Arnold Schleifer (1872-1950) was a Vienna-born restaurateur who leased and managed the Claremont Inn and Tavern-on-the Green in New York City for many years. In 1943, Arnold Schleifer and his nephews, Arthur Schleifer and Julius Berman, won the contract to operate the restaurant. They enlarged the dance floor and offered nightly music. A large outdoor patio offered dining al fresco. Trees were first wrapped in the well-known twinkling lights around the property and the Elm Tree Room was built to surround one of the city's classic American elms. The menu was designed to be elegant but affordable for New Yorkers. Luncheon and dinner offerings changed regularly. Arnold emigrated to the United States in 1903 and married Bertha in February 1937.
Well-dressed woman walks around a manicured sculpture garden. Pan of a large building, terrace and mountains behind. 0:46 Pan of a café terrace; a string ensemble plays, waiters smile for the camera. 1:12 Well-dressed woman walks down the steps of a large building, walks towards the camera. 1:38 Views of a large sculpture, mountains in the distance. Children, group of women walk in front of a guarded fortress. 2:27 Pan of a café terrace, cars, bicycles pass by. Pan of a rooftop pool, women sit, drink at umbrella tables. A group plays in a fountain in the pool. Another pan of the pool. 3:57 Scene of the canals in Venice, pan of St. Mark’s Basilica with horde of flying pigeons. 4:46 Views of planes flying above a beach. A group wearing bathing suits walks along the boardwalk towards the camera. 5:32 Group of men in uniform. Pan of gondolas coming into the dock. 6:25 Men in uniform on horses. Parade of men in uniform march down a cobblestone street as a crowd looks on, other groups of men on horses, men and women in traditional clothing, nuns, more men in uniform, marching band follow.
Vacationing in Italy, 1929; parade