David and Lena (Liza) Kurtz travelled to Europe from New York in 1938. Both were born in Poland and emigrated to the U.S. in the 1890s. David founded the American Blouse Company in the 1920s, later named the David Kurtz Shirt Company. The couple had three children. While abroad in 1938, David took 16mm film of the trip, including color street scenes of a Jewish quarter in Nasielsk, Poland (David and Louis's hometown). The trip was made with three friends, Louis and Lillian Malina, and Louis's sister, Essie Malina Diamond, who appear frequently on camera. David died in 1958; Liza lived to the age of 96.
Interiors of Queen Mary ship at sea, the four American friends walking down a brightly lit corridor with clock reading 7:03 AM on September 5, 1938. David Kurtz in a gray suit and short, red, wide-bottomed tie. Window reflection with the three women smiling. Extreme LS of distant Statue of Liberty viewed from the S.S. Queen Mary. Pan across New York City skyline from north to south. Various posed shots of Essie, Louis, Lillian, Liza, and David aboard ship. David holds the camera case under his arm. HAS of people on deck greeting the ship's passengers, including David and Liza's three children, Jerome (b. 1919), Milton (b. 1925, Glenn's father), and Shirley (b. 1927). Jerome waves.
Kurtz family and friends approach New York City