The Yiddish Theater was a vibrant cultural force that emerged in Eastern Europe in the late 19th century and flourished in immigrant communities across the United States. Blending music, drama, and comedy, it reflected the daily lives, struggles, and aspirations of Jewish audiences. When Yiddish-speaking immigrants arrived in cities like New York, they brought this theatrical tradition with them, transforming neighborhoods such as the Lower East Side into thriving hubs of Yiddish performance.
This collection features rare recordings of legendary performers who shaped the golden age of Yiddish Theater and carried its spirit onto American stages. Through songs, monologues, and comedic sketches, these voices preserve a rich cultural legacy filled with heart, resilience, and humor. Whether performed in European shtetls or on American vaudeville circuits, the sounds captured here offer a timeless connection to Jewish heritage and storytelling.
Explore our other Featured Collections, like Comic Voices of Early Yiddish Theater featuring the voices of Anna Hoffman, Clara Gold, Gus Goldstein and Jacob Jacobs.
Early Yiddish Theater Artists
These performers helped lay the foundation for Yiddish theater, vaudeville, and radio performance in the early 20th century.
| Clara Gold | ||
| Gus Goldstein | ||
| Anna Hoffman | ||
| Jacob Jacobs | ||
| Kalman Juvelier | ||
| Pepi Litman | ||
| David Medoff | ||
| Jacob Silbert | ||
Yiddish Theater Stars
Recognized nationally and internationally, these artists brought Yiddish theater to mainstream popularity through stage, film, and radio.
| Boris Thomashefsky | ||
| Aaron Lebedeff | ||
| Molly Picon | ||
| Maurice Schwartz | ||
| Lucy Levine | ||
| Zvee Scooler | ||
Yiddish Folk & Concert Performers
Artists in this category brought Jewish folk and art songs to concert halls and recordings beyond the traditional theater stage.
| Isa Kremer | |
Composers / Lyricists & Directors
These individuals wrote the music, lyrics, and orchestrated the productions that brought Yiddish theater to life.
| Joseph Rumshinsky | ||
| Alexander Olshanetsky | ||
| Peretz Sandler | ||
| Sholom Secunda | ||
| Louis Gilrod |