@laurie symons...You don't think Jolson was obsessed with being number one? You must be kidding! I've known that all of my life and especially since "The Jolson Story." Have you not listened to anything George Jessel had to say either? Jolson was obsessed with himself and what he did...absolutely besotted! He lost his first marriage to his unquenchable ego and any relationship he ever had suffered under the weight of his career!

if a persons a performer they perform ,he liked to be first sure ,who does not like being first

laurie symons There is probably not a performer on earth that wouldn't enjoy being "first" in their profession and, of course, that is what performers do...they perform. It is, however, a matter of degree! If you sacrifice everything to your art you're not going to have many, if any, personal and intimate relationships in your life that will be lasting.

+Kuklapolitan If Jolson had become a tailor he still wouldn't have been able to form close/intimate relationships. He was a text book case, suffering from abandonment issues. But, it was precisely those issues that gave him the heart to sing and perform as he did.

+gmaureen That sounds as textbook a reply as any psuedo-psychology student might offer. If you would put that remark into some type of context, it might fly...if not, then I'm afraid I cannot buy it. What do you know of his life and/or his alleged "abandonment issues"? He was not an only child but was extremely close to both parents. Since it was all but ordained that he become a Cantor, as his father was...and didn't fulfill that role, both his parents came to accept him in very short order and were very happy for him. Where is the abandonment in that scenario? His career as a singer/entertainer was paramount in his life and I believe THAT was the thing that kept him from maintaining a lasting relationship with his third, and most famous wife, Ruby Keeler. It was the same complaint he had heard from his first two wives! His career, his music and his want and or need to entertain came before everything in his life. He did remarry, however, and was happily engaged in retired life when he died, very suddenly, in 1950. Sorry , but I don't see it.