Frieders travel home via China
Creator(s)
- Alex Frieder (Camera Operator)
- Alice Weston
Biographical History
The five Frieder brothers from Cincinnati, Ohio (Philip, Henry, Alex, Morris, and Herbert) made their fortune in cigars, which they manufactured in the Philippines. The brothers took turns managing the cigar production. Every two years, one of the brothers (excluding Henry) and his family would relocate to their home at 44 Brixton Hill, Santa Mesa, Manila. The Frieder brothers were passionate poker players and often played with influential individuals, such as President Manuel L. Quezon, the US High Commissioner Paul V. McNutt, and Army Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower. In the late 1930s, together, they devised a way to provide refuge in the Philippines to German and Austrian Jews. President Quezon stipulated that those who came not be a burden on the Philippine economy, so the tiny Jewish community in Manila accepted that responsibility. While McNutt pressured the US State Department to keep Philippine borders open to refugees, the Frieder brothers (working with the Joint Distribution Committee) arranged transportation and visas for European Jews who possessed skills in fourteen occupations, one being cigar manufacturing. President Quezon provided a temporary home for the refugees where they could live and grow their own food on the land he was developing for his son. The haven was named Mariquina Hall. Between 1937 and 1941, the Frieder brothers, McNutt, Quezon, and Eisenhower aided in the rescue of over 1,300 Jews. In December 1941, the Japanese invaded the Philippines. All Frieder brothers had returned to the US a month earlier in anticipation of the invasion. Between December 1941 and September 1945, Manila was under Japanese occupation. Ironically, during that time, unlike all other internationals who were interned in a make-shift prison in Santo Tomas University, the Jewish refugees were considered Germans - therefore allies of Japan - and not imprisoned. A few refugees were killed in the crossfire between US and Japanese armies as the battle for Manila ended. Birthdates: Alex Frieder - December 2, 1893 Corinne Rosenberg Frieder - March 11, 1893 Edna Frieder Lichtig - August 7, 1918 Louise Frieder - June 12, 1922 Alice Frieder Weston - July 1, 1926
Scope and Content
The Frieder family stops over in Hong Kong (like the brief shot in Film ID 2956 at 00:02:46) - Corinne and the children ride in rickshaws, locals in the street. The Frieder family tours a park with massive Buddha statue. More street scenes with locals. 01:08:52 Rickshaws with the Frieders. Crowds next to a large docked ocean cruiser with confetti. Pan of ships in the harbor, glimpse of an American flag on the large ship, and parked rickshaws and automobiles on the dock. The cruiser departs, confetti breaks, people wave. 01:10:54 Morris Frieder shakes hands with men. Two young women and some Filipino men pose for the camera. People wave at the camera from below on the ship's dock. Frieder children swim in a pool on the ship's deck. 01:11:53 Corinne and Alice are carried in a sedan chair on vacation. Top of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong with large cargo ships and the city below. 01:12:39 Alice, Edna, Louise, and Corinne walk down the stairs toward the backyard of their home in Manila. 01:12:50 Very brief shot of Edna with a still photo camera.
Note(s)
Another can label reads: "Cagayan Valley Trip / New Sterilizer Plant / Aparri 1931 / Baguio P____"
Subjects
- SHIPS
- FLAGS (AMERICAN)
- HARBORS
- AUTOMOBILES
- AERIAL VIEWS
- STATUES
- VACATIONS
- JEWS
- FAMILIES
- STREETS
- CHILDREN (JEWISH)
Places
- , Hong Kong
- , China
- Manila, Philippines
Genre
- Film
- Amateur.