I have not written anything more because I am waiting for my mentor and computer adviser to visit me and to show me how to transfer previous written memoirs to the blog. Also, I am depending upon him (Joey) to show me how to put my photos into the computer, so that these can be used to illustrate the text. I am astounded by the change the latest generation has created. In my youth, we depended on our parents for advice and guidance. Now, we are in a totally fast-changing world. Technology has made us seniors feel obsolete.Products have a life span of perhaps one year. During the years when I was selling products (cameras,etc.) ,the models were good for 5-10 yrs. If a minor improvement was made, the model we had was not considered old, just outdated, but still usable. Now old models, only one year in use, is considered passe. Get the latest to keep up with your friends. Of course, you all know that the photo industry has changed entirely. When I entered into the world of photography, I started with a 5×7 View Camera and a wooden tripod. I used film holders, which held sheet film, which were inserted into a film holder. To take a picture, you needed to be sure of focus, lighting and subject was perfect. Each shot was important and the film used was expensive. Nowadays, people shoot promiscuously. There’s no film involved. Shoot and see the results immediately on the camera screen. It’s magic. I can’ tell you how this new technology has changed my world and the Argraph business. However, as I look back to my years doing photography and working in the photo business, how wonderful my life in the area of art and product sales was. I had my portrait studio in the basement,also my developing and printing darkroom. I had all kinds of jobs related to the photo world, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, ,studios, retouching work in Carnegie Hall, Passport studio in Chinatown, WPA, and camera shops. I also, wooed Shirley by taking portraits of her in her apartment in Bensonhurst. I can still see the vision of me shlepping my wooden tripod and the case holding view camera and film holders. Fortunately, the photos came out great. She looked FANTASTIC, SO I SIGNED HER UP AS MY MODEL FOR LIFE. Where am I going? Just rambling on about feeling obsolescent in today’s environment. Permit me to sign off now.I hope Joey will visit me this Sunday and I learn to transfer pics and memoirs to the Blog. More to follow..IR
Archive for September, 2007
WWII,memoirs
Currently, on Channel 13, World War II is being shown in a documentary that is very long. It is running now and the 2nd night it is showing Tarawa landing against a Japanese stronghold on this Pacific Island, and Anzio/Rome warfare. Brother William (Bill) participated in Tarawa, and I in Italy. I am notifying the family to see this series of film and to realize that three of the Roth family were involved, with Nat stationed in England. (I wrote this during the month of Sept) It is now Oct 24, 2007. I have purchased a new book, title is An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson. About 700 pgs in length, covering the war in North Africa 1941-1943. I want to thank the person who gifted me with the Barnes and Noble money card. Please send me comment. I bought this book because it covers my own experience during WWII and it will support my own personal photo album which records my three years in the Army Air Force. .. (10/28/07)…………..I am now into the book and am reading about the planning and invasion of No. Africa. A description and the background of Gen, Mark Clark, the Commanding General of the Operation of the landing, corroborates his Jewish heritage. Whenever a Jewish holiday occurred, we were given leave to attend local synagogues. The rumor was that he was married to a Jewish woman. This was not the case. The truth, as described in this book is this. His father was a West Point Officer, but his mother was the daughter of a Romanian Jew. Gen. Mark Clark was baptized in the Episcopalian Church. Good for us, that he had Jewish blood in him. During these Holidays, I met up with local Jewish residents. (To follow in future descriptions of my war years)………………………….I’ve finally read through the first landing of British and American troops in No. Africa and from the description of the poor results by our troops, I am happy to say that I’m glad that I landed in Casablanca after the area was cleared of the enemy troops. We have to realize that American troops were not as experienced as the enemy was and the officers were not familiar with the terrain, plus the lack of co-ordination with British troops and then the difficulty of getting the co-operation of the Vichy French military, caused terrible results. None of these calamities were published and I was not aware of it. While this invasion of No. Africa was on, starting in Sept. 1942, I was drafted and sent to Spokane, Wa., to a new army campground adjacent to Fort Wright Air Base. A new battalion was being organized to work with the Air Force, the Army Air force Engineers. I entered service on Aug. 22, 1942 and after many months of training arrived in No. Africa Feb.19,1943.
senior thoughts
Tothe Roth/Kurtz and Roth/Weinbaum family members . This morning, I read the Op=Ed page, first two articles. 1, dealt with 50 yrs. age about Louis Armstrong and the Little Rock school occurrence and another article about Sigmund Freud,re: 68 yrs. ago. It caused me to think about my present period in my life. I was prompted by Joey to set up this blog and from the responses I get, I can detect a wish to learn more about their parents and possibly grandparents, etc. And it’s exciting to get information about my own heritage. I now realize that the time to learn all of this is during our growing up stages. Why didn’t I talk to my mother and my father about their early childhood days? I should have been more curious then. Now, I’m thankful that we have a genealogist in the family who has been tracking our family history. If any of you are interested , contact Brahna. I’ll refer her to you upon request. You can also contact Susan for a Roth Family Tree, which may be a little outdated, but still interesting. You’ll find that you have a large number of cousins from the Roth side of the family. My father was the only boy, HE FATHEREd 6 CHILDREN. he had 4 sisters, who each had 4 or more children. Birth control was non-existent at that time, evidently. Do your math and you can come up with a figure that could create your own tribe.
continuation of visit to birthplace
After discovering the demolition of my birthplace, I realized I would not have my first home listed as Historical. So, after leaving the So. 2nd St. area, I decided to go to my 2nd home, on Hewes Street, which was on the other side ofBroadway and the elevated subway train track. This was an upgrade for us and was in 1922-23. Pop had a successful dairy store business on Havemeyer St., not far from our tenement house, a 2 block walk. I drove to the Hewes street address to look for the elegant brownstone house with bay windows. A 4 story structure with full floor apartments. I parked on the opposite side of no. 244 and looked for the house, to discover to my dismay that it was not a brownstone, but a modern 5 story apartment house with an elevator. Another destruction to my memorable birthplace and early childhood memories. It was now about 3PM on a friday and I was now in the Chasidic area. I saw people rushing about and I approached a young lady to ask for instruction how to get to Wilson Avenue. I was determined to see the Yeshiva that I attended during my early years, 5-9 yrs of age. The young lady did not stop, just ignored me. And I realized she is Orthodox and rushing home for Friday night preparations. It is not a good time to visit this area, I learned. I stopped a young Chassid, who was cordial and I told him that I am taking photos of my birthplace, etc. and he helped me and wanted to know when my book would be published. He directed me to Wilson Avenue, but knew nothing about a Yeshiva Torah Vodaath on that street. I drove along the street but could not locate the school. 3 strikes and your out. It was getting late and men and women were on their way home with bags of food, etc. to prepare for friday night, so I decided to head for home. Ellen, you wrote about visiting your early areas of life as a baby and youngster. Do it now, before changes are made. There’s an old saying “The only constant in life is change” How true. More to follow. IR
My early yrs. in Williamsburg.
Having received so many responses from family members anxious to learn more about family background, I decided to do my tales in chronological order. You need to understand that these bubba myses (grandma tales) will come from a child’s impression of early days, when I was 4-9 yrs. of age, the period I lived in Williamsburg. Then , from 9-20, yr of age, growing up in Boro Park (Linden Heights,it’s original name) 820-46th St., Then the War yrs. and following that, the Roth family growth and dispersion nationwide. How does this plan suit you admirers?. Please respond and any advice and heip will be appreciated
Williamsburg of my Childhood
When one gets into the so-called old age, he or she begins to recall the early days of ones life. And this is occurring very often in my dreams or when reflecting during silent moments or when a news item or tv show jogs my memory bank. Several months ago I felt the desire to visit the street and area in which I was born and spent my early childhood. I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Williamsburg section, On So. 2nd Street. I drove there on the Williamsburg Bridge and found So. 2nd Street, but not my tenement house, no. 299. This street and the tenement houses were demolished and the Brooklyn- Queens Expressway was constructed by Robert Moses, who was instrumental in converting all of New York City and environs into a vehicular city with highways, beltways, parks, beaches, etc. For a moment, I felt a wrenching sensation. Some part of me had been destroyed. I did manage to locate similar tenement structures and made a photo of the four story walk-up apartment house, with outside fire escape facing the street, on which we played children’s games or watched the grown-up boys play punchball.
While taking a photo of the tenement house copy of my birthplace, I spoke with a small group of young men and girls, who were at the spot of my camera work. These youngsters were Latinos, now living in this area. I speak un poco Espanol and created a relationship with them. And when I told them of my birth in this area and this street, they got all excited and very friendly. I told them this was an all Jewish area. they nodded and told be of the Chasidim area on the other side of the rail tracks, which I knew of. I told them I intend to visit the area because I had attended a Yeshiva there, when I was five years of age. When I said my good-bye to these youngsters and wished them luck, I realized that their life is somewhat akin to my youthful days, chidren of immigrants, who migrated to the U.S….in order to improve their lives in good old U.S.
