Gussie Kantrowitz oral history interview

Emma Perlstein Cohen interviews Gussie Kantrowitz for the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford.

Mrs. Kantrowitz came to America at the age of 10 and with her parents settled on a farm in Willimantic, CT. She married at age 17 and moved to Hartford where her husband was a furrier. She was very active in working for the Hebrew Home and the Denver Medical Center. She knew Sophie Tucker (nee Abuza) for many years meeting her through Sophie’s sister who worked in the Kantrowitz’s business. Mr. Kantrowitz knew Sophie’s mother from when they were children in the same town in Russia and the two families became very good friends. The tape begins with a recording of Sophie singing two songs. Mrs. Kantrowitz relates anecdotes of Sophie’s childhood in Hartford where she first sang in her father’s restaurant and some of her later exploits. Sophie was discovered by some visiting theatre professionals while singing in the restaurant. A biography of Sophie’s rise to fame in her singing career is quoted by a recording company. According to Mrs. Kantrowitz, Sophie was very devoted to her family and a generous person.

Listen to the interview in the Connecticut Digital Archive

Play interview with transcript

1968-10

00:31:10

English

Kantrowitz, Gussie

Cohen, Emma Perlstein

M 5, Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford Oral History collection

Tucker, Sophie, 1884-1966

Hebrew Ladies' Old People's Home Association

Immigration

Compact audio cassette tape

Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford

M5, Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford oral history collection

Cohen, Emma Perlstein

Kantrowitz, Gussie

Oral histories