I just found this. I am 73 yrs old, and was the biggest Jolson fan as soon as I saw The Jolson Story. All my life, when I do what I call singing, I mimic Jolson. And when I do Jolson songs, it just makes me happy. Jolson's was a unique voice, a great voice, with great music. I'm glad I found out about this because I too feel he needs to be remembered and passed down. Well, let me go, I have to join IAJS. THANKS AGAIN!

My Dad went to see 'The Jazz Singer' in 1927 at a cinema in Mansfield, near Nottingham. He became a Jolson fan from then on. Twenty years later my Dad had become an entertainer, and part of his act was impersonating him. I was brought up with all the songs, and what wonderful songs they are

He was a favorite of my dad, who saw him preform at the Schubert Theater in Detroit. He told me he saw Jolson in “The Jazz Singer” several times and the lines to see it and actually hear Al Jolson stretched around the corner.

In 1946 my siblings and I were standing on the front lawn ready to go to the weekly movies at the Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena. The movie we were to see that particular day was "The Jolson Story," which we all were looking forward to seeing. My mother looked at me, felt my forehead, determined that I had a fever, and told me I needed to stay home and go to bed. Decades later I was able to see "The Jolson Story" on television. Al Jolson was part of my family's life during the 1940's. He was a gift to humanity.

I’m 20 soon to be 21 and am a huge Jolson fan

We were raised on old 78 records of The Greatest Entertainer and my love for Al shall never die x

Fantastic & True. I love Al Jolson (Love Asa Youlson) since I first heard his voice as a little boy. Still the greatest to me.

He came up the hard way and sung his way to the top. Beautiful Al.

This video is a great tribute to Al Jolson.

I think the greatness of his voice is best shown in his great recording of Some Enchanted Evening. I became a Jolson fan in the 90s when a friend gave me a cassette of the George Burns Show. Later I became a fan of Frank Sinatra. I do impressions of both of them at karaoke here in Lake Havasu Ciy. Thanks for posting this. Jolson was certainly no racist.

The songs he sung will never die

Entertainer through and through. My dad use to sing rock a bye your baby with a Dixie melody to me before bed and I've memorized the lyrics.

AJ was greatly bothered by the way black entertainers were treated at the time, and referenced it on a number of occasions. The man was the brightest star on Broadway, having not only a voice... but a soul. He was Way ahead of his time.

Great excerpt from this show with Milton Berle. I'm 65 now and Al Jolson is the only singer that can make me smile or bring a tear to my eyes. I loved him as a child as my mom used to sing his songs to me, I never outgrew him and never will. Thank you for keeping Jolie alive Marc Leavey.

My father in-law used to do the club's with his tribute act to him .he was very good and the lads in the vault of our local working men's club used to have a sing along .and would ask him to take us down the swanee river and sing them some songs.my fav was Rosie you are my Posie .but loved them all.Thank for this video he would have loved it

My mother played Jolson with me when I was a kid in the early 60s and I loved him. I'll never forget it. So great this podcast was well preserved for future generations.

I grew up listening to Jolson back in the 60s, and always loved his songs. when I watched the videos about his life here on KZfaq, I realized he had such a exciting career. even though his star dimmed for a while in the later part of the 30's, I'm glad he had a resurgence of popularity in the 40s . he obviously loved working and loved the applause of the people. will always appreciate his music .

I remember seeing the Jolson story on TV when I was very young and simply was awestruck with the sounds and music of Jolson.. Now more then fifty-five years later, I absolutely still love that sound and music of Jolson. Now, my grandchildren as well as my children know who he was. A few years ago, we all went to see the movie King Kong. And when the movie started and Jolson's voice came on signing "I'm sitting on top of the world" I felt all those eyes on me and when I turned they all were looking at me, knowing who was singing... they remembered... Jolson was the greatest entertainer, and I don't believe we will ever see another like him. Thanks for showing this. Thoroughly enjoyed it...

I am Black, from Washington, DC and my grandmother used to recall how the Jolson family lived around the corner in the SW area of the city and Jolson's brother would sometimes come to the house to borrow money. It was not uncommon to have a multi-ethnic neighborhood at that time. So, Jolson knew Blacks and respected them. Minstrel black face was part of old vaudeville at the time, good or bad. Note that he did not do black face later. Great video. Jolson was blessed with a "voice," like Sinatra.

I am 88 years+ from England, I have love Jolson for years. still play his music on my I pad.

Decent fella and a ground breaker.

This is great - thank you @marc leavey

Al Jolson was a great entertainer and sang lovely songs.He will always be remembered.

Jolson and Berle...easily the 2 biggest egos in show business history...ya had to love em..!!!

The work u are doing sir is some of the most important thing that the human species can do....ur wife maybe having a affair....u may be broke...ur friends and neighbors maybe laughing...but this podcast is worth the sacrifice!!!

When I was a kid in the 1960's my grandparents took me to a theater in Boston to see an All Jolson Impersonation contest. I think I was around 7 years old. My grandfather was a fan of minstrel shows. I had no idea what they were about. So One after another the contestants got and sang one or two songs, some played the piano and some strummed a banjo while singing. Most stood there in the classic Al Jolson pose with their hands clasped together at their chest and all sang their heart out. The one who won the contest sang Camp Town Races. When he came up to get his trophy and cash prize it was discovered he was actually Black and that the MC informed him in front of the audience that he was disqualified due to his race. He was very upset and stormed off the stage and then they gave the trophy to the second place winner. While the performances were amazing, I have always considered this the most surreal and bizarre part of my childhood. The contest was followed by a 90 minute minstrel show. I relayed this to a Black friend of mine 20 years later who said they would have saved a lot of money had they hired "real Black folk." It took some time before I fully grasped what he said.

Siempre lo admire. Tengo 88 años, y me gusta escucharlo.

Thank you, very, very much ... The Al Jolson Society! This is awesome. Thank you.

The great among the greatest You ain't heard nothing yet: Al Jolson

I have both Jolson movies on DVD. Larry Parks plays Jolson. I do not care if the movies are not totally correct. I the music that makes it great.

racist my foot!!!HE BROUGHT THE BLACK MUSIC TO THE STAGE....

I'm struck by how much jumping around modern pop singers do on stage, yet they don't convey the energy that Jolson did when performing..

he is the great hope to see a new jolson story film my guess the year 2027 to mark 100 years of talking pictures

al jolson just the best

Great singer and performer. I can only feel that he was complimenting black entertainers when he sang with his black face on. This is 2017 and I still respect him as one of the greatest of all time.

Ok, I melted.

i think people dont want to stop living in their hatred. ive watched alot of old songs on youtube. and alot of people commenting about how sad they are seeing black people sing and also are living under jim crow and all that. im like wtf just enjoy the song. they cant not see what thye want to see.

He was the first to bring blacks to New York and Broadway and strongly protested FOR them and made sure they succeeded and look what he accomplished...on a personal he was difficult to get along with...but then no ones perfect....well except maybe my wife...

He was an artist ..i don't believe he was a racist.. Those times were not ready for his form of art.. Ok one can say much..but artist are in a league of there own.

clive baldwin is fabulous too with the same voice who knew :)

what a talent

He was the greatest of his time. To day he would not hold up. By all reports he was not a decent human being to other performers.And any one who worked for him. However he was a great showmen.

WOW

Was this the first time Jolson had sung with his 'new' voice?

Berle never made it in radio only in Tv and only for a short period. Were it not for Tv, he would be just a blip on the show biz screen.

Of course the story about McGurk's is completely apocryphal.

Quite a bit of hyperbole in the intro

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue? Really, Milton?

sammy davis jr was better. but then again i wasn't alive then.