The “Jewish” resorts in the Catskills.
Why were they called “Jewish” resorts? Were they primarily Jewish-owned? Were Jews the only people who enjoyed vacations in the Catskills? Didn’t the goyim patronize these resorts?
It was a cultural thing that was, like many other things, much simpler in the last generation.
Different cultural groups (read: minorities) had different vacationing habits. Without getting too specific, suffice it to say that middle-class Jewish New Yorkers did not “summer in the Hamptons.”
Instead, they went to the Mountains.
Someone got the idea that they could cater to the growing population of Bungalow Colonies and time-share resorts by building a hotel and advertising it to a Jewish clientelle. They served Kosher food, hired a Rabbi for the weekends and brought in Jewish enterteiners.
“Presto! It’s a hit. Not a chamalia, but a hit.”[sup]*[/sup]
When one of them became popular, someone built a second. And so on… Strictly supply and demand - no mystery.
[sub]*Bonus points for anyone who gets the reference.[/sub]
The Dick Van Dyke show?
Another thing is, most resorts did not let Jews in till well after WWII (see that scene in “Gentleman’s Agreement” where Yiddishe Gregory Peck gets thrown out of a hotel). So Jews had to open their own resorts.
So many Jews lived in the New York area that—before widespread plane travel—they chose the upstate New York region for a string of Jew-friendly resorts. Kosher food, Jewish comics, etc.
Most of the Borscht Belt places are closed now; everyone just jets off to Europe for vacation.
Good guess, but, alas, incorrect.
Anyone else? (HINT: think stage, not TV)
[hijack]Fiddler on the Roof? Just a stab in the dark, but it’s the only particularly Jewish stage play I can think of off the top of my head.[/hijack]
(Guilty of a Hijack)
Sorry, Chronos, you’re off-base, too.
But, you’re on the right track! If no one gets it by noon or so, I will post another hint.
Could it be…Mel Brooks’ the Producer? That or “Springtime for Hitler?” 
Is it from To Be Or Not To Be?
“It would get a laugh…a laugh is nothing to be sneezed at.”
Good guesses, all. But no one has gotten it yet.
I am late with the clue…
Think… Judd Hirsch and the playwrights who love him…
Ooh! I gave it away!
Judd Hirsch… “I’m Not Rappaport”?
(I SAW the movie and it bored me to sleep… so it would be small wonder if I didn’t remember the line!)
You’re so close it hurts! But, no… That’s not it.
BTW, I’m Not Rappaport is a wonderful play… I didn’t know that they made a movie version starring Hirsch. As far as I know, the only movie version stars Walter Mathau… and is excellent.
It also includes Craig T. Nelson (of Coach fame) in a minor role - I’m a big fan of his!
No one can figure this out?