- AAAB3056
- Item
- 1977 [date recorded]
Part of Strathcona Project collection
CALL NUMBER: T2800:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Strathcona neighbourhood : the Jewish community PERIOD COVERED: 1909-1950 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Gloria Harris discusses background: father emigrated from Russia via Germany, mother from Budapest in 1909 &1911; met and married in Vancouver. Immigrant observations on Montreal St: Strathcona a melting pot; details of neighbours' music, religious practices, help in times of illness. Learning English. Discrimination. Depression: helping the young unemployed off the freights; father's difficulties in getting work; cases of poverty. TRACK 2: Jewish organizations helping immigrants in '20s and later. Religious life: holiday rituals, Schara Tzedeck synagogue, Friday night hom ritual. McLean Park and United Church summer programs. School incident involving anti-Semitism. Seen as 'foreign' when trying to get work. Strathcona School: teachers, school nurse, eye tests. World War II for the Chinese and Japanese. CALL NUMBER: T2800:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Strathcona neighbourhood : the Jewish community PERIOD COVERED: 1930-1950 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Describes local gangs giving local girls protection. Brothel next door in late '40s and how she got it closed. Meeting prostitutes while working in bottle shop at age 13. Other brothels on Union Street. Views on prostitution. Bootlegging: frequency of; social functions of; European custom; first visit to local bootlegger; bootlegging to finance children's' higher education. Russian loggers boarding at friend's house. Russian and Ukrainian music. Russian and Ukrainian halls. TRACK 2: Discusses: school May Day at Powell Street grounds; riot on Hastings Street; 1939 Declaration of War; radio newscasts and newspaper extras; radio programs of the '40s; Italian boys in Canadian Army; Anglicization vs. retaining heritage; stereotypes of Jews. CALL NUMBER: T2800:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Strathcona neighbourhood : the Jewish community PERIOD COVERED: 1930-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Gloria Harris discusses neighbourhood characters: Mrs. Cibular, Mr. Marino, retarded men, teacher Miss Sutherland. Bootlegging to finance education. Degeneration of neighbourhood ca. 1949; neighbours moving out. Immigrants of '50s. Inter-racial relations and jobs according to nationality. Importance of education. TRACK 2: Discusses: burial practices; Rabbi Pastinsky; and importance of radio in daily life. (End of interview)