Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Eddie Cantor to Tour So. Africa for Youth Aliyah

October 31, 1939
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Eddie Cantor announced today that he plans a tour of South Africa next year to raise funds for refugee relief. On a similar tour of England for the Youth Aliyah, which transfers refugee children to Palestine, the screen and radio actor obtained pledges totalling $560,000 in 16 days.

Cantor was 20 minutes late for a stage appearance here this afternoon because he was so captivated by Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter, with whom he talked for two hours in the jurist’s chambers. A few days ago Cantor was received by President Roosevelt.

Yesterday the actor delivered a sermon in the First Congregational Church here and dropped his comedian’s mask to plead the cause of religion and democracy. Introduced by Dr. Howard Stone Anderson as a “loyal Jew, fine entertainer and great American, ” Cantor hailed the fact that a Jew could speak in a Christian pulpit in the United States, and said that “there are too many gentiles and not enough Christians.”

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement