Bumping into History

Born in 1916 to Jewish immigrants, Paul Barlin graduates from high school and is dumped into the Depression. From that point on, his life is interwoven with historical events of Depression era America. In his own words, Barlin tells of coping with “Christian Only” notices in the scarce want ads, unfair treatment from union busting industries, and his own personal struggles with male-female relationships. He hitchikes across the country to see what he can of America, following closely the progress of the Spanish Civil War and Hitler’s aggressive takeover of Europe. He finds his voice when he joins a theater group formed with Works Progress Administration funds and, later, when he discovers self-expression through dance. In Los Angeles, he makes history of his own with a landmark change in California’s adoption law.