Gothamist posted a haunting series of photos of Grossinger’s, the famed Borscht Belt hotel in the Catskills which closed its doors in 1986. It also happens to be where my Grandmother used to wait tables, and where my father spent his childhood summers.
I sent my Dad an email with the link, and this is his response:
“I spent many weeks year after year in that pool… When grandma worked there. And even took mom there before Len was born. Met some amazing people, acts, comedians. People you may never have heard of. The lifeguards were the Canadian Olympic Diving Team and they taught me how to dive. I saw Elizabeth Taylor with Eddie Fisher while he was still married to Debbie Reynolds… Thanks for sending this.”
I am obviously going to needle him for more sizzing hot Liz Taylor goss later this evening. But sad to see this place in such a state of disrepair.
And for reference, here is my Dad on his Bar Mitzvah day. What a fine looking Jew.
