Touring Volendam and Brussels
Creator(s)
- Mr. Glenn Kurtz
- David Kurtz (Camera Operator)
Biographical History
David and Lena (Liza) Kurtz travelled to Europe from New York in 1938. Both were born in Poland and emigrated to the U.S. in the 1890s. David founded the American Blouse Company in the 1920s, later named the David Kurtz Shirt Company. The couple had three children. While abroad in 1938, David took 16mm film of the trip, including color street scenes of a Jewish quarter in Nasielsk, Poland (David and Louis's hometown). The trip was made with three friends, Louis and Lillian Malina, and Louis's sister, Essie Malina Diamond, who appear frequently on camera. David died in 1958; Liza lived to the age of 96.
Scope and Content
Girls dressed in Dutch costume in Volendam, Netherlands. Volendam is a popular tourist attraction in the Netherlands, well known for its old fishing boats and the traditional clothing still worn by some residents. The women's costume of Volendam, with its high, pointed bonnet, is one of the most recognizable of the Dutch traditional costumes. The four friends sit outside Cafe Spaander in Volendam, probably on August 1. Signpost shows where folks gather to return to "Amsterdam". CUs, women with children. The Americans walk in gardens in Brussels, most likely on August 2, 1938, dressed the same as seen at 01:10:46. 01:10:27 Louis, Lillian, Essie, and Liza pose in front of a stone statue of four bears beside ivy-covered building. This may be in Geneva, Switzerland at the League of Nations building when the visited in early or mid August (9 to 15?). 01:10:46 In Brussels on August 2, the four Americans descend stairs and walk towards the camera. Liza Kurtz smiles beautifully. They visit a cathedral, possibly in Brussels or the Hague. 01:11:00 Grand Place in Brussels - an open square and a flower market with with umbrellas.
Note(s)
See also RG-60.4825 for related footage in black and white from this collection.
Subjects
- CHURCHES
- WOMEN
- VACATIONS
- JEWS
- CHILDREN
- STREETS
- JEWISH LIFE (PRE-WAR)
- CAFES
- COSTUMES
- CITIES
- MARKETS
Places
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Brussels, Belgium
- Volendam, Netherlands
Genre
- Amateur.
- Film