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enter
Al Jolson was known as the world's greatest entertainer....
He was a master showman who performed
for adoring crowds for more than fifty years.
His performances on stage were magical;
His private life was complex and tormented.
The Museum of Family History honors one of
the most gifted performers ever to grace the
American stage. His contributions to American culture
were immense; his cumulative work has left an
indelible mark in the annals of music lore.
In this exhibition, you can read (and hear) about the fascinating
life of the one and only Al Jolson, from the time he immigrated
with his mother and siblings to America in 1894, through his
tumultuous childhood and adolescent years. You can trace his
career in show business from start to end, learning not only about
his professional life, but his personal life as well...
You may use the pictorial index
found within the left and right columns
to locate a specific web page you wish to view;
simply left-click on any of the framed photographs.
Alternatively, you may enter the exhibition by clicking
on the "enter" link located below the photograph above.
Where you see a
icon, there is an audio clip to be heard on the page;
Where you see a 
icon,
you can enjoy viewing a video clip.**
*
It is recommended that you turn on your speakers before
entering a page with either of these designations.
The speed of download of any audio or video clip will depend
on various factors, e.g. connectivity. Please be patient.
Downloading clips will be problematic if you
are viewing this exhibition using a land line.
**
Some computers may not be able to play some or all of the video clips.
The clips will play the best if played using Apple's QuickTime Player.
To freely download Apple's QuickTime media player, click
here.
I f you only have Windows Media Player, you might need version 7 or
later
to be able to play all the clips made available in this exhibition.
Al Jolson with Jack Warner, President of Warner Brothers Studio, 1929.
Warner Brothers produced the movie "The Jazz Singer"
with Jolson
in the lead two years before the above photograph was taken.
"The Jazz Singer" was the
first full-length
Hollywood feature film with sound ever made....
This exhibition was made
possible in part with the cooperation of the
International Al Jolson Society.
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