Photographers
James J. Kriegsmann Studio
New York, New York
Sitter
Irving Jacobson,
Date
unknown
Type
Portrait
Medium
Photograph
Credit Line
The Yiddish Theatrical Alliance
Testimony
"Irving Jacobson, an actor whose talents were legendary in
the Yiddish theatre before his fame was established on Broadway
as Don Quixotes comic sidekick, Sancho, in "Man of La Mancha...
Born in Cincinnati, he came
to New York City as a youth and was a pupil at Public School
20, where his classmates included other youngsters destined
for prominence, such as the actors Paul Muni and Edward G.
Robinson, Senator Jacob K. Javits, and the author Harry
Golden.
For more than twenty years,
Mr. Jacobson, a man with a heavy black mustache, was a
stalwart of the Yiddish theatre. He was often seen opposite
other Yiddish stars, including Molly Picon, with whom he
appeared in the comedy "Abi Gezunt." He was also a director
and producer.
One of his best know
performances was in the 1938 production of "Yiddishe Mame"
...
With his wife, Mae
Schoenfeld, and sometimes without her, Mr. Jacobson
performed in more than fifty Yiddish theatrical productions
...
In 1966, Mr. Jacobson was
honored as "Man of the Year" by the East Side Hebrew
Institute for "numerous contributions to various charities
and for his humanitarian acts."
Source of Testimony
New York Times -- "Starred in Yiddish Theater Before Doing
Sanch in Hit Musical" (obituary), December 18, 1978.