Welcome to Kutsher's: The Last Catskills Resort

I looked forward to the day that this terrific documentary would be released. When it was available on the iTunes store, I immediately rented it. The movie is both a history lesson and a trip down memory lane. I was fortunate to be a guest at Kutsher's, and to work at the resort for a short time. My grandparents, who worked hard to earn a living while living in a small apartment in Brooklyn, would travel by bus to Monticello to spent time as guests at Kutsher's. On a number of occasions, I was fortunate enough to be asked to join them. I can remember the excitement I felt when our taxi pulled up to the main entrance to view the large illuminated Kutsher's sign shinning brightly!

This film brings back so many great memories of the resort, and the fun that we had. The footage of the pool area, people sitting around the lake, the nightly shows, the events of each day, and the wonderful food, were just some of the great memories that were brought back to life. I could picture my grandparents taking advantage of all that Kutsher's had to offer. Since both of my grandparents have passed away, I felt a variety of emotions ranging from the shedding of a tear to smiling.

The interviews with family members and the staff at Kutsher's provided more of a behind the scenes look at the resort, which was both informative and interesting. The resort was truly a family business.

Times do change, and the film talks about the decline of a resort was no longer able to remain open. The tearing down of this historic resort was difficult to watch, however, it was a necessary part of the documentary. Thanks to the film makers for doing some thorough research, and for providing a documentary that anyone who has spent time at Kutsher's will thoroughly enjoy!

This is a well-researched documentary by Ian Rosenberg (the director, not to be confused with Ian Rosenberg jewellery maker) and his wife Caroline, which charts the history of the Jewish Catskills resorts and the current experiences at the last ever resort, Kutsher's. It looks at the Jewish American holiday experience, which changed from having no holiday at all to visiting the luxury hotels in the Catskills that provided everything you could ever need.

It provides excellent first-hand information, such as the fact that the dining rooms were semi-Kosher – Matzo Ball soup was actually labelled Consommé Ontos. The film also looks at the repercussions of national and international travel becoming easier, as the Catskills became less popular as a holiday resort destination. The resorts remain popular in the public imagination, though, with the resorts inspiring films such as Dirty Dancing.

The documentary includes snippets of information from various characters in Kutsher's history, including Helen Kutsher (one of the original Kutshers), and her son Mark (who is now the Chief Executive Officer of the resort).

You can tell that the film has had a lot of love put into it by Ian Rosenberg, with the documentary taking 5 years to make. It is especially poignant, as it was Kutsher's 100th anniversary when filming started in 2007. Unfortunately, its future looks uncertain, but Rosenberg has made a documentary that will keep the memory of the Catskill resorts alive forever.

When I watched "Welcome to Kutsher's: The Last Catskills Resort", I assumed that the documentary would be about the Borsht Belt resorts....and at the beginning it was. However, as the film progressed, it tended to be much more specifically about Kutsher's and the folks who worked there. While this would be VERY interesting to these workers and folks who have stayed there at the resort, the film really didn't do much to give the history of the Catskill resorts in general. So, if you have no direct connection with Kutsher's, you might find all this specific information a bit uninteresting after a while. I didn't dislike the film...just felt it was for a very specific audience.

By the way, if you do watch, you're bound to enjoy the comedian whose routines punctuate the film....he was quite enjoyable.

Me, irish born in catskill ny treated attackd at birth like the biggest polititician jew nov 1966. Vietnam war and a few entertainers in the mountains singing and dancing joining in on rapes and tortures 240 mansion street. 1966 67 and years after. Actors bringing their kids over and of coarse the big little jew with the lie of having a problem which was nwo treason criminals and their double life espionage behaviors of me with rapes, guns, starvation and control. Then worry about hollywood or broadway they did that too. More actors came. 1966 to today the area is odd with aftermath stories in the news crimes neo smell in all. Unfairness of attacks and then continuing the lies and being state police officers and then using hospitals and nursers just to continue hurting sterritt family they attacked and followed. - facts are missing and facts of writers songs and natural kids and good ideas. Cruel came and bye to normal relaxing and life good for all. The lies ignorance never bliss. Locks on doors came when these places closed.

This documentary is a coherent story broken up in chapters that focused on different aspects of this Catskill resort. Every thing was covered, including insight as to what originally made the area such a resort "hot spot". Although the largest resort compound, you knew other resorts of the area offered similar features-like 3 Kosher meals a day, entertainment, pool, golf course all included in the hotel price. Kutsher's stood out because it was so large and operated by generations of Kutshers. Several family members were interviewed, as were many guests & veteran employees.

The entire story (including it's demise) played out like our lives have-this era of family run, personal attention, unique businesses that were common have been pushed by the wayside for the big homogenized business cash grab. (BTW, if you too lament the loss of these owner operated resorts, they still can be found in the Lake George/Bolton Landing NY area).

Obviously I really enjoyed WELCOME TO KUTSHER'S, although it was rather sad knowing it's gone now.