Hilarious

I love Jolson, but this was a bit silly....

Sis clive still singing

Wow!

A big problem in this discussion is that most don’t know the facts. It was well publicized at the time, that it was a young Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle (who were in the beginning of their careers and just beginning to get noticed) which had been refused service in a restaurant because they were black. Jolson heard about it & purposely made a spectacle out of taking them to buy sandwiches at a Jewish deli & taking them for a picnic in the park in his big fancy car, - so he could invite reporters and publicly express his dislike of racism. Just read the many interviews with Eubie Blake & Noble Sissle - where they praised Jolson highly for his stand - and with helping them promote their talents. Jews at the time were not always considered as ‘white’ either. Jolson had started in ‘blackface’ troupes (as a young boy who had run away from home) in which he was the Only White person. He learned wearing ‘blackface’ makeup from the older black performers who did it in order to be able to be seen in gaslight or limelight in days before electricity. Whatever the story lines or songs were in the early shows, Jolson was only a young unknown performer trying to gain success. By the time he attained that success, he sometimes still did the blackface act that had made him popular - but phased that out as he gained popularity. He also fought against racism, by hiring blacks as dancers and actors for his touring broadway shows, when no one else dared to do it. Blacks who were his contemporaries thought he had helped their cause. The “feelings” of modern audiences are inconsequential. I recommend the book “Jolson: The Legend Comes to Life” by Herbert Goldman. It’s about 500 pages - and it’s only a starting point in understanding Jolson and his times.

Jolson being so heavily associated with blackface is a disservice to his career and oddly enough makes blackface look *less* offensive than it was. Al was frequently criticized in his day, especially in Southern newspapers/radio, for "doing blackface wrong" since he didn't use most of the stereotypical (very racist) jokes associated with the genre. Things like affecting a folksy uneducated accent or other crude mannerisms typically done during blackface acts. On a related note, he also took advantage of the genre to sneak black performers into his shows as "blackface" musicians.

Best ever Jolson impersonator!

Again if your up there Clive a great performance.

What a smooth voice!

2:58 Here the song Bugs Bunny sang while he was talking a shower in Wet Hare.

I soitenly liked this!

Wonderful Clive

I saw this guy in Glasgow I think in 2002, he was absolutely incredible, and it was as if Jolson was reincarnated that very same night.

Chuck seemed awestruck working with Groucho.

I am personally buying the catalog and likeness of Jolson and taking his show back on the road. Wish me luck.

This is Jolson the stage entertainer here, in his element and comfortable in front of the camera.

Para vos pa!❤️

Fantastic

For me Sonny Boy was Jolsons best and Clive Baldwin best

Absolutely amazing !

Ahhh fuc u fucker s it's ALREADY BEEN DONE ITS FUNNY SHIT UP STOP BEING SO ANIIAL😊❤🎉🎉

moves like Jagger...

he was a legend

toot toot was one of his best song I think

Do you have all of this film somewhere?

Why do black women dye their hair Blonde ?

What in the the - I wanna pay homage to a people that I have oppressed and murdered in racist America is going on ! Just NO !

This shit is THE most offensive and racist shit I've ever seen in my life PEEIODT ! WTF !

Robins are back March 2 2024

Even on film, the energy that Jolson exuded was incredible. 👏 👏 👏

Jolly absolutely fantastic.

Brilliant,so sad Larry Parkes went so young,he could have mimed again.How Imiss the music ,voices and people involved,Jack Lester

amazin.

Al Jolson at his best

Great stuff in black face getting into the real atmosphere of yester year, lovely.

One-hundred years ago, this WAS woke.

Magical legend ❤

Donald Trump favorite singer

Double wow there's a difference vocally Clive seems as if he's straining his voice to sound like Jolly, he's pretty good but isn't Jolly just a good impersonator, he looks like he's enjoying himself.

Don't give me that 'this was another era' nonsense -- Shame on Al Jolson. At the time he filmed this, Jolson was painfully aware of the hateful prejudice against Jews that he and his people endured during his lifetime, so instread of being both an entertainer and a beacon of light, he chose the cheap route to denigrate black people in the same way others were denigrating Jews. Nothing here to be proud of. A great tatent put to ill ends is still a disgrace. Jolson, a shande an dem goyim.

He was lip syncing to his record to show Larry Parks how he moves. Thankfully Larry did it his own way.

It is very bizarre that he took this path. Very weird man

Me as Larry Parks singing Jolson kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nr9oaaSo17XNqZ8.htmlsi=oGUsG7NCD7yBySQq

Luv Jolie ❤

I agree Jolson is honoring black people god bless him ❤

My dad adorned this man grew up listening to him great memories 😢😢😢😢

Now I have nothing against the GUS, Al Jolson Image, the R word associated with it is a CONTEMORARY PROFIT CON! but this is the better/ I think more now palatable Al Jolson reflection.

Luv Jolie ❤️

There is a lot of comment that Al Jolson worked in blackface - some said it's racist and some says Jolson was NOT a racist and gave many examples of this. I remember when I saw The Al Jolson Story - was that he was like his father, and father's father etc. training to sing in the Synagogue. However would wander off as a young boy and go to places where he heard black music and it moved his soul. That is how he explained it to his parents why he no longer wanted to sing in the synagogue but wanted to sing from his heart wherever he went. His father did not understand and kicked him out of the house etc. He finally got a chance to sing on stage when the man who sang in black face, did not show up and he took his place. And felt that he was singing from his heart. He received thunderous applause and the rest, as they say, is history. I feel that the black face was his connection to singing from his heart.

My favorite is Sonny boy.