Zvee Scooler
Encyclopedia
Zvee Scooler was an American actor and radio commentator. He was born in Kamenets-Podolsky
(now Ukraine
). He performed in both Yiddish
and English
, on the stage, television, and film. He is probably best known for his roles in Fiddler on the Roof
, playing the innkeeper in the Broadway play and the rabbi in the film version
. Another of his more notable roles was that of Boris' father in Woody Allen
's Love and Death
.
He was known as the Grammeister on WEVD
, a Yiddish radio station in New York City
. Every Sunday, Scooler presented a ten minute weekly show, Forward Hour, which was news and commentary in rhyme.
He died in New York City on March 25, 1985, at age 85.
Kamianets-Podilskyi
Kamyanets-Podilsky or Kamienets-Podolsky is a city located on the Smotrych River in western Ukraine, to the north-east of Chernivtsi...
(now Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
). He performed in both 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...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, on the stage, television, and film. He is probably best known for his roles in Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem...
, playing the innkeeper in the Broadway play and the rabbi in the film version
Fiddler on the Roof (film)
Fiddler on the Roof is the 1971 film adaptation of the 1964 Broadway musical of the same name, with music composed by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, about Tevye and his Daughters. It was directed by Norman Jewison. The film won three...
. Another of his more notable roles was that of Boris' father in Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
's Love and Death
Love and Death
Love and Death is a 1975 comedy film by Woody Allen. Starring Woody Allen and Diane Keaton, Love and Death is a satirical take on Russian epic novels. Coming in between Sleeper and Annie Hall, Love and Death is in many respects an artistic transition between the two...
.
He was known as the Grammeister on WEVD
WEVD
The call letters WEVD are associated with the following:* WWRV AM 1330 in New York City, which held the WEVD call sign until 1981* WSKQ-FM 97.9 in New York City, which held the WEVD-FM call sign from 1952 to 1989...
, a Yiddish radio station 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...
. Every Sunday, Scooler presented a ten minute weekly show, Forward Hour, which was news and commentary in rhyme.
He died in New York City on March 25, 1985, at age 85.