Buloff, Joseph

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Joseph Buloff, actor and director, was born December 6, 1900.

He began his career in 1915 touring with the Vilna troupe during World War I. Maurice Schwartz, actor-manager of the Yiddish Art Theatre, invited Buloff to join the company in New York City where he made his American debut in Dymov's THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. After several appearances with the company, Buloff left to form his own Yiddish Folks Theatre. He was invited to appear on the English language stage on Broadway in 1936 at the Bayes Theatre where he first appeared in DON'T LOOK NOW. Not only did Buloff appear in over 200 productions (Yiddish, English and Russian), he also directed a number of productions both Yiddish and English, including MRS.

MCTHING starring Helen Hayes. He created the role of Ali Hakim in the Theatre Guild's production of OKLAHOMA. He also distinguished himself as a writer by adapting English language plays into Yiddish as well as dramatic sketches as vehicles for himself. He worked in television and cinema and he toured South America, Europe, South Africa, and Israel.

From the description of Papers, 1929-1991. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122455830

Actor and director Joseph Buloff (1899-1985), along with his wife, Luba Kadison, were among the most prominent stars of Yiddish theater, in Europe, and, later, in the United States.

Buloff, who was born in Vilnius, Lithuania, began his career in 1915 touring with the Vilna troupe during World War I and remained with them during the early 1920s, appearing in Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, as well as works by Yiddish authors. He left Europe in 1926 and immigrated to the United States when he was invited to join Maurice Schwartz's Yiddish Art Theater and made his American debut in Ossip Dymov's The Tenth Commandment. After several appearances with the company, Buloff left to form his own Yiddish Folks Theatre. He appeared in over 225 plays in Yiddish, Russian and English-language theater over the course of his long career. Buloff made his Broadway debut in 1936 in John Crump's short-lived play, Don't Look Now. Among his more notable roles on Broadway was as a 1942 replacement for Morris Carnovsky in the part of Mr. Appolpolous, the Greek landlord, in My Sister Eileen. Buloff also created the role of Ali Hakim, the Persian peddler, in the Theatre Guild's production of Oklahoma! (1943) and he appeared in the 1979 revival of Arthur Miller's The Price. In addition to performing, Buloff directed many productions, including the long running Broadway comedy, Mrs. McThing (1952), which featured Helen Hayes. He also distinguished himself as a writer by adapting English language plays into Yiddish as dramatic sketches as vehicles for himself. In 1980, he directed and appeared in The Chekhov Sketchbook, which he adapted with his wife from short stories by the author. Buloff worked in television and films and toured South America, Europe, South Africa, and Israel, often working with Luba Kadison. Although Kadison also had been a star of Yiddish theater, she felt limited by her accent and worked very little as an actress in English-language theater, but collaborated with her husband on many projects. When Joseph Buloff died in 1985, Kadison donated their archive to the Harvard College library. She also worked on getting his book, Fun altn markplats (From the Old Marketplace) translated into English; it was published in 1991. Her own memoirs, On Stage, Off Stage (1992), which had been written in collaboration with Buloff, won the 1994 National Book Award.

From the description of Joseph Buloff papers, 1925-1993. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122349398

Joseph Buloff was born in 1899. The careers of Buloff, leading actor of Vilnia Troupe, and his wife, Luba Kadison, leading actress and the daughter of the founder of the Vilnia Troupe in Poland, Leib Kadison, were among the most extensive in the history of Yiddish theater.

Actor Joseph Buloff left his native Eastern Europe in 1926 and came to the U.S. when he was invited to join Maurice Schwartz’s Yiddish Art Theater. By the mid 1930s he was performing in English as well. He appeared in over 225 Yiddish plays before 1936 when he made his Broadway debut. He created the character of Ali Hakim, the Persian peddler, in the original Broadway production of Oklahoma and directed Mr. McThing on Broadway. Buloff was particularly famous for his interpretation of Chekhov’s Di Mahashefah ( The Witch ), which he even performed in Johannesburg in 1950. He made his film debut in 1940 in Let’s Make Music .

Luba Kadison (December 13, 1906 - May 4, 2006) was born in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania (at that time part of the Russian empire). She toured with Vilnia Theatre Kovno, Bialystock and Grodno and as a young girl was often cast in boys' roles.

In 1949, Luba and Joseph obtained the Yiddish rights for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and took it to Buenos Aires, where there was a vibrant Yiddish-speaking community. The Peronist government banned money exchanges, and the Buloffs returned to New York having made a loss. However, the New York Yiddish version was an artistic and financial success. George Gross, in the magazine Commentary, wrote that "the Yiddish play is really the original and the Broadway production was merely Miller's translation into English!" After the war, the New York Yiddish theater declined. Yiddish actors were either absorbed into American theater or retired. Luba, who felt limited by her accent, worked very little. When Joseph Buloff died in 1985, Luba donated his archive to the Harvard College library. She also worked on getting his book, From the Old Marketplace, published, and regretted that Joe did not see this happen during his lifetime. Her memoirs, On Stage, Off Stage, written in collaboration with Buloff, won the 1994 National Book Award.

From the guide to the Joseph Buloff papers, 1925-1993, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Lavattaro. Album of prints of Argentine life. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
creatorOf Buloff, Joseph. Papers, 1929-1991. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Frankau, Pamela, 1908-1967. Studio one-- "Shake the stars down" / by Pamela Frankau. Bowling Green State University, BGSU Libraries
referencedIn Theatre Arts Monthly, collection of portraits, ca., ca., 1924-1939 (bulk), 1916-1964 (inclusive). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Alix Jeffry photographs Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Buloff, Joseph. Joseph Buloff papers, 1925-1993. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Joseph Buloff papers, 1925-1993 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Agor, Yaʻaḳov. 880-01 Yiddish actor Joseph Buloff in Israel. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
creatorOf Chekhov, Anton Pavlovich, 1860-1904. Der ṿagamond : In a musiḳ geshefṭ / A. Chekhov. Dramatized and translated into Yiddish by Joseph Bulloff and Luba Kadison. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Chekhov, Anton Pavlovich, 1860-1904. person
associatedWith Dymow, Ossip, 1878-1959. person
associatedWith Jeffry, Alix person
associatedWith Kadison, Luba. person
associatedWith Mendele Mokher Sefarim, 1835-1917. person
associatedWith Peretz, Isaac Leib, 1851 or 2-1915. person
associatedWith Sholem Aleichem, 1859-1916. person
associatedWith Swerling, Jo, 1897-1964. person
associatedWith Ṿilner trupe corporateBody
associatedWith Ṿilner trupe. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
Subject
Jewish actors
Jewish actors
Theater, Yiddish
Theater, Yiddish
Theatrical producers and directors
Theatrical producers and directors
Occupation
Actors
Theatrical producers and directors
Activity

Person

Active 1929

Active 1991

Yiddish,

English

Information

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