Yetta Zwerling was a Yiddish actress in America during the 1930s and 1940s.
Born on 25 December 1894 in Kohliev, near Lemberg, Eastern Galicia. Her father was an employee in a fruit business, while at the same time was a klezmer. She learned in a cheder, and through her sisters Bessie and Mamie, who had sung in the chorus of the Lemberg Yiddish theatre, was taken into the theatre.
She immigrated with her family to America, and she began to act in children's roles in variety theatre and soon thereafter in English vaudeville, where she acted for eight years. She traveled to act through the province, coming to New York and entered into the 'Grand' Theatre, where she performed in Yiddish vaudeville. Then she acted for four years in musical comedy under the leadership of Leon Errol, and then for six seasons in Philadelphia for Anshel Schorr, who helped perfect her Yiddish. From there she went over to New York's 'Grand' Theatre, and then to the 'National' Theatre.
Zwerling also toured across America and Canada with the stars in their repertoire. In 1936 she guest-starred in Mexico. She also performed on English radio. From time to time she performed on the Yiddish radio and sings comical songs and also participated in several movie plays and Yiddish plays.
eatres. Her sister Mamie had acted for a time in Yiddish theatre. Her deceased sister Bessie had performed in music halls.Zwerling's children Artie, Sidney and Albert have acted together with her in children's roles in various th
Full biography from the 'Lexicon of the Yiddish Theatre'.
Photo by Justin D. Haren.
