Sidney M. Goldin, born Samuel Goldstein (March 25, 1878 â€" September
19, 1937) was an American silent film director as well as a prominent
writer, actor and producer for Yiddish theater and Yiddish cinema
during the early 20th century. During his career, he worked frequently
with Molly Picon, Maurice Schwartz and Ludwig Satz in Europe and
Palestine.Born in Odessa, his family emigrated to the United States in
about 1880 or 1881. In New York, Goldin attended public school and was
interested in theatre. In about 1895, he started as actor in small
roles in theatres on the US eastcoast. In the early 1900s, he started
acting in films in New York and for two years for Essanay in Chicago.
1912 he started directing films, plenty of them already treating
Jewish topics. After World War I, in 1919, he moved to London and
Prague, where he directed some movies. In 1921 he came to Vienna,
where he directed at least four feature films, including Ost und West
(“East and West†) in 1923, starring the famous Yiddish actress
Molly Picon. Also in Vienna, he married the young actress of the Freie
Jüdische Volksbühne (Independent Jewish Theatre) Betty Gärtner in
November 1924.In 1925 he moved back to New York. Brought to Hollywood
in 1926, Goldin produced Yiskor with Maurice Schwartz before becoming
a director for independent producers the following year. However,
while under contract for A-B Studios, his film On the Mountains was
considered a commercial and artistic failure nearly resulting in the
bankruptcy of the studio.After filming East Side Sadie in 1929,
starring his wife, he returned east to produce Yiddish "talkies" until
the 1930s although he would take a three-year absence from filmmaking
until directing his last film The Cantor's Son in 1937. Becoming ill
while on location in Easton, Pennsylvania, Goldin died of a heart
ailment while at French Hospital in New York City, New York on the
night of September 19, 1937.
19, 1937) was an American silent film director as well as a prominent
writer, actor and producer for Yiddish theater and Yiddish cinema
during the early 20th century. During his career, he worked frequently
with Molly Picon, Maurice Schwartz and Ludwig Satz in Europe and
Palestine.Born in Odessa, his family emigrated to the United States in
about 1880 or 1881. In New York, Goldin attended public school and was
interested in theatre. In about 1895, he started as actor in small
roles in theatres on the US eastcoast. In the early 1900s, he started
acting in films in New York and for two years for Essanay in Chicago.
1912 he started directing films, plenty of them already treating
Jewish topics. After World War I, in 1919, he moved to London and
Prague, where he directed some movies. In 1921 he came to Vienna,
where he directed at least four feature films, including Ost und West
(“East and West†) in 1923, starring the famous Yiddish actress
Molly Picon. Also in Vienna, he married the young actress of the Freie
Jüdische Volksbühne (Independent Jewish Theatre) Betty Gärtner in
November 1924.In 1925 he moved back to New York. Brought to Hollywood
in 1926, Goldin produced Yiskor with Maurice Schwartz before becoming
a director for independent producers the following year. However,
while under contract for A-B Studios, his film On the Mountains was
considered a commercial and artistic failure nearly resulting in the
bankruptcy of the studio.After filming East Side Sadie in 1929,
starring his wife, he returned east to produce Yiddish "talkies" until
the 1930s although he would take a three-year absence from filmmaking
until directing his last film The Cantor's Son in 1937. Becoming ill
while on location in Easton, Pennsylvania, Goldin died of a heart
ailment while at French Hospital in New York City, New York on the
night of September 19, 1937.
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