Millionaire American filmed Israel's history in color

Staff Report

SAN DIEGO–Our correspondent in Sha’ar Hanegev, Israel, Ulla Hadar, sent along to us video footage of a television newscast devoted to the discovery of American millionaire Fred  Monosson’s color movie footage of pre-state and early Israel.   The video literally has bounced and forth across the world, as she  received it from Michael Rassler, executive director of the United Jewish Federation of Santa Barbara and former chief executive of the UJF in San Diego.

For most people, Israel’searly  history is in ‘black and white,’ but Monosson–a wealthy Boston raincoat manufacturer and Zionist–had access to the most sophisticated color film camera of its time, and was welcomed wherever he went. 

His film cannisters were about to be thrown out by his family, until someone decided to take a look at what was on the reels.  The result, astounding to Israelis, is a look back at the nation’s history — in color.

Here is a link to a short Israeli TV documentary, with English subtitles, on some of the events, scenes and people that Monosson saw:  http://www.blip.tv/file/2915188.

5 thoughts on “Millionaire American filmed Israel's history in color”

  1. Colin Wigglesworth

    Deborah:

    Is there any way to view this again, now that the video has been removed from blip.tv?

    Thank you.

    Regards

    Colin Wigglesworth

  2. Hi there,

    I would like to contact anybody that can help me in oreder to Show Monosson´s films in Mexico´s Jewish Film Festival that is hels every year in Mexico City.
    thanks.

  3. Deborah Monosson

    Fred was my grandfather … My father kept all those reels in the basement and beleive me he would never had thrown them out! But Avishai Kfir negotiated and assured us he would put them to good use. It’s amazing to me how this film has found it’s way all around the world.

    1. Hi I am so glad you responded, I can only tell you that I personally got so many emotional and entusiastic feedbacks on the footage, it only shows that your grandfather did a great and worthwhile thing in filming and saving this historic footage. Again we should all keep in my mind to save moments for our future generations, what seem obvious at the moment will be exiting fact in the future.

Comments are closed.