The Canadian Jewish News^ Thursday, March 6,1980 -Page 3
National News
the Canadiens
REBECCA ROSENBERG
MONTREAL —
Being the managinjg director of the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club has;,never been an: easy job. "It's like living in a pressure cooker. "says Irving Grundman.
Montreal fans have become spoiled by success. They expect more of their team than other fans of professional sport because the team has so often delivered "what they demand. By now. the Canadiens have become a mystique, treated alniost with religious fervor by several generations of devoted followers.
Now in his second year as managing director and exeicutive vice-president of the club since taking, over from Sam Pollack. Grundman was fully aware that his new job. put him in a no-win position. ■'If things went well, it was due to everj-thing that . was done in the past and if things didn't go well, it was my fault," he said.
The Canadiens came through to win the Stanley Cup last year in the dramatic style which has become their trademark, Grundman's eyes light up when he recalls that exciting moment in the semi-fmals with Boston when the Canadiens came from behind to win the seventh game with an overtime goal scored by Yvpn Lambert;. •
Few people are aware of how central the managing directoristothe continued success of a teamv Negotiating contracts, arrahg-. ihg trades, drafting play-ers and behind-the-scenes whee 1 i n g: a n d. d ea 1 i n g mean Grundman is "on call 24 hours a day."
Although Grundman had his detractors who claimed he had no hockey background. Grundman remained unperturbed. ".Not everyone was born with a hockey stick in his-hpnd," he observes. • "Hockey is entertain-
Irving Gmndman
ment but it is also a .business. If you can combine both to provide a team that's exciting, entertaining and successful and still maintain black ink on your balance sheet, you're "doing well.''
Those who know him never doubted that Grundman knows how -to run a business. Straight from high school. Grundman went to work .at his father's meat market' on St. Lawrence Blvd., where he remained for 14 years. He says the experience has stood him in good stead; he still uses skills he learned in those days on the street.
His involvement with professional hockey began in. 1972When. Edgar and Peter Bronfman, with whom he owns six bowling. lanes, purchased the Canadiens and appointed him president of the Montreal Forum.
Grundman says the Canadiens'. slow start this season may have been affected by several factors, the loss of Ken Dryden. Jacques Lemaire and Yvon , Gournoyer, a number of injuries to key hockey players ■ and the change of coaches. Recently the team seems to have pulled out of its slump and may be on its way to another Stanley Cup victory.:
Basically an optimist, the 51-year-old Grundman enjoys the challenges of his position and strives to perpetuate the tradition of excellence that the Montreal Canadien^ represient.
Despite the demands of his job, Grundman finds time for community activ-i ities, As well as being a • former president of St. Laurent 'Lodge B'nai B'rith and a charter member of Beth Ora Synagogue, he has been a city councillor for the Montreal suburb of St; Laurent since 1968.
In response to Quebec Cultural Development Minister Camille Laurin's statement that announcements at the Forum be made only in French, Grundman says: "I have always felt there is no room in sports for politics."
The NHL rule specifies . announcements must be made in English and can then be made in any other language. "The Montreal Forum has made an-" nouncements bilingually through the years and it is our desire and intent to continue., to make them, bilingually as a courtesy to the 40% of our clientele who are English-speaking, and to the visiting players," he said.
On Lake Coiicliicliing ' For Boys & Girls 5-14 yrs old.
Specializied programs Aug. 8-20 Big League Baseball Camp
• Intensive Tennis Clinic ■
• Creative & Performing Arts Workshop
For Information Call 789-2181 or Write: 825 Eglin-ton Ave. H'.. Ste, 211, Toronto. Ont: .M5N 1E7.
tmrtj^ Jewry
I-
TV
m
M W
m
I Bv SHELDON I kiRSHNER
(CBC photo)
Irving Yanover [Ralph Benmergnl, centre] and Stanley Rosen [Jack Bhun] make smaU talk with Fawn [EDa CoIUns], the Saolt JSte. Marie girl they bdfli adore.
as
By DAVID BIRKAN
TORONTO —
It's ho joke.
A 67-year-oJd Ottawa innkeeper has sold his hotel and started a new career as a professional (onie who'is paid for his efforts, which distinguishes him from most everybody else) comedian. ;
Sammy Koffman launched his first gig last week amidst the posh glitter of the Royal York Hotel's Imperial Room, whiere he'il tickle fandes until March 9.
"Makjng people laugh is nothing hew to me, young fella." Sammy Koffman told The Canadian Jewish News. "I've been trying to do it for almost 35 years."
From the time he returned from overseas at the end of World War II, Koffman had been entertaining audiences at din-her speeches, meetings and B'nai B'rith affairs with his droll jibes. "My hotel guests were particularly .lucky tov have me around all the time —even if I do say;so myself." he insisted.
It was at his Belle Castle Hotel that Koffman claims he initiated a revolution in stag parties that coupled his name to blessings in the lips of brides-to-be and their families. He replaced porno movies and girls for the prospective groom with humor, thus originating the concept of the dinner stag.
A comedian who owns a hotel is like a fox with his own chicken farm: there is
GIVE
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND TREES
no shortage of subjects to work on. In Koffman's case, among those subjects were famous funnymen themselves, who liked what they heard. In this way, he gained kudos for the comedy from the likes of Victor Borge, Wayne: arid Shuster and Henny Ypurigman.
In this way also, he gained the attention of ROyal York impressario Gino Empry, who listened, who liked, and who signed him.
Koffman shares the Imperial RoOm spotlight with singer-composer Rupert Brooke", who revealed at a press conference how the comedian came to agree to his billing; "You see, they photographed Sammy in
Sammy Koffinan ^
some compromising position. in a New Brunswick hotel.'.' said Brooke. They threatened to pub-Hsh the photo if he didn't appear with me." It's no joke, believe me.
Morley TorgOv's 1975 teacock Award winning book. A Good Place To Come From, lends itself to television: the locale, Sault Ste; Marie. Ont:, is fairly exOtic. the characters are vibrant, the plot is plausible ind the dialogue is crackling.
Not by coincidence;. CBC-TV has adapted Tor-gov's hilarious collection of short stories into a trilogy subtitled Growing Up Jewish in Sanlt Ste. Marie. The 90-minute te-leplays, written by Israel Horovitz and produced by Robert Sherrin. can be seen March 12. 19 and 26 at 9 p.m.
The teleplays. spanning the years 1939 tO 1948. revolve around the lives of two Jewish families, the Yanovers and the Rosens, both of whose only sons. Irving and Stanley, are rivals for th,e hand of a demure Gentile girl, and the object of smothering parental affection.
A Good Place To Come From treats a variety of pertinent theimes, including acculturation, tradition, pride and prejudice.
FOR ALL .'OCCASIONS
781- -^5515
Hamilton.. .527- -7385
969- -8733
Montreal... 934- -0313
Halifax 422- -7491
LTD.
(Chocolates - Candies) TEL AVIV, RAMAT-GAN ISRAEL
^Wewish to ahnoimcetliat all ELITE CHOCOLATES. INSTANT COFFEE, Candies, Gum, etc.. . . from Israel are Made : "Kosher LePesaclr'-for Passover 1980.
■ ■ Every chocolate bar is ■
clearly printed on each label (KOSHER FOR PASSOVER) ,
Should you not find "KOSHER FOR PASSOVER" Printed on each bar or stickers on fancy box chocolates, then it cannot be used for PASSOVER.
For further information contact:
BAIUS & CO. LTD.
Canadian Importers of Elite Chocolates & Candy.
6680 Jeanne Mance St., Montreal, Que. y Tel; 274-5581/2
President: Frank Bailis -rx Toronto Dist. /' ' -
Supreme Foods Ltd. i 30 Penn^Dr., Weston, Ont. , Tel: 746-1164
onaetijues a greatjiotion
IF YOUR ORGANIZATION A
PROJbXT WORTH DOING THIS SUMMER. THE SUMMER YOUTH
EMPLO^T^IENT PROGR.'\M WILL HELP WW FOR .S'FUDENTS TO HELP GET IT DONE.
Does your organization qualifj'.'
Ustablished, non-profit orsini/jtions and l(Kal governments . may (|ualif\- to receive financial assistance to hire students.
What projects should youconsiderr
To (lualify. projects should employ at least three .students for si.\ to 18 wceks iKtwccn the 5th of May and the 3th of Septeml^er. IVopasals " must be of benefit to student participants and .should Ik of lasting v;iluc to the community, .
What students will be employed.'
Post-secondary or secondary studencs intending to return to school in the fall, who are (iinadian citizxns or permanent residents are eligible. ,
The Summer Youth Emp!o\-ment
I'rofinim will make a contribution towards washes at the level of the pnnincial minimum wage. In addition, the iVofiram contributes employee lx:ncfits and up to S2(). per person per week to cover project overhead cost.s. ,
Where do you go from here?
Information and project proix)sal applic-Jtion forms are available at (iinada Kmplo\Tnent C^entres or Hmpi(A"mcnt Development Branch offices.
Deadline for project proposals is
March 28.
To receive financial assi.stance to
hire students; propo.sals must be
sul^mitted (|X)St-marked) no later than March 28. ()f course, it is to your . (inKanization's advantage to "submit its
application is early as possible, but March 28 is the final deadline. Now's
the time to get that summer project
off the ground.
Emptoymeni and Emploi el Im-TiigtaUon Canada : Immigralion Canada
Canada
adolescence, romance and_ ambition. On the whole, it rings true, the characterization being authentic and the-dialogue being real. The acting is usually topnotch^and stellar performances are turned in by Allan Levson (the young Irving), Jeff Lynas (Stanley Rosen in the year 1943, Peter Boretiski(Barney Rosen) and Libby Morris (Peari Rosen).
The writing is taut and believable, in most cases, . but playwright Horovitz sometimes succumbs to caricature in portraying-the personalities — Jewish and otherwise — who make A Good Place To Come From what it is.
Part one, ' 'Today I Am A Fountain Pen,'-.sets the tone. The Yanovers, Moses and Esther, take on a Ukrainian girl as a live-in maid. With her high Slavic cheek bones and blonde braided hair, Hollis McLaren seems ideal for the role. Her father, an ethnocentric, proud man who! ioves Italian opera, sends her to the Yanovers to break up her.budding relationship with an Italian boy. "Never get close to Italians." he warns, advising her to marry a
nice Ukrainian.
The Yanovers' son, Irving, becomes fond of Annie, the maid, and a__ platonic friendship between them emerges. Annie introduces Irving to the forbidden delights of bacon, and this triggers a memorable scene involving Mr. and Mrs. Yan-Over, played relatively well by Harvey Atkin and Helen Burns.
Part two, "A Rosen By Any Other Name," is probably Ihe strongest r episode, dealing as it dOes with anti-semitism and the unbridled ambitions of a Jewish mother vifhose greatest goal in life, it. would appear, is to stage a sumptuous bar mitzvah for her son Stanley.
Stanley's father, a .somewhat paranoic merr chant, creaties a crisis in the Rosen household by declaring his intention to . anglicize the family name. Barney Rosen sees the spectre of Hitlerite anti-semitism after vandals throw a rock through his shop window^ The solution he stumbles on is pathetic, and naive. . Peari Rosen and her son retaliate in the only way they know how. Heart wrenching passion
is the result.
Part three, "Chopin Playoffs," follows the mOod and style of the first two plays. It is 1948. Stanley Rosen (Jack Blum) and hrving Yanover (Ralph Benmergui) are in. love with the same girl. Fawn (Ella Collins), an Anglo-Saxon' Much to their consternation, she confuses Stanley iand Irying. "I can't tell you apart," she admits, explaining that the confusion arises because both are Jewish, short, play the piano and
are disinclined toward athletics.
Fawn devises a seemingly foolproof way to decide who will win her ever-lasting affection. Complications cloud the picture, and an unexpected streak of racial prejudice comes to the fore.
A Good Place To Come From ends on an uncertain note, but this contributes to its strength. I imagine that Moriey Torgov will have little cause for complaint. CBC has done him proud.
Wanted
HAZZAN SHEW
for Conservative Congregation.
Must also be a good Bal Koreh and Mashgiach.
Apply to: Agudath Israel Congregation.
1400 Goldrey Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1Z7P9 tel. (613) 728-3501
EITAN GRATCH
canadian friends of amal
Give an ISRAELI CHILD an EDUCATION, Honor a friend or loved one. Send an AMAL GREETING CARD.
Toronto: 272 CodseU Ave. Downsyiew, Ont.
M3H 3X2 (416)636^3751
Montreal:' 4770 Kent Ave.. #301 Montreal, Que.
H3W 1H2 (514)735-1593
DESIGNER AND MAKER OF FINE JEWELRY
CLASSIC JEWELRY FOR THE CONTEMPORARY PERSON
II
WE CAN DESIGN AND CREATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT.RING THAT WILL BE "YOU".
18 kt.gold^ diamonds Designs Copyrighted © ^Jn
94 BLOOR ST. WEST (LOTHIAN MEWS) 924-6092
To the gu^it^ half full
12 years old worldwide. Distilled, blended and bottled by Chivas Brothers Ltd. Aberdeen, Scotland. Distributed In Canada by IjImmi AJmu Distiller* Ud.