Beryl Bernay facts for kids

Beryl Bernay (born March 2, 1926 – died March 29, 2020) was an American journalist, artist, and photographer. She was also famous for creating and hosting children's television shows. She helped kids learn about different cultures around the world.

Early Life

Beryl Bernay was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were immigrants from Russia. Her father worked with clothes, and her mother taught kindergarten. Beryl changed her last name to Bernay when she grew up.

Acting and Stage Work

Beryl Bernay took acting classes. She performed on Broadway in New York City in plays like Tonight in Samarkand. She also toured in the United States and Canada with a show called The Dancers of Bali. She appeared on stage, television, and radio for many years. Her last stage role was in 2010 in the play The Miracle Worker.

Children's Television Creator

Beryl Bernay was the creative mind behind All Join Hands. This was America's first TV show for children that focused on international topics. She hosted the show with two puppets. They taught young viewers about cultures from different countries. They used storytelling, puppets, art, songs, and games.

The show was made by the United Nation's Children's Fund. It was shown on CBS from 1962 to 1965. Children from the United Nations International School and schools in Harlem and Chinatown were part of the studio audience.

Before All Join Hands, Bernay worked on other TV shows for kids. She learned how to draw on camera, tell stories, and use puppets. She used these skills on shows like Merry-Go-Round-the-World.

Here are some of the TV shows Beryl Bernay worked on:

Beryl Bernay also made records for children:

Journalism and Reporting

Beryl Bernay wrote and reported on events happening around the world. She started as a photojournalist, taking pictures and writing stories. Later, she became a reporter for the United Nations.

As a journalist, Bernay wrote about important topics. These included women in politics and human rights issues. Her articles and photos appeared in many well-known magazines and newspapers. Some of these were Newsweek, Time, Parade, and The New York Times.

Reporting from Indonesia

Bernay visited Indonesia every year from 1964 to 1978. Her first photography job there was in Bali in 1964. She met President Sukarno of Indonesia, and they started a professional relationship.

CBS, a major TV network, sent her to Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1965. She reported on the political changes happening there. Her photos of President Sukarno and General Suharto are now available through Getty Images. She also took beautiful landscape and cultural photos for a book about Bali.

Bernay also studied Cultural Anthropology with Dr. Margaret Mead at Columbia University. In 1977, Bernay went with Dr. Mead on her last research trip to Bali. Bernay's photos from this trip were shown at the Museum of Natural History in New York.

Civil Rights Coverage

In May 1968, Bernay covered the Poor People’s March in Washington, D.C. She reported daily from Resurrection City, a temporary camp set up after the march. Later that year, she helped with a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Museum of Modern Art.

Broadcast Work

Bernay's international reports were broadcast on many radio and television stations. These included NPR, ABC, and NBC Radio and Television.

Painting and Photography

Beryl Bernay was a talented painter and photographer. She studied art at places like Cooper Union and The Art Students League.

She took portraits of many famous people, including artists like Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall. She also photographed actors like Ingrid Bergman. Her international photos included places in the Far East, Mexico, and France. Her photos from Bali were shown in the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark.

Here are some of Beryl Bernay's art awards and exhibitions:

Death

Beryl Bernay passed away on March 29, 2020, at the age of 94. She died from COVID-19 in New York City.

See also

In Spanish: Beryl Bernay para niños