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Alter Epstein was born on April 20, 1879 in Ponemunok, Kovno region, Lithuania.

His father was a ritual slaughterer.

Until age fifteen Epstein was educated in the religious Chasidic atmosphere of the "old country." He learned in a yeshiva, then he became involved and continued  in the revolutionary movement and worked in the "Bund" under various pseudonyms, also under the pseudonym of "Alter der hoykher (Alter the Tall One)."

In 1910 he debuted in the "Forward" newspaper, then he contributed to other periodic issues, and since 1917 he worked as a editorial member in the "Tog (The Day)," a daily Yiddish newspaper.

In "Tsukunft (The Future)," in December 1915, there was published Epstein's one-act, "Bay a fremdn fayer (By a Strange Fire)" (in his book "Di karyere (The Career)," published by M.N. Mayzel, N. Y., 1921).

Under the pseudonym of "Aksel," Epstein published in the "Fraye arbeter shtime" newspaper, many reviews about Yiddish theatre, and in "Tog" (from August-September 1918) he published episodes of actors' lives.

Under the pseudonym of "Uriel Mazik" (from November 20, 1916-May 25, 1918) he published a large series of fifty characterizations about Yiddish actors under the name, "Picture Gallery of Our Yiddish Actors." In the " Tog" (on January 6, 1918) Epstein published ,"Eyne fun di alte (One of the Old)" (dramatic scenes).

In the "Fraye arbeter shtime" (on September 27, 1919) there was published Epstein's one-acter "Farrath?, (A dramatic scene)."

-- adapted from his biography as found in Zalmen Zylbercweig's "Lexicon of the Yiddish Theatre," V. 2.

In this online exhibition you will find nearly fifty articles (two are missing) written by Alter Epstein (as "Uriel Mazik"), which will tell about nearly fifty well-known Yiddish actors and actresses who graced the planks of our Yiddish stage during or before the years these portrayals were listed. You should find them interesting! Here is a chronological list of those featured (from earliest published to the latest):