Our readers share their Catskills memories
in tribute to Elaine Grossinger Etess, z’l
Grossinger’s memories
Elaine Grossinger Etess died in January. Reading about her evoked many memories for us. (See her obituary on page 34.) Many of our readers also have fond memories of the Borscht Belt, whether they went to Grossinger’s, Brown’s, the Concord, the Nevele, or any of the very many hotels that once flourished there.
It is estimated that there were more than 1,000 hotels, summer camps, bungalow colonies, and other similar places in the Catskill Mountains.
We asked our readers to share their memories of Grossinger’s. Here are some of the amazing stories we received.
Beth Janoff Chananie
As the story goes, my parents, Dr. Leo and Freda Kohn of South Orange, said that I was conceived the weekend this picture was taken at Grossinger’s, in March 1949; I was born in January 1950. They never took me to Grossinger’s. My loss!! I think they went again, but without their kids.
Alice Kohn Barron
Chatham
As a teenager I spent every summer at my great-uncle’s hotel. It was just up the road from Grossinger’s hotel. My summers were wonderful but I always knew that they did not compare to what was right next door to us. A few years later my husband to be and I got married just before Passover. There was no doubt in either of our minds that our honeymoon would have to be at a kosher hotel that would be special. We agreed on Grossinger’s; nothing prepared us for how special it would be. The rooms were great, the indoor pool, the shows and the food met all of our expectations. What really blew us away were the preparations for the holiday which took place in a day. They changed the dishes, glassware, silverware, etc. More amazing was that they changed and cleaned the light bulbs, the fountain fixtures in the coffee shop, and yet never let us feel inconvenienced. Even better was Jennie Grossinger, who made every guest feel like a guest in her home.
When I prepare for Passover, I remember our first married Passover and how special it felt. I hope I always make my guests feel that feeling!
Elaine (and Seymour) Schlossberg
Wayne
I have very good memories of Grossinger’s from the many summers and Christmas/New Year’s spent at the resort as a busboy and waiter between 1963-1967, earning money to help pay for my college education at Rutgers College in New Brunswick. Those years were lots of fun and hard work, at the height of the Borscht Belt circuit. I have memories of Jennie Grossinger sitting at the front of the dining room, greeting all her guests on Friday night, with wine and challah on every table to allow those who were inclined to say Shabbat prayers. Those were still the days when Grossinger’s Rye Bread was sold in groceries, and regularly available for the diner’s pleasure. Serving the traditional Jewish cuisine, and getting to eat it ourselves, was just terrific. The servings were always plentiful, and we enjoyed the typical requests for another entree “for the table.”
It was my pleasure to often be assigned to the dining room terrace station, near the kitchen, overlooking the vast dining room where I got to serve celebrities (like Jackie Mason and Eddie Fisher) who were entertaining at the hotel, and other well-known people, such as politicians and family members of the Grossinger family. We were always focused on the big tippers, because that was why we worked at this hard job. The college-age busboys and waiters were encouraged to mingle with the guests, especially during the “singles” week events. One of my guests eventually hired me for a part-time sales job, when I returned to campus, which proved quite profitable.
Those years were thoroughly enjoyable, because we were able to see the entertainers that appeared at Grossinger’s, and attend other social events at the nearby Catskill resorts. We made many good friends because we all had similar backgrounds and needed the money to finance our educations.
Amos Gern, Esq.
Livingston
comments