Great Entertainers
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Great Entertainers Al Jolson Al Jolson Star of stage, screen, radio and vaudeville, Al Jolson billed himself as ‘The World’s Greatest Entertainer’ and who could argue? Working in blackface, he sang songs about his southern ‘Mammy’ with a passion that endeared him to Broadway audiences. His voice, a leathery blend of ringing brass and amber warmth with a sob in it, was probably the most imitated and parodied in the world. As a musical comedy star, he belted out songs like ‘Swanee’ and ‘Is It True What They Say About Dixie?” with flair and vitality; and always demanding applause for his songs and jokes, he was rarely disappointed. ‘Electric’, ‘dynamic energy’ and ‘like a cyclone’ were some of the terms used to describe his performances on stage; and after singing for three hours with incredible energy, he could still call out: “You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!' Though kind and sentimental, he left much to be desired as a human being. His was an enormous ego. He could be arrogant, surly and a braggart and many of his contemporaries disliked him. But he was a giant in the entertainment world, a hit maker, and always last on the bill because no one could follow him. Though four times married, the love of his life was an audience - any audience. He needed applause the way a diabetic needs insulin. Al Jolson did not just sing songs - he rattled your backbone and made you want to get up and dance. He was the greatest entertainer the world has ever known. The Career of Al Jolson The Al Jolson story is typical American rags-to-riches. Born as Asa Yoelson, an immigrant son of a Russian Jewish Cantor, he rose from poverty to international fame and wealth. Beginning as a youth in bur- lesque, vaudeville and minstrel shows, he rose to be a musical comedy star on Broadway, filling the Winter Garden for two decades. As an entertainer he was a pioneer. First to take a top-class Broadway show on tour, first to make a talking picture, first to entertain the troops in three wars, first to have two films made of his life, and the first to cut a long-playing record. He sang the first songs by an ambitious youngster called Irving Berlin and gave George Gershwin his first big break. His love affair with an audience lasted for four decades. He was married four times and his first two wives cited his audience as the other woman. Al Jolson was not everyone’s favourite person but the troops he entertained in World War II loved him. The release of The Jolson Story in 1946, a film biography of his life starring Larry Parks, resurrected his sagging career and he became immensely popular with a new generation of admirers. At the end of 1947 he was voted the most popular male singer on radio. A successful film sequel, Jolson Sings Again, was made in 1949 and with war erupting in Korea, Jolson again went off to entertain the troops. On the night of his death on 23 October 1950 they turned out the lights of Broadway and the traffic in Times Square came to a halt - Al Jolson was not just a great singer, he was a giant of the entertainment industry. Musical Medleys 52 Medley By the Light of the Silvery Moon - (Madden & Edwards) Baby Face - (Shuttleworth, Yates, Wright, Akst & Davies) Rock-A-Bye Your Baby - (Lewis, Young & Schwartz) California Here I Come - (Mercer) Give My Regards to Broadway - (Cohen) April Showers - (De Silva & Silver) 53 Medley Swanee - (Gershwin & Caesar) Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye (Erdman, Kahn & Russo) You Made Me Love You (Monaco) I Only Have Eyes For You - (Dubin & Warren) Anniversary Song (Jolson & Chaplin - theme by Ivanovici) Chapter One: Blackface ‘Blackface with a Grand Opera Voice’ And then there came on the scene a young man, vibrantly pulsing with life and courage, who marched on the stage, head held high with the authority of a Roman emperor, with a gaiety that was militant, uninhibit- ed, and unafraid, and told the world that a Jew in America did not have to sing in sorrow but could shout happily about Dixie, about the Night Boat to Albany, about coming to California, about a girl in Avalon. And when he cried ‘Mammy’, it was in appreciation, not lament.' George Jessel Jolson was born Asa Yoelson, the fourth surviving child of Cantor Moses and Naomi Yoelson in Srednik, a small village in Russian Lithua- nia. The year may have been 1886 - the exact date is uncertain. Rose was the eldest child, followed by Etta, and then Hirsch who was three years older than his brother Asa. Pearl Sieben: 'Russia in those years was the land of the progrom and the Cossack. Since the assassination of Alexander II in 1881, the lot of the Jew in Russia had steadily worsened. Life for the Yoelsons was happy, but hovering over them was the impending threat of violence.' Al Jolson: 'Early life? Well, very early in my life I was born in Russia and named Asa Yoelson. That’s what they tell me. Personally, I don’t remember it. I bet I was left in a basket on a doorstep. I’m Skeezix for all I know. There’s nothing much to tell about me.' Asa was four years old when his father left for America hoping to quickly put down roots. It took another four years before he had saved enough money to pay steerage passage for his family to join him. During the journey the family transferred ship at Liverpool where Asa got lost and was brought back to their lodgings by a policeman. They sailed for America on the Umbria the next day and arrived at Ellis Island in April 1894, seasick and disheveled. 'It was a terrible trip,' Asa related many years later. Moses, who was waiting for the family on the quayside, took them by train to Washington where he had found a job as a cantor in a synagogue - his original ambition to be an opera singer had only been a dream. Settled in a flat over a feed store, the family quickly learned the new customs. It was a tough neighbourhood and the boys joined the local gang. Hirsch and Asa sang the ‘Kol Nidre’ at the synagogue but Moses was horrified when they came home singing about ‘Sweet Marie’. He gave them singing lessons, pointing out that each note was a praise to the Lord. Hirsch sang pleasantly enough but Asa was something special - he instinctively knew that singing came from the stomach, not just from the throat. Naomi was often ill but no one realised how desperately so. Nine months after their arrival in America, Asa came home from school one day to be led along with his brother into her room just in time to see the doctor pulling the sheet over her head. Asa just turned and ran. The funeral was held within twelve hours in accordance with Jewish law and in the bitterly cold wind, unable to hold back the tears, Asa dabbed at his eyes with little fists covered by socks. Pearl Sieben: 'Al Jolson was born at the age of eight in the streets of Washington, DC.' Rose took on the mantle of ‘little mother’ while Moses wrote to his wife’s cousin Hessi in the old country, proposing marriage. Hessi ac- cepted by return of post. The girls welcomed their new mother but the boys were resentful. Hessi lacked Naomi’s sense of humour though she tried hard to win them over but they did eventually grow fond of her. Al Reeves billed himself as ‘The World’s Greatest Banjoist and Come- dian’ when he appeared at the Lyceum Theatre, Washington. He cer- tainly impressed the Yoelson brothers with his ‘big finish’, and they applauded when he exclaimed: 'Give me credit, boys.' Hirsch and Asa Yoelson had discovered show business. The Yoelson brothers worked on various moneymaking schemes - singing in the street, selling water melons together, and in competition selling newspapers from street corners. They began to earn dimes and quarters singing popular songs to high officials who sat sipping cool long drinks on the veranda in front of the Hotel Raleigh. The sadder the songs, the more they earned and they used the money to get into the local Bijou theatre. The boys began to frequent burlesque shows, became rebellious, smoked, and played hookey. Their father called the theatres 'dens of sin', described ragtime as 'loafer music', and regarded theatre music as less than respectable - not like grand opera. He probably didn’t know half of what his two boys got up to. Hirsch changed his name to Harry, and Asa called himself Al. Harry later explained: 'As Asa and Hirsch we were Jewish boys. As Al and Harry we were Americans.' Harry always got the blame for leading his younger brother astray so at the age of fifteen he took himself off to New York. Harry told Al: 'Look, you heard of Broadway . in New York. I’m gonna go there an’ try an’ get into show business. Soon as I get started I’ll send for you.' Some months later when he had heard nothing from him, Al followed suit by hopping on a freight. Unable to find Harry, he sold newspapers and shined shoes for a few cents. As Al said later: 'You get awfully hungry at twelve years of age.' Walking down Broadway one day, Al heard blonde singer Fay Temple- ton rehearsing a song: 'Rosie, You Are My Posie.' When she had finished he couldn’t get the song out of his head and as he walked he got hungrier and hungrier until he reached a grimy restaurant on the Bowery called McGirks.