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Al Jolson

File:Al_Jolson_-_publicity.JPG · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ128532· pop 39· linked from 1,033 articles

Lithuanian-born American entertainer, actor, and singer (1886–1950)

Person · Open Library

Born
1886
Died
1950
Works
2

Top works

  • The best of Al Jolson
  • You ain't heard nothing yet

via Open Library + Wikidata

Film & TV

Acting · Sredniki, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Seredžius, Lithuania]

​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…

Known for

  • O Filme que Fala — Jakie Rabinowitz (archive footage)2026
  • Gene Kelly - An American in Hollywood — Self (archive footage)2025
  • Sunshine State — Self (archive footage)2022
  • The Real Charlie Chaplin — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)2021
  • Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty — archive footage2020
  • Vito — Self (archive)2011
  • The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk — Self (archive footage)2007
  • Vaudeville — Self (archive footage)1997
  • Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To — (archive footage)1990
  • Going Hollywood: The '30s — (archive footage)1984

via TMDB

Listeners · Last.fm

Listeners
107,577
Total plays
635,931

Tags

jazz20soldiesmusic hallmale vocalists

Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson; c. 26 May 1886 [Old Style] / 9 June 1886 [New Style] – 23 October 1950) was an American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. He was among the most prominent and highest-paid entertainers in the United States during the 1910s and 1920s, and was known for his emotive and theatrical performance style, which contributed to the popularisation of many songs he performed. His influence on early 20th-century musical theatre has been noted by historians and critics <a h

via Last.fm · Al Jolson

Academic profile · OpenAlex

25h-index
Works
235
Cited by
2,564

Research areas

MedicineDentistryPhysicsMathematicsEngineering

via OpenAlex · CC0

Key facts

Born
Asa Yoelson , May 26, 1886, Sredniki , Russian Empire
Died
October 23, 1950 (1950-10-23) (aged 64), San Francisco , California, U.S.
Resting place
Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupations
Singer comedian actor vaudevillian
Years active
1897–1950
Political party
Republican
Children
3 (all adopted)
Genres
Jazz blues ragtime pop
Labels
Victor Columbia Little Wonder Brunswick Decca
Website
jolson .org

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official website
www.jolson.org
Image
Al Jolson - publicity.JPG
Show 10 more facts
Commons category
Al Jolson
date of birth
1886-05-26
date of death
1950-10-23
Commons gallery
Al Jolson
name in native language
Al Jolson
start of work period
1897-00-00
pseudonym
Al Jolson
birth name
Asa Yoelson
end of work period
1950-00-00
Sources (6)

via Wikidata · CC0

~40 min read

Article

Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson, Yiddish: אַסאַ יואלסאָן; c. May 26, 1886 (O.S.) June 9, 1886 (N.S.) – October 23, 1950) was an American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian.

Self-billed as "The World's Greatest Entertainer", Jolson was one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1910s and 1920s. He was known for his "shamelessly sentimental, melodramatic approach" towards performing, along with popularizing many of the songs he sang. According to music historian Larry Stempel, "No one had heard anything quite like it before on Broadway." Stephen Banfield wrote that Jolson's style was "arguably the single most important factor in defining the modern musical." Jolson has been referred to by modern critics as "the king of blackface performers".

Gallery (13)

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