Actor and German Jewish immigrant Luise Rainer (1910-2014) seated in front of The Forward's WEVD radio station on West 46th Street, helping produce a special radio broadcast in December 1940 about democracy. WEVD's call letters stood for Forward hero, Eugene Victor Debs whose multiple political candidacies The Forward supported over decades.

The special Sunday night broadcast featured political bigwigs along with celebrities of the Rainer caliber including New York's own then Lieutenant Governor Charles Poletti. Poletti, who first practiced law in the city at white shoe law firm Davis Polk, currently located nearby the Grand Central USPS shown in the image above, eventually became the first Italian American to become Governor of New York.

Another Jewish celebrity invited to the broadcast was none other than Irving Berlin whose East End Ave penthouse digs overlooking the East River, remain a treasured address. Berlin was also a Jewish immigrant to the city, hailing from Belarus,. Berlin sang his famous tribute to his chosen country, "God Bless America" that night live on the broadcast. Decades after Berlin had presented it to his fellow citizens, and then sung it live on WEVD, New York theatre heartthrob Mandy Patinkinrecorded it in Yiddish, Berlin's mameloshn, mother tongue.

Tying the wide ranging two hour broadcast together was none other than Dutch-American immigrant writer, raconteur, famed anti-fascist resistor, historian, award winning author and illustrator, journalist, editor, NBC radio broadcaster and serial husband, the delightful Hendrik Willem van Loon(1882-1944). Seen here is the historic NBC radio broadcasting center at 30 Rockefeller Center.

Rainer arrived from Germany in 1935, sailing into Pier 88, pictured here aboard the Ile De France liner. Having witnessed firsthand the burning of the German Reichstag parliament only two years prior while in Berlin, and having grow up amidst the poverty and hardship of Post World War I in both Germany and Austria, Rainer was no stranger to having to pick up and move swiftly to begin again in safety.

Prior to her WEVD broadcast and photo in The Forward, Rainer had already been working on behalf of Jewish child refugees In July 1940, her photo was published in the paper, as she worked for the US Committee for the Care of European Children. Despite America not having entered the war yet, the The committee was spearheaded by American political leaders such as Eleanor Roosevelt among others. Their 4th Avenue city address was likely at this building shown above. As a two time Academy Award winner The Forward noted that Rainer had signed up for the work under an assumed name, but already a celebrity, she was recognized nonetheless.