Emanuel Schlechter (pseudonyms Eman, Olgierd Lech) (Emanuel Szlechter) (9 October 1904 â 1943) was born and died in Lwów. He was a Polish-Jewish artist, lyricist, screenwriter, librettist, writer, satirist, translator, composer and director.
His father was a house painter in Lwów. The family name of his mother was Begeleiter. Emanuel's brother was Emil Henryk Szlechter (1906-1995), an expert in the laws of Sumeria, Babylonia and Assyria. When Szlechter was 14 years old, he joined the Maà Âopolskie Oddziaà Ây Armii Ochotniczej (Lesser Poland's Volunteer Army) and during summer 1920 he participated in the defense of Lwów.
After passing his matura exam around 1923 he studied law at the Jan Kazimierz University in Lwów and worked briefly in a law firm. His earliest lyrics were written for Leon Borunski's songs, staged at the Morskie Oko theater's Parada gwiazd show in 1930, performed and recorded by Syrena Rekord star Kazimierz Krukowski.
In 1931, Schlechter created the Lwów Academic Theatre Zà Âoty pieprzyk (Golden mole). One of his first revues, Co sà Âychaàw wielkim à Âwiecie (What's going on in the big world) included his first hit song, à »oà Ânierska braÃÂ. He performed as a singer in the Lwów cafes of Musa and Roma, accompanied by the pianist Julius Gabla. He also wrote columns for newspapers.
Around 1932, he moved permanently to Warsaw. In 1933, he wrote the screenplay and songs for the first Polish film operetta Kaà ¼demu wolno kochaà(Everyone is allowed to love), directed by Mieczysà Âaw Krawicz. He worked at the Rex theater writing songs, revues, sketches, scenarios, satirical songs and monologues. Between 1933 and 1935 he recorded as a singer and guitarist, as himself or using the nickname of Olgierd Lech. He made a series of "Jewish" records including like Awremaà Âe (Avremele), à Âpiewak sobotni, Rabi Eli-Melech (Rabbi Elimelech), Alef Bet (Oyfn Pripetchok), and à »ydowskie wesele (Yidishe khasene). One of the most popular songs by Schlechter was Srulek. He worked with the Columbia and Odeon orchestras. In 1934 he wrote for La Bohème theater, collaborating with Konrad Tom.
He wrote lyrics of many songs featured in Polish pre-war films including Parada rezerwistów, Kobiety na sprzedaà ¼, Trójka hultajska, Kocha, lubi, szanuje, Czy Lucyna to dziewczyna?, Co mój mÃ à ¼ robi w nocy, Jaà Ânie pan szofer, Dodek na froncie, Jego wielka mià Âoà ÂÃÂ, Skà Âamaà Âam, KsiÃ à ¼Ã tko, Wyrok à ¼ycia, Robert i Bertranda, and Czarna perà Âa. He wrote screenplays of Antek policmajster (with Konrad Tom and Michaà  Waszyà Âski), BÃÂdzie lepiej (with Ludwik Starski and Michaà  Waszyà Âski), Jadzia (with Karol Jarossy and Mieczysà Âaw Krawicz), Ja tu rzàdzà(with Ludwik Starski and Mieczysà Âaw Krawicz), Królowa przedmieà Âcia (with Jerzy Nel and Eugeniusz Bodo), PiÃÂtro wyà ¼ej (with Ludwik Starski, Eugeniusz Bodo, and Leon Trystan), SzczÃÂà Âliwa trzynastka (with Ludwik Starski, Aleksander PÃÂkalski, and Marian Czauski), and Wà ÂóczÃÂgi (with Konrad Tom and Michaà  Waszyà Âski).
Starting in 1935 he worked with the Cyrulik Warszawski and Maà Âe Qui pro Quo theaters.
Some of his hits included:
In September 1939, during the German and Soviet invasion of Poland Schlechter was working at the Lwów Teatr Miniatura as an actor, writer and director. He was known for his anti-Nazi satires.
However, after the Germans occupied Lwów in 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, Schlechter was sent to the Lviv ghetto. He was then transferred to the Janowska concentration camp where he was part of its artistic life, participating in literary evenings. Schlechter most likely died in Janowska in 1942, along with his wife and young son, although it is possible that he managed to survive until 1943.