Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt’s Roaring ’20s – Dr. Raphael Cormack

Smithsonian Associates, The Not Old Better Show Interview Series

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show.  I’m Paul Vogelzang.  As part of our Smithsonian Associates Art of Living interview series, our guest today is Dr. Raphael Cormack.  

Dr. Raphael Cormack has written a new book, Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt’s Roaring ’20s and will be introducing and reading a section from his book, which is excellent, getting great reviews, and absolutely a winner!

One of the world’s greatest 20th-century cosmopolitan cities, Cairo was a magnet for the ambitious and talented. During the 1920s and 30s, lively music, theater, film, and cabaret scene flourished, dominated by women—as stars but also as impresarios, entrepreneurs, owners, and promoters of the arts industry.

Buffeted by crosswinds of colonialism and nationalism, conservatism and liberalism, religious and secular values, patriarchy, and feminism, this new generation of celebrities offered a new vision for women in Egypt and throughout the Middle East.

Raphael Cormack, an award-winning editor, and translator pulls back the curtain on these boundary-breaking women in entertainment. Dr. Cormack unveils the rich histories of independent, enterprising figures like vaudeville star Rose al-Youssef who launched one of Cairo’s most important literary newspapers.  

That was Dr. Raphael Cormack reading from his new book, Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt’s Roaring ’20s 

Dr. Carmack will be presenting at the Smithsonian Associates program, entitled, Midnight in Cairo: The Divas of Egypt’s Roaring ’20s, May 20, and we have him today.  Please join me in welcoming Smithsonian Asssociate, Dr. Raphael Cormack.

My thanks to Dr. Raphael Cormack for joining us today. You’ll find links to Dr. Raphael Cormack’s Smithsonian Associates presentation on our website, along with more details. My thanks to the Smithsonian Associates team for all they do to support the show, and my special thanks to you, my wonderful Not Old Better Show audience. Please be safe, practice smart social distancing, get the vaccine, and Talk About Better. The Not Old Better Show. Thanks, everybody.

For more information about tickets and to register, please click: HERE:https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/midnight-in-cairo-divas-of-egypts-roaring-s