This season’s third and last Chanukah Festival for Israel Bonds, an annual series of events sponsored by the Greater New York Committee for the State of Israel Bonds, was performed here tonight at Madison Square Garden before an enthusiastic capacity audience of 18,000 persons. Two other festivals were conducted last month. Since the previous performances were also sold out, admission being granted only to purchasers of Israel Bonds, this season’s total attendance was estimated by the committee at approximately 54,000 persons.
The festivals this year marked not only the traditional celebration of Chanukah but also Israel’s 20th anniversary. Max Abrams is campaign chairman for the Greater New York Committee, and Jack D. Weiler, secretary-treasurer of the Israel Bond Organization, was Chanukah Festival chairman for the season.
A number of America’s leading stars of stage, screen and television participated in the performances, for which dramatic segments were written by Henry Denker, a well-known Broadway play-wright and a novelist. Original ballets were performed by the Sophie Maslow Dance Group. The productions were supervised by Hi Brown, prominent radio and television producer. Music was performed by the Festival Philharmonic under the direction of Maurice Levine. Stage design and lighting were by Sam Leve, and costumes were created by Jerome E. Boxhorn.
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