Al Jolson
A dynamic, blackface-performing showman whose electrifying voice and theatricality made him America's first true multimedia superstar, dominating stage, screen, and radio.
1886–1950 (age 64)·American entertainer·Birthday: May 26·The Lost Generation
Biography
Al Jolson didn't just sing a song; he attacked it, sweating, kneeling, and belting with a volcanic energy that captivated audiences. Born Asa Yoelson in Lithuania, he found his voice in the vaudeville circuits, mastering the sentimental 'coon song' style performed in blackface—a controversial convention of the era he never abandoned. His breakthrough in the Broadway musical 'Sinbad' and the epochal 1927 film 'The Jazz Singer,' where his ad-libbed line 'You ain't heard nothin' yet!' heralded the talkie revolution, cemented his fame. Jolson was a force of nature, a performer whose need for audience love was insatiable. He leveraged his success into radio stardom and was a tireless entertainer of troops during World War II. While his legacy is inextricably linked to the painful minstrelsy tradition, his raw vocal power and sheer star quality defined American entertainment for a generation, paving the way for the charismatic pop idols who followed.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Al was born in 1886, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Al Was Born
The biggest hits of 1886
Al's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1886Born
Statue of Liberty dedicated in New York Harbor
President: Grover Cleveland
1891Started school
President: Benjamin Harrison
1899Became a teenager
President: William McKinley
1902Could drive
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1904Could vote
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Turned 21
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1916Turned 30
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Turned 40
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1936Turned 50
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1946Turned 60
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1950Died at 64
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
Key Achievements
- Starred in 'The Jazz Singer' (1927), the first feature-length motion picture with synchronized dialogue and music, revolutionizing cinema.
- Had a string of #1 hits in the 1920s including 'Swanee,' 'My Mammy,' and 'California, Here I Come.'
- Hosted and starred in the NBC radio program 'The Kraft Music Hall' for a decade, becoming one of radio's highest-paid stars.
- Received a special Academy Award in 1950 for his 'pioneering work' in talking pictures.
Did You Know?
He performed for American troops in Korea in 1950, becoming one of the last entertainers to do so before his death.
Jolson was known for his philanthropic efforts, often performing benefit concerts for various causes.
He was married four times, including to actress Ruby Keeler.
Frank Sinatra cited Jolson as a primary influence, calling him 'the greatest entertainer of our time.'
“You ain't heard nothin' yet!”
