Al Jolson

Skådespelare

26 maj 1886 — 23 oktober 1950 (64 år)
​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson; May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-born American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. 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.

Filmer och Serier på Plex

  • Life Itself
    Life Itself2014
  • Jazzsångaren
    Jazzsångaren1927
  • Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace
    Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace2019

Känd för

  • Jazzsångaren
    Jazzsångaren1927
  • Casino de Paris
    Casino de Paris1935
  • The Singing Kid
    The Singing Kid1936
  • Säg det med sång
    Säg det med sång1929
  • Big Boy
    Big Boy1930
  • Salsa
    Salsa1976
  • Minstrel Days
    Minstrel Days1941

Filmography

2020
2019
Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace · as Jakie Rabinowitz In The Jazz SingerPå Plex
2014
Life Itself · as Jakie Rabinowitz (footage From 'the Jazz Singer')På Plex
2011
Vito · as Al Wonder
2009
2009
2008
Warner at War · as Jakie Rabinowitz
1990
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home to · as (archive Footage)
1984
Going Hollywood: The '30s · as (archive Footage)
1982
Showbiz Goes to War · as (archive Footage)
1976
Salsa · as (archive Footage)
1961
Hollywood: The Golden Years · as Actor 'the Jazz Singer'
1959
1953
1952
The Story of Will Rogers · as Al Jolson - Clip From 'rhapsody In Blue'
1946
The Jolson Story · as Singing Voice / Al Jolson (uncredited)
1944
Wilson · as Al Jolson - At Wwi Rally
1941
Minstrel Days · as Jakie: Edited From 'the Jazz Singer'
1939
Swanee River · as Edwin P. Christy
1939
Rose of Washington Square · as Ted Cotter
1936
The Singing Kid · as Al Jackson
1935
Go Into Your Dance · as Al Howard
1934
Wonder Bar · as Al Wonder
1933
1930
Big Boy · as Gus
1930
Show Girl in Hollywood · as Al Jolsen
1930
Mammy · as Al Fuller
1929
Say It with Songs · as Joe Lane
1928
The Singing Fool · as Al Stone
1927
The Jazz Singer · as Jakie RabinowitzPå Plex

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