Who was Al Jolson?
Q: Who was Al Jolson?
A: Al Jolson was a Lithuanian-American singer and actor whose career lasted from 1911 until his death in 1950. He was called "the world's greatest entertainer” and had a singing style that was "sentimental [and] melodramatic".
Q: What movie did Jolson star in?
A: Jolson starred in the first (full length) talking movie, The Jazz Singer, which was released in 1927. He also starred in many other musical movies during the 1930s.
Q: What awards did The Jolson Story win?
A: The Jolson Story, a movie about Jolson's life, won Oscars in 1946.
Q: How did he influence famous singers?
A: Al Jolson influenced many famous singers including Bing Crosby Judy Garland, rock and country entertainer Jerry Lee Lewis, and Bob Dylan. Dylan said that he could feel the life of Al Jolson.
Q: What did he do during World War II?
A: After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Al Jolson became the first star to entertain troops overseas during World War II. Again in 1950 became the first star to perform for GIs in Korea and did 42 shows in 16 days.
Q: Why did he wear blackface makeup? A: Al Jolsen wore blackface makeup as it was a theatrical convention used by performers mid-19th century to portray African American characters or sing African American music like jazz and blues.
Q: How did his performances help pave the way for black performers? A:Jolsen's well-known theatrics and promotion of equality on Broadway helped pave the way for many black performers, playwrights, and songwriters such as Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington , Fats Waller ,and Ethel Waters .
