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Topic Pages contain an overview, definitions, biographies, related topics, images, plus links to relevant articles and other content provided by your library. Topic Page: Jolson, Al Asa Yoelson (1886 - 1950)

Definition: Jolson, Al from Philip's Encyclopedia

US music hall singer, remembered for his sentimental renditions of "Swanee" and "Mammy". He starred in the first 'talkie', The Jazz Singer (1927).

Summary Article: Jolson, Al (Asa Yoelson) (c.1886-1950)
from Chambers Film Factfinder

Lithuanian, born in Srednike. Arriving in the USA as a child, he ran away from home to join the circus and became a stellar Broadway attraction before making his film debut in the short April Showers (1926). An inveterate showman, his exuberant patter and heart-tugging songs in the landmark part-talkie The Jazz Singer (1927) ensured his place in cinema history.

Career highs

The Jazz Singer (1927), The Singing Fool (1928), Mammy (1930)

Career lows

Say It with Songs (1929), The Singing Kid (1936)

A Film of Few Words

The Jazz Singer (1927) is famous for being the first feature film to contain dialogue, but its makers originally intended it to feature only recorded music and songs. As it happened, Al Jolson's ad-libbing worked so well that they decided to keep it in; however, the film still only contains two short talking sequences, with a total of 354 words spoken.

"Jolson, Al (Asa Yoelson) (c.1886-1950)." In Chambers Film Factfinder. Chambers Harrap, 2006. https://search.credoreference.com/content/topic/jolson_al_1886_1950
Jolson, Al (Asa Yoelson) (c.1886-1950). (2006). In Chambers film factfinder. [Online]. London: Chambers Harrap. Available from: https://search.credoreference.com/content/topic/jolson_al_1886_1950 [Accessed 20 February 2019].
"Jolson, Al (Asa Yoelson) (c.1886-1950)." Chambers Film Factfinder, Chambers Harrap, 1st edition, 2006. Credo Reference, https://search.credoreference.com/content/topic/jolson_al_1886_1950. Accessed 20 Feb. 2019.
Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd 2006

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You ain't heard nothin' yet, folks. In the film The Jazz Singer , July 1927; later adopted as a catch phrase by...

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He sang in circuses, vaudevilles, and minstrel shows, becoming famous for his blacked-up face and the song Mammy. In 1927 he...

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