Media

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Fanny Brice's Ziegfeld Follies debut

June 20, 1910

In her unfinished autobiography, Fanny Brice wrote, "I lived the way I wanted to live and never did what people said I should do." What Brice wanted

Irna Phillips produces "The Guiding Light" on TV

June 30, 1952

The Guiding Light debuted on CBS television on June 30, 1952.

First syndicated appearance of "Rhymes With Orange"

June 19, 1995

The cartoon strip Rhymes With Orange appeared in syndication for the first time on June 19, 1995.

First woman to cycle the globe begins journey

June 25, 1894

Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, known as Annie Londonderry, began a round-the-world bicycle trip. She became the first woman to travel around the globe by bicycle.

Birth of multi-talented Ruth Hagy Brod

May 31, 1911

Born in New York City on May 31, 1911, and raised in Chicago, Ruth Hagy Brod had a varied career that took her from the newsroom to Latin America

Publication of "Jewish and Female"

June 1, 1984

Susan Weidman Schneider's Jewish and Female: Choices and Changes in Our Lives Today was published on June 1, 1984.

Sylvia Porter one of first women honored as "Headliner"

June 5, 1943

When the National Headliners' Club included women in its ranks of prizewinning journalists for the first time in 1943, Sylvia Porter was one

"What is Women's History?"

June 5, 2005

On June 5, 2005, acclaimed historian Gerda Lerner received an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Birth of feminist Letty Cottin Pogrebin

June 9, 1939

Letty Cottin Pogrebin, who has become one of the most well-known figures in both the Jewish and secular feminist movements, was born on Jun

Birth of Trude Weiss-Rosmarin, editor and commentator on American Jewish life

June 17, 1908

Born in Germany on June 17, 1908, Trude Weiss-Rosmarin became a major commentator on the nature of American Jewish life.

Lily Winner publishes a defense of open immigration in "The Nation"

May 18, 1921

Writer, playwright, and activist Winner was a progressive voice for immigrants and immigration reform.

Death of comedian Gilda Radner at 42

May 20, 1989

Gilda Radner's death from ovarian cancer on May 20, 1989 at age 42 cut short a vital life and comedic career.

Jane Eisner appointed first female editor of "The Forward"

May 18, 2008

Trailblazing journalist Eisner breaks one more barrier, becoming the first woman editor of the country's largest Jewish newspaper.

Susan Sontag publishes last essay

May 23, 2004

Public intellectual and controversial essayist Susan Sontag published her last essay, "Regarding the Torture of Others," in the May 23, 2004, editio

"Settlement Cookbook" author Lizzie Black Kander is born

May 28, 1858

Lizzie Black Kander, author of The Settlement Cookbook, was born in Milwaukee, on May 28, 1858.

Birth of opera star Beverly Sills

May 25, 1929

Born on May 25, 1929 as Belle Miriam Silverman, Beverly Sills began singing in public at the age of four, when she appeared on the Uncle Bob's Rain

Gladys Heldman launches "World Tennis Magazine"

May 13, 1953
Tennis player, promoter, and women's advocate Gladys Heldman published the inaugural issue of "World Tennis Magazine." a forum calling for equal status and opportunity for women athletes.

Opera singer Roberta Peters is born

May 4, 1930
Soprano Roberta Peters had the longest tenure of any Metropolitan Opera soprano and has worked throughout her career to popularize opera.

Aline Milton Bernstein Saarinen becomes first woman to head overseas US TV news bureau

April 13, 1971

Aline Milton Bernstein Saarinen became the first woman to head an overseas television news bureau when she became chief of the National

"The American Jewess" begins publication

April 1, 1895

Published between April 1895 and August 1899, The American Jewess was the first English-language publication directed to American Jew

James Graham Phelps Stokes announces engagement to Rose Pastor

April 5, 1905

James Graham Phelps Stokes announced his engagement to Rose Pastor in a press conference on April 5, 1905.

The New York Times reports on naming ceremonies for Jewish girls

March 14, 1977

Noting that the new Reform Jewish prayerbook, published in February 1977, included a naming ceremony for baby girls for the first time, and that Ezrat Nashim a small feminist activist collective, was about to publish a booklet entitled “Blessing the Birth of a Daughter: Jewish Naming Ceremonies for Girls,” the New York Times reported on March 14, 1977, that such ceremonies were becoming common in all branches of Judaism.

The "New York Times" reports on Barbra Streisand's Broadway debut

March 23, 1962

"The evening's find is Barbra Streisand, a girl with an oafish expression, a loud irascible voice and an arpeggiated laugh.

Labor activist Rose Pesotta organizes in Akron, Ohio

February 25, 1936

In 1936, in the midst of nationwide union organizing drives, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) se

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