Ciesla Foundation receives NEA Grant for Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg

June 1, 2008 - The Ciesla Foundation received a prestigious $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts towards the making of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg. The grant will pay for a number of post-production items, including editing, sound mixing, and music design/composing.

Work-in-Progress Featured at 16th Toronto Jewish Film Festival

May 9, 2008 - The work-in-progress of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg was featured at the 2008 Toronto Jewish Film Festival as part of their COMEDY ON WRY: THE MAVERICKS program. The series put the spotlight on Jewish icons that have had a particularly profound influence and impact in North America--genuine trailblazers who broke new ground and who have attained legendary status. Women who were showcased included Sophie Tucker, Fanny Brice, and Gertrude Berg. The festival also featured an airing of two episodes of The Goldbergs.

Aviva Kempner to Appear at Dayton Jewish Film Festival

April 13, 2008 - Aviva Kempner will attend the 8th Dayton Jewish International Film Festival, which is presenting 18 screenings films and shorts, including the work-in-progress of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg.  She will appear on a panel at Speaking at Works in Progress Symposium, April 13, 1:00 pm, to discuss Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg and its themes.  

Aviva Kempner to Appear at Maine Jewish Film Festival

April 4, 2008 - Aviva Kempner will attend the 2008 Maine Jewish Film Festival which explores the Jewish Experience of Labor through the lens of a number of films, including the work-in-progress of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg. Aviva will appear on a panel on April 4 from 12:00 - 3:30 at the University of Southern Maine, 96 Falmouth Street, Gerald E. Talbot Lecture Hall. She will talk about Gertrude Berg and her co-star and blacklisted labor activist Philip Loeb. In 1951 Berg took a stand against the Blacklist, refusing to fire Loeb. Loeb resigned to prevent the show's cancellation and later committed suicide. The negative impact McCarthyism had on Hollywood is more widely known than the horrible consequences it had for New York-based blacklisted actors. Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg examines this issue and a number of other critical events of the 20th century.

Aviva Kempner to discuss Molly at "With Vision Flying" Conference

March 26, 2008 - Aviva Kempner will discuss Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg at the inaugural Clendenen Conference "With Vision Flying": New Perspectives on Women's and Gender History, sponsored by the department of history at American University. The conference will be held on the campus of American University in Washington, DC.

Join Aviva to watch Academy Award nominated films!

February 22, 2008 - See the 80th Academy Award Nominees free! Join Aviva Kempner and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the William G. McGowan Theater at the National Archives on February 22. The Center for the National Archives Experience will host the fourth annual free screenings of the Academy Award® nominees in four categories—Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, Live Action Short Film, and Animated Short Film—from Wednesday, February 20, through Sunday, February 24. They will be introduced by distinguished members of the Washington, DC, film community including filmmaker Aviva Kempner; Ann Hornaday, film critic for the Washington Post; and Flo Stone, artistic director of the DC Environmental Film Festival.

MacDowell Centennial Celebration at the National Gallery of Art

November 3, 2007 - From among former residents of the MacDowell Art Colony, America's oldest artist-in-residence program, Aviva Kempner's work-in-progress Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg has been included in the Colony's 100th anniversary Centennial Film Series. The touring exhibition is free of charge at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Films begin with Seasons of MacDowell, the film created for the Centennial, followed by Aviva Kempner’s presentation of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg at approximately 4:30 pm.

The National Gallery of Art is located at 4th and Constitution Avenue NW in Washington, DC.

The series will also be screening at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire September 10-20, 2007.

For more information on the MacDowell Centennial Film Series, visit http://www.macdowellcolony.org/centennial/film.html

Gertrude Berg Biographer speaks at Washington DC, JCC

October 7, 2007 - As part of the Washington Jewish Literary Festival, Gertrude Berg's biographer Dr. Glenn D. Smith, Jr. and Aviva Kempner will give a presentation at the Washington, DC Jewish Community Center, starting at 11:00 am. Dr. Smith will speak about his new book "Something on My Own" Gertrude Berg and American Broadcasting, 1929–1956 and Ms. Kempner will screen the work-in-progress of her film Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg. The event also includes a brunch. The Washington, DC JCC is located at 16 & Q streets NW. For more information about this event, contact the JCC at 202-581-9400. Cost: $15, members $10

Carolina Center for Jewish Studies

September 23-24, 2007 - Aviva Kempner will present her work at the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg will be screened on Sunday, September 23 at 4:00 pm, followed by a discussion. On the following day, Monday, September 24, Aviva Kempner will discuss her current work-in-progress, Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg at 7:30 pm.

Paper Bridge Summer Arts Festival

July 8, 2007 - Paper Bridge Summer Arts Festival On the opening day of the National Yiddish Book Center’s Paper Bridge Summer Arts Festival in Amherst, MA, Aviva Kempner will present her work-in-progress film, Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg, and answer questions afterwards. The presentation will begin at 2:00 pm, and tickets cost $10. The Paper Bridge Summer Arts Festival will run July 8-19. For more information visit the Yiddish Book Center Website or Buy tickets

Screening in Berlin, Germany

June 28, 2007 - Aviva Kempner will present the work in progress of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg at The Berlin Jewish Film Festival. The festival will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of actor Zero Mostel’s death with a screening of The Front, in which Mostel plays Philip Loeb, the co-star of The Goldbergs and a subject of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg. Both The Front and Yoo-hoo Mrs. Goldberg honor the memory of Philip Loeb, an activist for actors’ rights who was driven to suicide after being blacklisted during the Red Scare. Aviva Kempner’s discussion and screening will take place in the Kino Arsenal, Sony Film Haus, Potsdamer Platz at 7:00 pm.

Gertrude Berg’s biography published

May 30, 2007 - Syracuse University Press has published the compelling biography Something On My Own: Gertrude Berg and American Broadcasting 1929-1956 by Glenn D. Smith, Jr. The book is available in bookstores or can be ordered directly from the publisher. For more information visit http://www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu/order-form.html.

The MacDowell Colony Centennial Film Series premieres at MOMA

May 2, 2007 - The work-in-progress Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg has been selected as part of a traveling exhibit of select films celebrating the MacDowell Colony's Centennial. Aviva Kempner's work, along with other former fellows of the MacDowell Colony, premiered at the MOMA in New York City on May 2, 2007, and is now traveling the country.

Aviva Kempner speaks at The Arts Club

February 28, 2007 - Aviva Kempner, Beth Mendelson and Nina Gilden Seavey were featured speakers at February's Evenings with Extraordinary Artists hosted by The Arts Club. This monthly event introduces area artists to Arts Club members. Aviva screened the work-in-progress of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg and discussed her other films. Beth discussed her far-ranging career in news and documentary production. Nina screened clips from her extensive oeuvre and discuss the programs of The Documentary Center at The George Washington University.

New Gertrude Berg Biography

January 23, 2007 - This spring a new biography of Gertrude Berg hits the shelves. Something on My Own: Gertrude Berg and American Broadcasting by Glenn D. Smith, Jr. will use Gertrude Berg's personal papers to provide a close look at this amazing television personality. The book will be released this spring on Syracuse University Press. To see more information please visit the book's catalog listing.

Screening at Tifereth Israel

November 13th, 2006 - As part of the 2006 Jewish Folk Arts Festival, the work in progress of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg was screened at Tifereth Israel. After the screening Aviva Kempner spoke.

Help Gertrude Berg get her own USPS stamp!

November 10, 2006 - Did you know that anyone can suggest a stamp idea? It’s true! Ideas for new stamps are reviewed by the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee and they are required to review all stamp suggestions mailed in. The Ciesla Foundation thinks it’s time Gertrude Berg had a stamp and we would like your help. To find out more visit our new stamp advocacy page

Screening at B'nai Israel

November 5th, 2006 - The work in progress of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg was screened at the B'nai Israel Congregation. After the screening the director, Aviva Kempner, spoke about Gertrude Berg and the documentary.

Screening at the Jewish Study Center

October 17th, 2006 - The work in progress of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg was screened at the Jewish Study Center in the historic 6th and I St. Synagogue.

The Goldbergs in the 'Burbs

August 31st, 2006 - Four episodes from the last season of The Goldbergs were screened as part of the Jewish Museum's SummerNights program. Other entertainment included the music of Art Bailey's Orkestra Popilar.

Berg's Impact on Jewish History Explored

April 23rd, 2006 - The work in progress of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg was screened  at the Center for Jewish History's Forsccheimer Auditorium. Following the screening Aviva Kempner spoke on Gertrude Berg's impact on the evolution of television and radio. Also speaking that evening were Professor Donald Webber, Professor Joyce Antler, Marla Brettschneider, Dr. Ari Y. Kelman, and TV critic David Zurawik who spoke on his forthcoming book: Gertrude Berg. Following the event was a reception featuring recipes from the Molly Goldberg Cookbook.

Berg Highlighted as Television Pioneer at the Museum of Radio and Television in NYC

November 16, 2005 - Now You can watch excerpts from Director Aviva Kempner's November 16, 2005 appearance at the Museum of Radio and Televsion in New York City. Ms. Kempner screened the work-in-progress of Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg, and served on a panel entitled The Goldbergs to 2005: The Evolution of the Family Sitcom. Her peers included the creative forces that brought us The Cosby Show, Who's the Boss, and That Girl! to name a few. The panel discussion, broadcast to 150 universities nationwide, kicked off the museum's She Made It collection. The discussion focused on Berg's contribution to popular culture and the family sitcom format.