While we were busy last week preparing for Pesach, the local newspapers in New York's Hudson Valley reported on the passing of Lou Goldstein, the king of the "Simon Says" games from the 1940's through the 1980's at Grossinger's and other hotels in the Catskills. Goldstein died at the age of 90 in Liberty, the town that Grossinger's made famous.
Born in Poland in 1921, Goldstein performed his shtick at Grossingers from 1948-1986. He also did the half-time shows for NBA teams all over the country. Likewise the NHL and baseball games all featured his nationally known "Simon Says". He enjoyed doing these shows at all the Catskills Resorts, including the Pines, Concord, Nevele, Paramount, Granit, Swan Lake, and the Raleigh.
Goldstein served as the social director at Grossingers, frequented by the likes of Muhammad Ali, Lucille Ball and Wilt Chamberlain in its heyday, but that wasn’t his claim to fame. Simon Says was.
“He was able to take what had been a Catskills phenomenon very much unknown outside of the Catskills hotels and made it into a national game,” said Sullivan County Historian John Conway.
Performing his Simon Says routine in front of thousands during NBA halftime shows, children’s TV shows and national news specials, Goldstein eventually trade marked the game and went on to become one of the most sought out entertainers of his time, but for people here, he was just Lou, a regular customer with a big heart and even bigger personality.
If you never had the pleasure of watching Goldstein in action in the lobby or pool at Grossinger's, as we did many times, here's a short clip of his routine with a group of cheerleaders on the Dick Clark Show as he quickly eliminates one participant after another when they fail to keep up with his rapid-fire instructions. Enjoy!
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Rest in Peace dear Soul! Thanks for the fun memories when,as a very young girl, my family and I would "play with Uncle Lou" at The Concord! My parents honeymooned at Grossingers, and loved him as well! Now you get to REALLY play with HaShem------R.I.P. M.A,
ReplyDeleteI saw him many times at Grossinger's however nice he seemed on stage or performing, once he finished, he would not give you the time of day. I once saw him walking through the lobby and as he passed I said that I enjoyed his show and he just kept walking and said something like "I'm not on now". I did not walk up to him while he was eating or swimming or even ask for an autograph. I thought it rude of him. Anyway, he's gone now and may he rest in peace...Simon Says "May he rest in peace".
ReplyDeleteA treasured memory. Thanks for sharing it as we mourn his passing.
DeleteI was employed at grossingers,(1972) as one of lou's assistants. I will say that lou was an excellent commedian but off stage a snob. He also disliked kids.
DeleteI likewise was one of Lou's assistants at Grossinger's & can concur with the above statement. Whenever there were kids in the vicinity he would give them a hateful look. An excellent entertainer, a sob to work for.
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