The Borscht Belt Tattler

Eileen Pollack is no stranger to the Catskills. She grew up in Liberty New York and  has spent a good portion of her career writing about it. She earned a BS in physics from Yale and n MFA in fic­tion from the Uni­ver­si­ty of Iowa. She is the award-win­ning author of nine books of fic­tion and non­fic­tion, her latest, Maybe It's Me: On being the Wrong Kind of Woman is out on 1-25-22. I was...

It's our last episode of 2021! Michael Elias is an award-winning writer, actor and director. He chats with Jen about growing up in the Borscht Belt, working and performing in the hotels, the inspiration behind his beautiful play, The Catskill Sonata, and his new novel, You Can Go Now. Learn more about Michael and buy his book! www.michaeleliaswriter.com Today’s Sponsors: True Freedom – Find o...

Marvin Rappaport is here and he's sharing his memories of growing up in the Catskills. Learn what it was like to grow up at The Delano Hotel,  which was owned and operated by his grandparents. Listen to the Borscht Belt interviews at The Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library: ebcpl.org/interviews2 Today’s Sponsors: True Freedom – Find out how a True Freedom plan can bring piece of mind and sec...

Jen goes on a nostalgic journey with Stanley Darer. Even after all these years, Stanley's memories and recollections of his time in the Borscht Belt inspired him to teach a class at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at NC State University. For more information on the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute: osherfoundation.org Today’s Sponsors: True Freedom – Find out how a True Freedom plan ca...

Jen chats with George Shaw about growing up in Monticello, working at Kutsher's with his family, and the impact this experience had on his life. Today’s Sponsors: True Freedom – Find out how a True Freedom plan can bring piece of mind and security for you and your loved ones at https://onendone.us/ or1-844-WANTINFO. Yesteryear Wear – Get 15% on your order with "borschtbelt15" at  ht...

Jimmy Givens, "The Doctor of Musicology" is here! He's sharing his memories of working and performing in the Borscht Belt alongside his parents, Givens and Sweetie, a popular a husband and wife duo who played many of the hotels and bungalow colonies.  You can find out more about Jimmy here: https://www.jimmygivens.com/ Today’s Sponsors: True Freedom – Find out how a True Freedom pla...

Marc Switko is a Sullivan County-based musician and therapist who grew up in the Borscht Belt. His grandparents started out as local Jewish farmers who later ran small hotels. Today’s Sponsors: True Freedom – Find out how a True Freedom plan can bring piece of mind and security for you and your loved ones at https://onendone.us/ or1-844-WANTINFO. Yesteryear Wear – Get 15% on your order with "...

There’s no business like show business (in the Borscht Belt, anyway) and Mort Segal is sharing his memories of working for his father’s entertainment booking company, Planned Entertainment Productions (PEP).  Today’s Sponsors: True Freedom – Find out how a True Freedom plan can bring piece of mind and security for you and your loved ones at https://onendone.us/ or1-844-WANTINFO. Yesteryear Wear –...

Randy Auerbach joins Jen Stewart to chat about her summers growing up and working at Kutsher's Country Club in Monticello, New York. Enjoy listening to her memories of her father, famed NBA Celtic Coach Red Auerbach, and her experiences working with Mel Brooks at Brooksfilms. Today’s Sponsors: Onendone.us-The best nationwide independent source for true freedom membership service plans. Go to...

From 1969-1972 Simcha Raphael spent his summers and holidays working in the dining room at Kutsher's Country Club. I sit down with Simcha to discuss his tales from the dining room, the friendships that blossomed and how his mother, Rose Paull was responsible for bringing the Catskills to Canada. Today’s Sponsors: True Freedom – Find out how a True Freedom plan can bring piece of mind and secu...

The Borscht Belt Resort: Coming soon in 2025? Ok. So the title of this episode *might* be a little clickbaity. But I assure you. Louis Inghilterra is the real deal. A self proclaimed "vintage soul", Louis is a 22 year old interior architecture student who's been exploring and studying the Borscht Belt since he was 10 years old. For his latest independent study project, he recreated ...

Episode 19 is is here! Join me in conversation with Town of Fallsburg Supervisor Steve Vegilante and listen to exclusive stories from The Chalet, aka the “Studio 54” of the Catskills. Purchase your very own Chalet shirt here! ************************** SHOW INFORMATION: ************************** Instagram | Facebook | Twitter: @borschtbeltpod Check out  our sponsor ! Use code "borschtbelt15&...

Chatting with Cliff Ehrlich of The Pines Resort Hotel.  Purchase your very own Pines shirt here ! Save 20% off using code "sonnyliston20". ********** SHOW INFORMATION: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter: @borschtbeltpod Check out  our sponsor! Use code "borschtbelt15" and save 15% on your order! Buy us an egg cream and support future episodes of the show! Support the show Don'...

My chat with John Conway, the authoritative voice on the history of Sullivan County. Purchase John's latest book here . Click here to read his weekly  column at the Sullivan County Democrat. ********** SHOW INFORMATION Instagram | Facebook | Twitter: @borschtbeltpod Website: https://borschtbeltpod.buzzsprout.com/ Sponsor: https://www.yesteryearwear.com/ Buy us an egg cream , helps upgrade our...

Kicking off the Fall edition of the Borscht Belt Tattler is Marcy McCreary, author of The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon. Purchase Marcy’s book here.  Follow Marcy on Instagram: @marcymccrearyauthor ********** SHOW INFORMATION Instagram/FB/Twitter: @borschtbeltpod Website: borschtbeltpod.buzzsprout.com  Check out yesteryearwear.com and use code "urbanyenta15" to get 15% off your order Su...

Our season finale is here and we couldn’t find a more perfect way to end the summer than with Larry and Shelly Strickler. From beach chair politics, Bette Midler’s debut at Brickman Hotel to the art of Tummling and entertaining guests at Kutsher’s, the Strickler’s will take you on a nostalgic journey like no other!   Your Weekly To-Do’s: Learn more about Larry and Shelly: https://starringthestrick...

Theatre director Matt Lenz drops by to chat about "In the Works, In the Woods" a new theatre festival happening  in Sullivan County at the Forestburgh Playhouse from September 9-12! Your Weekly To-Do’s  https://www.mattlenzdirector.com/ https://www.mattlenzdirector.com/ Get your ITW Passport: https://tix5.centerstageticketing.com/sites/forestburgh6/ Learn about the FB Playhouse and all o...

Rock and Roll Call!  📞 Bruce Morrow, aka Cousin Brucie is a popular disc jockey’s who’s career has spanned five decades. He chats about his childhood summers at a bungalow colony, working at the Concord and Nevele, and reflects on his incredible career on and off the radio and how he has and continues to introduce millions to the soundtrack of our lives.  Please tune in to this special episode of...

Get ready for deli! Mike Dalewitz is the cofounder and chairman of The Borscht Belt Delicatessen and 618 Hospitality.  We chat about his connection to the Borscht Belt, Egg Creams, Caddyshack 2, tongue sandwiches, and so much more. Hungry? Eat here: https://theborschtbelt.com/ Learn more about Mike: https://themindfulmentor.com/ Discover 618 Hospitality: https://618hospitality.com/ Like us on Face...

Today’s guests are documentary filmmakers Caroline Laskow and Ian Rosenberg. We chat about their award-winning feature “Welcome To Kutsher’s: The Last Catskills Resort”, how this experience impacted their their views of the Borscht Belt and the powers of the “Mrs. Maisel” algorithm. Learn more about “Welcome to Kutsher’s”: https://www.kutshersdoc.com/ Watch  “Wilt Chamberlain: Borscht Belt Bellhop...

For Holocaust survivors and their children, a trip to the Borscht Belt was nothing short of a miracle. Lea Sigel Wolinetz shares her memories of Mason’s Country Club Cottages, a bungalow colony that was more than just a vacation but a place of refuge and healing.   Your Weekly To Do List:  Learn more about Czestochowa Jews.    https://www.czestochowajews.org  Help build a museum. https://catskillr...

Today I chat with Dr. Michael Kessler,  an obstetrician-gynecologist living and practicing in Connecticut. We chat about many things including, destination bar mitzvahs, sleepaway camp, the culture of Judaism and of course his love for the Borscht Belt.  Don’t forget to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Want some other cool things you can do: Follow us on Instagram: @borschtbeltpod Click her...

Robin Schwartzman is an artist, instructor and mini-golf expert residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  On today’s show, we discuss her obsession with leisure and play and how it influenced her latest exhibit, Last Resort, which ran last year in conjunction with the Twin Cities Jewish Humor Festival. You can learn more about Robin here:  https://www.robinschwartzman.com Don’t forget to like, subscrib...

Why did Zero Mostel need his own table at the Concord? Which swimming instructor went off to become a Hollywood Star in the 40’s? What did it mean to “hustle” when working in the Borscht Belt? All these answers and more when Alan Barrish stops by!  Click here for Alan’s incredible video footage of the Concorde, filmed by his father, Abe Barrish (and featuring a very young Bob Hope, Tony Bennett an...

Forged work papers. Torrid summer romances. And a  hot pants showdown between the Queens and Brooklyn girls. Laurie Glass stops by to share her exciting memories of the Borscht Belt. Follow us on Instagram : @borschtbeltpod Grab your wearable memories from Yesteryear. Use code " urbanyenta15 " to get 15% off. https://www.yesteryearwear.com/ Love our theme music? Discover Lorie Wolf and t...