Al Jolson

Al Jolson

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1886-05-26
Deathday: 1950-10-23 (64 years old)

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Biography

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Al Jolson (May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer".He was born in the Russian Empire (the part of which is now in Lithuania) and emigrated to America at the age of five with his Jewish parents.


His performing style was brash and extroverted, and he popularized a large number of songs that benefited from his "shamelessly sentimental, melodramatic approach". Numerous well-known singers were influenced by his music, including Bing Crosby Judy Garland, rock and country entertainer Jerry Lee Lewis, and Bob Dylan, who once referred to him as "somebody whose life I can feel". Broadway critic Gilbert Seldes compared him to "the Great God Pan," claiming that Jolson represented "the concentration of our national health and gaiety."


In the 1930s, he was America's most famous and highest paid entertainer. Between 1911 and 1928, Jolson had nine sell-out Winter Garden shows in a row, more than 80 hit records, and 16 national and international tours. Although he's best remembered today as the star in the first (full length) talking movie, The Jazz Singer in 1927, he later starred in a series of successful musical films throughout the 1930s. After a period of inactivity, his stardom returned with the 1946 Oscar-winning biographical film, The Jolson Story. Larry Parks played Jolson with the songs dubbed in with Jolson’s real voice. A sequel, Jolson Sings Again, was released in 1949, and was nominated for three Oscars. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Jolson became the first star to entertain troops overseas during World War II, and again in 1950 became the first star to perform for G.I.s in Korea, doing 42 shows in 16 days. He died just weeks after returning to the U.S., partly due to the physical exertion of performing. Defense Secretary George Marshall afterward awarded the Medal of Merit to Jolson's family.


He enjoyed performing in blackface makeup – a theatrical convention since the mid-19th century. With his unique and dynamic style of singing black music, like jazz and blues, he was later credited with single-handedly introducing African-American music to white audiences. As early as 1911 he became known for fighting against anti-black discrimination on Broadway. Jolson's well-known theatrics and his promotion of equality on Broadway helped pave the way for many black performers, playwrights, and songwriters, including Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and Ethel Waters.


Description above from the Wikipedia article Al Jolson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Filmography

all 41

Movies 40

self 20

TV Shows 1

ArchiveFootage
1929: The Great Crash

1929: The Great Crash (2009)

Movie
Self (archive footage)
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk

The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk (2007)

Movie
Songs
Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder (1990)

Movie
3.5
(archive footage)
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To

Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To (1990)

Movie
(archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s

Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984)

Movie
(archive footage)
Showbiz Goes to War

Showbiz Goes to War (1982)

Movie
(archive footage)
Salsa

Salsa (1976)

Movie
Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975)

Movie
(archive footage)
Hollywood and the Stars

Hollywood and the Stars (1964)

Movie
Self (archive footage)
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino

The Legend of Rudolph Valentino (1961)

Movie
Startime

Startime (1959)

TV
Self
I Never Forget a Face

I Never Forget a Face (1956)

Movie
Al Jolson (archive footage) (uncredited)
Purple Heart Diary

Purple Heart Diary (1951)

Movie
Self (archive footage)
The Golden Twenties

The Golden Twenties (1950)

Movie
Himself (singing voice) (uncredited)
Jolson Sings Again

Jolson Sings Again (1949)

Movie
Self - edited from 'The Jazz Singer'
Let's Go to the Movies

Let's Go to the Movies (1949)

Movie
Jack Robin
Okay for Sound

Okay for Sound (1946)

Movie
Al Jolson
Rhapsody in Blue

Rhapsody in Blue (1945)

Movie
Himself
Take It or Leave It

Take It or Leave It (1944)

Movie
Self (segment 'The Jazz Singer') (archive footage)
The Voice That Thrilled the World

The Voice That Thrilled the World (1943)

Movie
Self
Show-Business at War

Show-Business at War (1943)

Movie
Edwin P. Christy
Swanee River

Swanee River (1939)

Movie
Al Jolson
Hollywood Cavalcade

Hollywood Cavalcade (1939)

Movie
Ted Cotter
Rose of Washington Square

Rose of Washington Square (1939)

Movie
Al Jolson
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8

Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 8 (1939)

Movie
Al Jolson
Hollywood Handicap

Hollywood Handicap (1938)

Movie
Al Jolson
Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12

Screen Snapshots: Series 16, No. 12 (1937)

Movie
Al Jolson (uncredited)
A Day at Santa Anita

A Day at Santa Anita (1937)

Movie
Al Jackson
The Singing Kid

The Singing Kid (1936)

Movie
Al Howard
Go Into Your Dance

Go Into Your Dance (1935)

Movie
Self
Studio Highlights

Studio Highlights (1934)

Movie
Al Wonder
Wonder Bar

Wonder Bar (1934)

Movie
Bumper
Hallelujah, I'm a Bum

Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (1933)

Movie
Gus
Big Boy

Big Boy (1930)

Movie
Al Jolsen
Show Girl in Hollywood

Show Girl in Hollywood (1930)

Movie
Al Fuller
Mammy

Mammy (1930)

Movie
Al Jolson
New York Nights

New York Nights (1929)

Movie
Joe Lane
Say It with Songs

Say It with Songs (1929)

Movie
Al Stone
The Singing Fool

The Singing Fool (1928)

Movie
Jakie Rabinowitz
The Jazz Singer

The Jazz Singer (1928)

Movie
Self
A Plantation Act

A Plantation Act (1926)

Movie

Ratings

Average 5.11
Based on 141 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1926
1935
1943
1939
2009
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Al JolsonAl JolsonAl Jolson

Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Male

Birthday
1886-05-26

Deathday
1950-10-23 (64 years old)

Birth Name
Asa Yoelson

Birth Place
Seredžius, Lithuania

Relationships
Ruby Keeler (1928-01-01 - 1940-01-01)

Siblings
Harry Jolson

Citizenships
Russian Empire, United States of America

Awards
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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