[78-L] Al Jolson's fame

[Thomas Brown]

AND...he made one of the most amazing comebacks ever!  The revival of his career, spurred by his wartime entertaining for the troops and Columbia's film bio, was amazing, and he was still riding the wave when he died.  He may not be to everyone''s taste, and certainly he was hated by many, but his success was tremendous.
 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: David Lennick <dlennick at sympatico.ca>
To: 78-L Mail List <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Fri, Apr 25, 2014 2:23 pm
Subject: Re: [78-L] Al Jolson's fame


Even within the 3 minute limitation of a recording, Jolson could put across the 
energy and spirit of stage performances. There are a couple of Columbias where 
he banters with the conductor (Prince, probably). Hardly a minor recording 
artist since he was on Columbia for ten years before Brunswick offered him the 
moon and the "world's greatest entertainer" label credit. He was dropped by 
1932, but so was just about everybody.


dl

On 4/25/2014 2:18 PM, Ron L'Herault wrote:
> According to Geoge Jessel, Jolson was an excellent monologist.  He was well
> known and loved for the comedy he did as well as for his (in my opinion)
> amazing singing.    When you consider that many early audience members
> traveled only by public transportation in the early 1900s, it is mind
> boggling to remember that Jolson's audiences were perfectly willing to sit
> and listen to Jolson perform long after the last subway/streetcars had
> stopped running!  He had incredible energy in his movement/dancing.  Moves
> that we still see people doing today, Jolson did first as far as I can tell.
>
> Ron L
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
> [mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of Cary Ginell
> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 3:50 PM
> To: 78-L Mail List
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Al Jolson's fame
>
> Definitely vaudeville and minstrel shows, long before he ever started
> recording. He finally got to Broadway in 1911. Films were way off in the
> future for him - he was a recording star by the time he appeared in his
> first film.
>
> Cary Ginell
>
>
> On Apr 24, 2014, at 12:20 PM, Julian Vein<julianvein at blueyonder.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>> How did Jolson achieve his fame? Was it through his recordings (in
>> which he was a minor player), or his on-screen and music hall
> performances?
>>
>>       Julian Vein
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