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Al Jolson (born Asa Yoelson, Yiddish: אַסאַ יואלסאָן; May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-born American singer, actor, and vaudevillian.. He was one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1920s, [2] and was self-billed as "The World's Greatest Entertainer". [3]
Newlyweds Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler aboard the Olympic in September 1928 Una Merkel, Ruby Keeler, and Ginger Rogers in 42nd Street (1933). Around 1923, when she was around 14 years old, she was hired by Nils Granlund, the publicity manager for Loews Theaters, who also served as the stage-show producer for Texas Guinan at Larry Fay's El Fay nightclub, a speakeasy frequented by gangsters.
The Jolson Story is a 1946 American biographical musical film, a highly fictionalized account of the life of singer Al Jolson.It stars Larry Parks as Jolson, Evelyn Keyes as Julie Benson (approximating Jolson's wife, Ruby Keeler), William Demarest as his performing partner and manager, Ludwig Donath and Tamara Shayne as his parents, and Scotty Beckett as the young Jolson.
When Columbia was preparing a screen biography of Al Jolson, many big-name stars were considered for the title role, including James Cagney and Danny Thomas (both of whom turned it down), but resident contractee Larry Parks was reportedly the first actor to be interviewed. Parks impressed the producers and won the role.
The Shubert Brothers engaged Al Jolson for his first Broadway appearance in La Belle Paree, which was the first show to play at their new Winter Garden Theatre. [5] The piece concerned Bridgeeta McShane, a wealthy American widow visiting Paris for her health, who meets a number of suitors and eccentric characters, including Erastus Sparkler, played by Jolson. [4]
The cast included Brian Conley as Jolson, Sally Ann Triplett as Keeler, John Bennett as Epstein, Julie Armstrong, Alison Carter & Helen McNee as The Rooney Sisters. An original cast album was recorded live during the performances of February 29, March 1, and March 2, 1996 and released by First Night Records.
Psychologists Arthur and Elaine Aron are known for research behind the “36 Questions That Lead to Love.” They share how their relationship has lasted over 50 years.
As with theater, she continued to play ingenue parts, often as the fiancé of the leading man. She played the love interest to both Al Jolson and Frank Morgan in the 1933 film Hallelujah, I'm a Bum. Working for MGM in the 1930s, she appeared in Dinner at Eight (1933), Broadway to Hollywood (1933), Hell Below (1933), and David Copperfield (1935).