|The Man|Bibliography
In an exquisitely authoritative, nearly 400 page tome, Herbert G. Goldman has given us a detailed look at the life and times of Al Jolson. From his opening sentence of, "Al Jolson was a Jew, probably the first man of his faith well known as a Jew and idolized by the American public," Goldman gives a full and critical view to the man and the legend. It is Goldman who recounts stories of Jolson's boyhood, and stories of Jolson's relationships with a variety of other performers, from Eddie Cantor to Eubie Blake. As if the comprehensive scope of this text is not enough, the book is capped off with a detailed listing of stage and screen performances of Al Jolson, complete with venues and cast lists. This book gives the truth behind many of the legends passed off as fact, even the ones that Jolson told! You must have this book in your library.
Jolson: The Legend Comes To Life, by Herbert G. Goldman, Oxford University Press, 1988
First published in 1972, Michael Freedland's biography of Al Jolson sees a new version published in May, 2007. While some may take issue with parts of the book as to their historical accuracy, that a new edition of this popular Jolson biography, at least the fourth time this book has been reprinted, bodes well for those researching the World's Greatest Entertainer. A great fan of Al Jolson, with both radio and television projects promoting Jolie's legacy, Freedland brings a warmth and affection to his work that helps captivate the new reader as well as the old fan. Clearly, this book belongs in the collection of all of us!
JOLSON The Story of Al Jolson, by Michael Freedland, Vallentine Mitchell, 2007
Among Jolson biographers, Pearl Sieben was one who had the advantage of meeting Al Jolson, and her biography of the singer, published in 1962, reflects the esteem she held for him. This lovingly crafted book perpetuates some of the stories about Jolie which have attained near mythical status, while it fills in the basic biographical information. Some of the later biographies have provided different views of Jolson's life, but this remains a good basic biography of The World's Greatest Entertainer.
The Immortal Jolson, by Pearl Sieben, Frederick Fell, Inc., 1962
Robert Oberfirst takes a chronological look at the life of Al Jolson, in more than three hundred pages of insight. With an acknowledgement to Harry Jolson, whose writings and papers provided some of the background for this book, Oberfirst digs beneath the surface to explore some of the possible motivations and influences that shaped Al Jolson. Not always complementary, the book allows one to appreciate the complexity that produced this singular entertainer.
Al Jolson: You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet, by Robert Oberfirst, A.S.Barnes & Co., Inc., 1980
There have been several biographies written of Al Jolson, the World's Greatest Entertainer, but none has the point of view of Richard Grudens' new book. This 300 page text looks at various facets of Jolson's personality and fame, with sections devoted to Jolson's personal and professional history, and commentaries from those that knew and worked with him. Anyone interested in the first superstar, who was the first and only person to have two film biographies made of his life while he was alive, should add this book to their collection.
When Jolson Was King, by Richard Grudens, Celebrity Profiles Publishing, 2006
Our friend and Jolson co-star, Sybil Jason, has written a wonderful autobiographical look at her life, entitled My Fifteen Minutes. With a look at her career starting as Warner Brothers first child star it provides an interesting view of the Hollywood of the era and how this talented young lady progressed. The longest chapter is devoted to Al Jolson, whose movie "The Singing Kid" provided a showcase for her talents. This is a must-read for Jolson fans, and those interested in the history of movies.
My Fifteen Minutes, by Sybil Jason, Bearmanor Media, 2005
This book, written by Ken Bloom and Frank Vlastnik, covers the authors' picks for the 101 best Broadway Musicals. Along with plenty of great information, page 141 is devoted to Jolie, himself. Along with a great picture of Al in his last Broadway show, there is a wonderful tribute to The World's Greatest Entertainer. If you enjoy Broadway, this book is for you!
The stories of Al Jolson, Felix Frankfurter, and Arnold Rothstein are told together to explore the process or lack thereof of assimilation of American Jews in the first part of the twentieth century. All three Jews were born in the 1880s, grew up around American Jewish ghettos, married gentile women, entered the middle class, and rose to national fame. All three also became heroes to the American Jewish community for their association with events that galvanized the country and defined the Jazz Age. Rothstein allegedly fixed the 1919 World Series--an accusation this book disputes. Frankfurter defended the Italian anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti. Jolson brought jazz music to Hollywood for the first talking film, The Jazz Singer, and regularly impersonated African Americans in blackface. Each of these men represented a version of the American outsider, and American Jews celebrated them for it.
Michael Alexander's gracefully written account challenges charges that anti-Semitism exclusively or even mostly explains Jews' feelings of marginality, while it calls for a general rethinking of positions that have assumed an immigrant quest for inclusion into the white American mainstream. Jazz Age Jews shows that most Jews felt culturally obliged to mark themselves as different--and believed that doing so made them both better Jews and better Americans.
Jazz Age Jews, by Michael Alexander, Princeton University Press, 2001
This 8.5 x 11 inch spiral bound book, printed in plain typewriter font, is a 2000 publication of the Joyce Record Club. Within its 260 pages is a short biography of Al Jolson, and a fairly complete listing of stage, screen, and radio appearances of the World's Greatest Entertainer. A full listing of Jolson recordings follows, which include labels and numbers for published recordings. A full index of songs allows one to find recordings by name. This is a useful book, if the information is not otherwise handy. It may be of limited availability, though.
The AL JOLSON Discography, by W.K. McNeil and Louis Hatchett, The Joyce Record Club, 2000
The stories of the conception and creation of The Jolson Story are legion. In this book, author Doug McClelland tells the whole story behind the story. Read about the folks behind the movie, and in front of the camera. The tragedy of Larry Parks, and his falling to the red-scare blacklisting of the 1950s forms the focal point of this fine book. There are chapters devoted to many of the movie's stars, and the relationship between Jolson and Parks. Many photos are included, with some rare behind-the-scenes views included as well. First published in hardcover, a softcover edition now available from several souces. This is a must have addition for the Jolson library.
Blackface To Blacklist, by Doug McClelland, Scarecrow Press, 1998
On the night of October 6, 1927, the motion picture was forever changed, as Al Jolson brought sound to the screen, and we ain't heard nothin' but since. This book, published in 1979 by the University of Wisconsin, tells the full story of Al Jolson's first feature film. It includes the original story, "The Day of Atonement," which became the basis for the Broadway play. Rare photos of George Jessel on stage, as well as Jolson stills from the film are included. There is even material about the Danny Thomas remake in 1952, but not the Neil Diamond version, since this book came out before that movie was produced. A full screenplay script is included, and notes about Vitaphone and the movie round out a wonderful book. Although out of print, it is often available on the used market, and Amazon.com does have a link to purchase it. If you want to know all there is to know about The Jazz Singer, you will want a copy of this book.
The Jazz Singer, edited by Robert L. Carringer, University of Wisconsin Press, 1979
Published in England in 1975, Barrie Anderton's book Sonny Boy! The World of Al Jolson is a loving tribute to a lengendary entertainer. Filled with photos not seen elsewhere, it is based on personal interviews and research done by the author. Although not an extensive biography, it does give a general overview of The World's Greatest Entertainer, and is fairly accurate in its representations. In just 106 pages, many of which are full page photos, it hits the high points, and a few low ones, of Jolson's career. After the biographical text, the book reprints a part of George Jessel's eulogy to Jolson, as well as tributes written by Eddie Cantor and Larry Parks. There is an alphabetical listing of Jolson recordings, who knew there was only one release that started with "U"? And finally, a listing of Jolson films, from The Jazz Singer through The Jolson Story, with a still photo, credit list, and a brief plot summary. This book is long out of print, but a worthy addition to the Jolson library if a volume can be found.
Sonny Boy!, by Barrie Anderton, Jupiter Books, 1975
That's Harry Jolson, not Al, kneeling on one knee on the cover of Mistah Jolson, a 1951 autobiography written by Al Jolson's brother, Harry. Although the book is really the story of the author's life and adventures, he takes the opportunity to tell plenty of stories and start a few legends about the man we call "The World's Greatest Entertainer." In fact, many of the "facts" other books quote had their start in this volume. It's a wonderful book, with the kind of inside view only a brother could have; and it does much to dispel the feeling that a great animosity existed between Al and his family. With photos and text, this is a wonderful, if rare, addition to any Jolson library.Mistah Jolson, by Harry Jolson, House-Warven Publishers, 1951
Click here to access the book from the Internet Archive!
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Updated 18 Feb 24 |