podcasting
    • Start Radio Talk Show
    • Education Podcast
    • Church Podcast
    • Nonprofit Podcast
    • Get Sermons Online
    • Free Audiobooks
  • MONETIZATION & MORE

    • Podcast Advertising
    • Dynamic Ads Insertion
    • Apple Podcasts Subscriptions
    • Switch to Podbean
    • YouTube to Podcast
    • Blog to Podcast
    • Submit Your Podcast
    • Podbean Plugins
    • Developers
  • KNOWLEDGE BASE

    • How to Start a Podcast
    • How to Start a Live Podcast
    • How to Monetize a Podcast
    • How to Promote Your Podcast
    • Mobile Podcast Recording Guide
    • How to Use Group Recording
    • Podcast Advertising 101
  • Support

    • Support Center
    • What’s New
    • Free Webinars
    • Podcast Events
    • Podbean Academy
    • Podbean Amplified Podcast
    • Badges
    • Resources
  • Podbean

    • About Us
    • Podbean Blog
    • Careers
    • Press and Media
    • Green Initiative
    • Affiliate Program
    • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Consent Preferences
  • Copyright © 2015-2025 Podbean.com