msand3's review
4.0
4.5 stars. A detailed and well-researched look at Cantor’s life through the lens of his life-long devotion to Jewish charitable causes, as well as his struggle to navigate a career through the often-hostile waters of American mid-twentieth-century politics, entertainment, and social constraints for Jewish celebrities. There was a nice balance in the discussion of Cantor’s personal life, career highlights, and political pursuits. At times I wish Weinstein would have delved a bit more into the background behind Cantor’s films, but then again, I understand that information is available elsewhere, and this was not necessarily the purpose of the book.
As someone whose knowledge of Cantor is almost entirely from his movies and pre-war recordings, the high points for me were the chapters devoted to Cantor’s later radio and television career, including some direct quotes and lines of dialogue from obscure recordings. The generous footnotes allow readers to track down some clips and audio recordings on YouTube or other Internet sites. Many citations come from the author’s “personal collection” of audio and visual sources, which I wish he would make available online!
Despite a couple minor errors (spelling Katharine Hepburn as “Katherine,” referring to [b:What Made Pistachio Nuts?|293135|What Made Pistachio Nuts? Early Sound Comedy and the Vaudeville Aesthetic|Henry Jenkins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348885703l/293135._SY75_.jpg|284423] as What Makes Pistachio Nuts?, etc.), this book hits the mark. It is brimming with information that I didn’t know about Cantor. As a non-Jewish Millennial reader who is far removed from Cantor’s era and struggles, I found so many connections with Cantor the entertainer, the public figure, and the man. Weinstein's book reveals a side of Cantor that still resonates, at least with me, and I think with many others, as the Conclusion points out his lasting impact on the entertainment world and continued presence, albeit limited, on social media. Recommended for anyone interested in vaudeville, twentieth-century entertainment, Jewish studies, or American comedy.
As someone whose knowledge of Cantor is almost entirely from his movies and pre-war recordings, the high points for me were the chapters devoted to Cantor’s later radio and television career, including some direct quotes and lines of dialogue from obscure recordings. The generous footnotes allow readers to track down some clips and audio recordings on YouTube or other Internet sites. Many citations come from the author’s “personal collection” of audio and visual sources, which I wish he would make available online!
Despite a couple minor errors (spelling Katharine Hepburn as “Katherine,” referring to [b:What Made Pistachio Nuts?|293135|What Made Pistachio Nuts? Early Sound Comedy and the Vaudeville Aesthetic|Henry Jenkins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348885703l/293135._SY75_.jpg|284423] as What Makes Pistachio Nuts?, etc.), this book hits the mark. It is brimming with information that I didn’t know about Cantor. As a non-Jewish Millennial reader who is far removed from Cantor’s era and struggles, I found so many connections with Cantor the entertainer, the public figure, and the man. Weinstein's book reveals a side of Cantor that still resonates, at least with me, and I think with many others, as the Conclusion points out his lasting impact on the entertainment world and continued presence, albeit limited, on social media. Recommended for anyone interested in vaudeville, twentieth-century entertainment, Jewish studies, or American comedy.
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