THE BORSCHT BELT MUSEUM

THE BORSCHT BELT MUSEUM IS OPENING IN ELLENVILLE, NEW YORK ON JULY 29, 2023. ​

THIS PHENOMENON was also known as:        
                THE COUNTRY 
                      THE MOUNTAINS 
                            THE CATSKILLS 
It was a retreat to escape the summer heat for the '40s, '50s, and 60's city dwellers. 

                 IT WAS THE BORSCHT BELT... 
                                                                    …our oasis for vacation! 

I remember... ...I couldn't wait to go every summer. We spent one week, 2 weeks, or sometimes a month at our glorious, welcoming hotels. 

The weekdays were inhabited by the moms and their children. The Dads would come up on weekends after a long week's work. 

There was Simon Sez, card games, mah jongg, swimming, boating, basketball, softball, and  3 delicious meals a day. My Mom never put me in the children's dining room. She said I would catch their germs (it is the "only child" that gets this luxury) I was special in the grown-up dining room.
 
At night we went to the "Casino." It wasn't for gambling as that is what the theater was called then. We sat on folding chairs set up in rows and would go early for the best seats. We saw up-and-coming comedians like Henny Youngman and Rodney Dangerfield. We saw singers who were just starting out like Eddie Fisher and Mel Torme, and beautiful dancers. All would go on to make a name for themselves. We were their first audience in the magical Borscht Belt. We were hungry for entertainment and gave them gold stars.

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The young ladies of the family had opportunities to date the waiters and other staff members. They were all young men who were making money for the summer and going to college. The lifeguards were prime. So many engagements and weddings were formed here for new family life to begin. It was the stuff the movie "Dirty Dancing" was made of.
 
Fabulous hotels were waiting, Grossingers, The Concord, The Nevele, Kutchers, and a host of bungalow colonies if you wanted to cook yourself, called "kochelein". 

           SO COME ONE, COME ALL.. 
                                                 ...VISIT THE BORSCHT BELT MUSEUM ON JULY 29, 2023. 

Partake in all the delicious memories with live music, comedy, and of course, some delicious borscht, knishes, and pastrami. Get a peek at how it was and explore the past of the New York Borscht Belt. 

See you there. 
Carol-Rose 
Author, Blogger, and Official Alumnae of The Borscht Belt