Seymour Rexite
Encyclopedia
Seymour Rexite originally Rechtzeit, was an actor and singer of the Yiddish theater, film and radio in the United States, and for some time president of the Hebrew Actors Union.
Born in Piotrków Trybunalski
, Poland
, and a child prodigy, Rexite emigrated to the United States
in 1920, along with his father, a cantor
, and his older brother Jack Rechtzeit, an actor and songwriter. The then-immigration quotas prevented Seymour's mother and other siblings from emigrating from Poland, so Seymour sang a song, which his brother Jack had composed, before President Calvin Coolidge
which so moved the President that he granted the entry visas.
Rexite performed Yiddish
translations of pop music standards as well as songs written in his native language. He starred in a musical featuring Yiddish music at a theatre on Second Avenue
opposite the famous soprano Isa Kremer
which was entitled The Song of the Ghetto. He married Miriam Kressyn
, another star of the Yiddish stage, in 1943. Kressyn died at age 86 in 1996; they had no children. Rexite died in 2002 in New York City
. The couple is buried under the family name Rechtzeit in Block 67 of Mount Hebron Cemetery
. This section is reserved for those who were part of New York Yiddish theater and is maintained by the Yiddish Theater Alliance.
Born in Piotrków Trybunalski
Piotrków Trybunalski
Piotrków Trybunalski is a city in central Poland with 80,738 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , and previously was the capital of Piotrków Voivodeship...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and a child prodigy, Rexite emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1920, along with his father, a cantor
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
, and his older brother Jack Rechtzeit, an actor and songwriter. The then-immigration quotas prevented Seymour's mother and other siblings from emigrating from Poland, so Seymour sang a song, which his brother Jack had composed, before President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
which so moved the President that he granted the entry visas.
Rexite performed Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
translations of pop music standards as well as songs written in his native language. He starred in a musical featuring Yiddish music at a theatre on Second Avenue
Second Avenue (Manhattan)
Second Avenue is an avenue on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan extending from Houston Street at its south end to the Harlem River Drive at 128th Street at its north end. A one-way street, vehicular traffic runs only downtown. A bicycle lane in the left hand portion from 55th...
opposite the famous soprano Isa Kremer
Isa Kremer
Isa Kremer: The People's Diva, is a documentary produced in 2000 and directed by Nina Baker Feinberg and Ted Schillinger. It focuses on Isa Kremer, an international singing sensation.-Summary:...
which was entitled The Song of the Ghetto. He married Miriam Kressyn
Miriam Kressyn
Miriam Kressyn , one of the "First Ladies of the Yiddish Theater", acted and sang on stage, film and radio; she wrote plays as well. -Personal life:...
, another star of the Yiddish stage, in 1943. Kressyn died at age 86 in 1996; they had no children. Rexite died in 2002 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The couple is buried under the family name Rechtzeit in Block 67 of Mount Hebron Cemetery
Mount Hebron Cemetery
Mount Hebron is a Jewish cemetery located in the Flushing neighborhood of New York City. It was founded in 1903 as the Jewish section of Cedar Grove Cemetery. It is noted for its Yiddish theater section....
. This section is reserved for those who were part of New York Yiddish theater and is maintained by the Yiddish Theater Alliance.