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Al Jolson in Blackface
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In 1904, at the
age of eighteen, Al Jolson and his brother Harry (along with
Joe Palmer) were trying out an act in a New York burlesque
house. The name of the act was "A Little Bit of Everything."
It was in this act that he would have a go at being a
comedian; however, it didn't work out very well at first.
They were booked for a week
at a theatre on Fulton Street in downtown Brooklyn, New York.
Another performer, named James Francis Dooley, who appeared in
blackface, suggested to Al that he go on stage in blackface.
The idea was that by doing the act in blackface, i.e. wearing
burnt cork, it would give him some layer of protection from his
fears as the blackface would allow him to 'hide' behind
this colored mask.
He tried blackface the very
next performance; it worked out for him very well as he felt
more confident and enjoyed being on stage all the more. |
left: Jolson in the 1928 film "The Singing Fool" |
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In today's
sensibilities, using blackface is politically incorrect and
offensive to many. It is no longer used by entertainers today.
Back in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth century, actors performing in
blackface were more accepted
by the general public, though Jolson was the first comedian to
use blackface. He did this with a great deal of energy and
spirit; he felt freer and more spontaneous behind the burnt
cork than he ever did in 'whiteface.'
As time went on, though others
may have used burnt cork, it was obvious
that no one could do blackface like Jolson. |
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right: Jolson in blackface, cir 1909 |
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On Broadway, especially at the Winter
Garden Theatre, Jolson most often played a character named Gus, who
often
clowned around on stage using his unique comedic touches, and of
course sang a few songs in each show he was in.
Jolson was interviewed on the radio
during "The Barry Gray Show" on October 27, 1946. Comedian Henny
Youngman, who attended this rare interview, asked Jolson, “Were you
the first comedian that was doing blackface?”
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left:
a smiling Al Jolson in blackface, cir 1914 |
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