Szymon (Simon) Mahler (1893-) was one of thirteen siblings. His parents, Wolf and Bascha Mahler, owned a butcher shop in Krosno, Poland. Simon left Krosno for New York in 1912. He married Eva Schoenwetter (1894-) in 1921. Their children were born in New York: Jack (b. 1922), Blanche (b. 1924), and Charles (b. 1926). Many of Simon's family members in Krosno were murdered during the Holocaust. The Jewish population of Krosno numbered 1725 in 1921. German troops entered Krosno on September 9, 1939. In August 1942, Jews were ordered to ghettos and later sent to Auschwitz or Belzec. Some were able to survive by hiding in Polish homes or the forest.
Parade with elaborate floats and crowds of spectators. CU, three children and their elders. Toddler with bowlegs. MS, portraits of families outside village homes (still in Krosno?). 00:12:55 Polish troops marching in the street. Banner in Polish above the street. A man with white beard and hat holds a Torah scroll behind gentlemen in formal dress. The American visitors and friends wave at the camera. Locals. 00:14:08 Synagogue (?) in Krosno. MS of a Polish soldier in uniform. The Krosno town square, local children, Jewish men, and crowds. 00:16:16 The large group of Mahler family and Krosno locals wave to the camera; Eva holds a large bouquet. 00:16:58 Wolf, Simon and Bascha Mahler at a train station. Another group of children wave, followed by men, and women with bouquets of flowers. They pose and say farewell and the train departs. 00:18:30 Tourist shots of a cathedral. 00:18:53 While on the return ship SS Olympic from Cherbourg, France arriving in New York City on August 29, 1929, the Mahlers lounge, socialize, and play games. Eva struggles with her hat and coat in the wind, and poses for the camera. Deck view. 00:20:48 The Mahler children at home in New York (Brooklyn) after a day of swimming.
Parade; Krosno town square; ship to America