Film source: Dutch newsreel by Polygoon (producer) in collaboration with the German Tobis Film for the Nazi controlled cinema news ‘Tobis Nieuws’ (Feb 1942). Courtesy of Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision (Open Images).
Citation info : Ski Holland Extreme Winter 1942 • Michel van der Burg • Miracles•Media • @1MEMO 20260109 • TakeNode 31868145-2645-41de-a3e2-7154313ff6ad
The unique 1935 sound film of the Amsterdam’s Great Synagogue Choir (1,2,3) was made by the popular Polygoon journalist Jo Levi.
Wondering who Jo Levi was , I searched online, and found this picture below (20241107_1) with Jo Levi. Jo Levi is the second man from the left in this postwar photo of Polygoon men, posted by former Polygoon editor Fredo Krooshof at Cinecentrum Hilversum (4).
Polygoon Men • Miracles•Media • 20241107_1 | Source Cinecentrum Hilversum : Left to Right : Cees v.d. Wilden – Dir. Polygoon Haarlem; Jo Levi – Red. Pol.jnl; Philip Bloemendal – Red. and comm. Pol.jnl; Man in the background – name unknown; Gé Bresser – Procurator Polygoon; RVD man – name unknown (4).
Jo Levi together with Philip Bloemendal directed the Dutch cinema news for Polygoon. Philip Bloemendal , nicknamed “The voice of the Netherlands” , was for 40 years (from 1946 to 1986) the Dutch cinema newsreel announcer, voice-over, and editor . His voice-overs are The Voice of the postwar Dutch Polygoon news reels.
“Where they are not, nothing is happening” was the motto (5) of the cameramen of the Polygoon newsreel company in Holland.
May 1931 , two dutch newsreel companies, Polygoon in the city of Haarlem, and Profilti in The Hague, were competing to have the premiere of the first Dutch cinema newsreel with sound. Below a May 17, 1931 Polygoon interview (6) with former cyclist and sportsman W.W. van der Vet on the occasion of his 85th birthday (20241107_2).
6. Opa Vet (sportopa) voor de microfoon. Published 17 May 1931. Polygoon Hollands Nieuws (producer) / Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid (Open Beelden archive)
Citation info : Polygoon Journalist Jo Levi • Michel van der Burg • Miracles•Media • 20241107
Geluidsopname ter Groote Synagoge • NIW 15 Nov 1935 • Miracles•Media • 20241025
Friday, 15 Nov 1935 • NIW (1)
“Sound recording at the Great Synagogue
The jubilee of the N.I.H.S., which has attracted interest in our community in many circles, has also attracted the attention of Polygoon, the well-known sound journalists. They wanted to record something specific of this jubilee and in honor of the jubilee on the sound film and insert it as part of the cinema newsreels this week. Chief cantor I. E. Maroko and the synagogue choir, led by his well-known conductor S. H. Englander, were prepared to perform a synagogue song. And so the recording took place last Wednesday evening in the Great Synagogue. When we came to take a look at the Synagogue, which was already decorated for the occasion, at 8 o’clock, all preparations had been made. A number of lamps, together 25,000 candles strong, provided sufficient lighting. The choir sang Psalm 118, while Mr. Maroko sang the solos. The recording, which was made under the direction of the popular Polygoon man Jo Levi, and in which Max Tak was present, will certainly attract the interest of the cinema-loving public and for those who do not regularly go to the cinemas, we can certainly recommend a visit this time.”
This NIW 1935 news (1) describes the ‘sound film’ was made Wednesday 13 Nov 1935 under the direction of Polygoon man Jo Levi.Below the ‘sound film’ and first part of my description, as posted Aug 20, 2019 (2).
November 1935, on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the NIHS Jewish Community of Amsterdam (orthodox Ashkenazi congregation started 1635) the dutch film factory Polygoon brought this unique cinema sound newsreel of the Amsterdam Choir of the Great Synagogue led by choirmaster Samuel Henri (Sam) Englander, with a solo perfomance by chazzan (cantor) Izrael Eljasz Maroko in the Great Synagogue (inauguration building 1671) – now home to the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam, Holland (2).
Notes
1. Today I found this article on the Polygoon ‘sound recording’ (2) in the dutch weekly ‘Nieuw Israelietisch weekblad’ (Transl: New Israelite Weekly) of Friday, November 15, 1935. URL Delpher.nl (retrieved 20241025) .
Dutch transcript
Geluidsopname ter Groote Synagoge
Het jubileum der N.I.H.S., dat de belangstelling in vele kringen op onze gemeente heeft gevestigd, heeft ook de aandacht getrokken van Polygoon, de bekende geluidsjournalisten. Men wilde n.l. iets specifieks van dit jubileum en ter eere van het jubileum op de geluidsfilm vastleggen en dit deze week als onderdeel in de bioscoopjournaals inlasschen. Oppervoorzanger I. E. Maroko en het sjoelkoor, onder leiding van zijn bekenden dirigent S. H. Englander, werden bereid gevonden om een synagogaal gezang ten gehoore te brengen. En zoo vond Woensdagavond j.I. de opname plaats in de Groote Synagoge. Toen wij om 8 uur een kijkje kwamen nemen in de reeds in feesttooi gestoken Synagoge, waren alle toebereidselen getroffen. Een aantal lampen, tezamen 25.000 kaarsen sterk, zorgde voor voldoende belichting. Het koor zong Psalm 118, terwijl de heer Maroko de soli zong. De opname, welke onder leiding van den populairen Polygoonman Jo Levi geschiedde, werd vervaardigd en waarbij o.a. Max Tak tegenwoordig was, zal zeer zeker de belangstelling van het bioscoopminnend publiek trekken en zij, die niet geregeld in de cinema’s komen, kunnen wij ditmaal zeker een gang daarheen aanbevelen.
Screenshots from the film Amsterdam 1939 a trip through the canals and along the old facades of Amsterdam in 1939 , published first by Polygoon in 1940 a few months before World War II. Images are discussed in detail in the film.
EN – In 1939 with Polygoon film company through… the canals and along the old facades of Amsterdam. Published in 1940 a few months before World War II.
NL – In 1939 met de Polygoon filmfabriek door de grachten en langs de oude gevels van Amsterdam. Gepubliceerde in 1940 kort voor de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Tocht langs de Stadsbank van Lening, Vondels huis, huis op 3 grachten, Kolkje, schuilkerk Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder, Schreierstoren, Montelbaanstoren, Gooyer molen, Jordaan, Lange Jan, Westertoren, Bickerseiland, Waaggebouw, Amsterdamse universiteit, Agnietenschool, gildekamer chirurgijnen.
Film edited (image and sound) from a 1940 Polygoon-Profilti documentary | Sound & Vision (Open Images).
Music : (1) RAF March String Chorus, and (2) Roses in the Garden , both by Jean-Miles Carter | Artlist.
Citation info : Amsterdam 1939 | 20240109 | Miracles•Media | @michelvanderburg | TakeNode 057550f0-a29a-4696-9b7d-a9a7825300d2
Slow Foxtrot dancing after arrival May 1934 at the Amsterdam Schiphol airport of dance couples participating in the International Dance Competition that is being organized in Amsterdam to coincide with the release of the MGM film ‘Dancing Lady’. The winning dance couple will be delegated to Hollywood by MGM .
Film edited from dutch Polygoon cinema news reel week 21 , 1934 | Polygoontoon | Sound & Vision (Open Images).
Music in this Polygoon footage is the hit song of MGM’s “Dancing Lady” : Everything I Have Is Yours by George Olsen & his Music.
Citation info : Slowfox Dance | 20240104 | Miracles•Media | @michelvanderburg | TakeNode bf0e1108-1a03-4b60-8474-a8b7cea18672
