"Jolson Sings Again" with Larry Parks and Barbara Hale (1946)

As a kid growing up in New York I used to watch a lot of the old movies on WOR-TC channel 9. They were what was referred to as an “independent” station and along with WNEW Channel 5 were the only alternatives to the “big three” networks. This arrangement was a sort of blessing in disquise for an inquisitive kid like me. I really enjoyed the older black and white movies these stations ran, rather than the newer ones on the networks. And occasionally they even outdid themselves; like the time one of them showed the first talkie “The Jazz Singer” withal Jolson.

My regard for Jolson came mostly from my Uncle Irving. He used to do the shimmy and a bit of the Charleston now and again when he heard me playing a record like “Winchester Cathedral” or “Hello, Hello” by the Sopwith Camels.  Even “Words of Love” by the Mamas and Papas could set him off. At these times he would regale me with stories of Al Jolson, “the greatest entertainer in the world!” So, when The Jazz Singer was scheduled to air, I was all set. I even had my little reel to reel battery operated tape recorder set up with the microphone up against the TV speaker to record the musical numbers.

This film brings to life the music and career of Al Jolson, beginning with his attempt at making a comeback in the years just before the outbreak of World War Two. So much had changed in the years since Jolson had been top of the heap. Bing Crosby had come along, changing the way people interpreted songs. The difference was in the phrasing. Crooning was out. This was the environment in which he was attempting to make his return to the stage and radio audiences he had left more than a decade earlier.

In the film previous to this one, “The Jolson Story”, Larry Parks portrays Al Jolson and chronicles his rise to fame and his decision to retire. In this follow up film he reprises his role as the greatest entertainer of all time, picking up the story in the late 1930’s. As Hitler is marching across Europe, Jolson is enjoying life as a former star, traveling all over and visiting all of the race tracks. He was living the life of a playboy. But, with a little push from history, his father, and his manager, that was all about to change.

As the war in Europe became a war against the Jews, Jolson’s father; a Cantor; was upset that his son didn’t seem to care about what was happening in the world around him. He was living a life of wine, women and song; fiddling like Nero while the world around him burned. The elder Jolson (Yoelson), along with his son’s manager Steve Martin; played by the irascible William Demarest; conspire to push him back towards doing something constructive with his life.

Jolson joins the efforts to entertain the troops at training camps across the country, where he is surprisingly well received. His travels abroad lead to his coming down with malaria; forcing him to go home after collapsing on stage. When he comes to and sees the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes upon, he begins to sing “Baby Face” to her before passing out again.

In real life he met Erle Galbraith; an X-ray technologist at a military hospital Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Though instantly smitten with her it takes him over a year to track her down again. When he does locate her he offers her a job and the two are later married, adopting two children before his death in 1950. He had one previous child by adoption with his third wife, Ruby Keeler in the 1930’s.

Even if you are not a fan of Al Jolson, or the music of the era, this film has a lot to offer. Larry Parks is excellent as Jolson, and Jolson does make a brief cameo in the film; just as he did in the first Larry Parks vehicle “The Jolson Story.”

Two things worth noting about Jolson are; the Elvis classic “Are You Lonesome Tonight” was recorded by many people. The song was written in 1926 and recorded the following year. Jolson picked it up in 1950, a decade before Elvis. And also, although Bing Crosby gets the credit most of the time for the change in phrasing vocals rather than crooning, it was really Jolson, with his minstrel style, who influenced Crosby.

As a matter of fact, as you watch this film and study Larry Parks’ movements, you will see a lot of Dean Martin in those performances. The singing is all done by Jolson; Larry Parks is just lip-synching, although his movements are exactly the same as Jolson’s. Watch him strut, leaning backwards and using his arms to animate each song.

The cast is composed of the following;

Larry Parks plays Al Jolson as well as himself. Barbara Hale plays the fictional Ellen Clark, who is really Erle Galbraith; and William Demarest plays manager Steve Martin; while Ludwig Donath   plays Jolson’s father, Cantor Yoelson with a gleam in his eye and love for his son in his heart.  

Here’s a clip of Jolson performing from the 1927 classic “The Jazz Singer”;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD_YRnuuKyY

"April Flowers" - Al Jolson ( Live 1949)

It's raining in North Carolina. We always need it, and so we're glad when it comes. April is the time for it anyway. When I was a kid, my Uncle Irving used to sing Al Jolson songs to himself. He had a terrible voice, and never knew the words, so he kind of mumbled along to the melody. That was my introduction to Al Jolson, who was arguably one of the major entertainers of the first half of the 20th Century.

So I thought I'd celebrate today's rainy weather with his iconic (I like that word) version of "April Showers", performed live at Chicago's Soldier's Field in 1949. Here are the lyrics written by B. G. De Sylva. The music was written by his partner Louis Silvers and first published in 1921. It became one of Al Jolson's signature songs for decades to come. And Uncle Irving used to hum it under it his breath every April when it rained. That still goes for me, too.

April Showers

Though April showers may come your way,
They bring the flowers that bloom in May.
So if it's raining, have no regrets,
Because it isn't raining rain, you know, it's raining violets.

And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for a blue bird, And listening for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.

And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for a blue bird, And listening for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.

"The Man Behind The Nose" by Larry "Bozo" Harmon

I never knew that there was a real "Bozo" the clown. By that, I mean I thought that each city had it's own version of "Bozo", and I was probably of the opinion that these guys were like department store "Santas" at Christmas, mostly guys that couldn't hold a real job. Drunks. Was I ever wrong!

The "real" Bozo the Clown was a man named Larry Harmon, born Lawrence Weiss on January 2, 1925 in Toledo, Ohio. As a child he "discovered" Al Jolson and the course of his life was changed forever. He became hooked on the limelight that comes with entertainment.

After a few stints in school marching bands, he had a thing for the drums, the future Bozo went to war. He served in the Army as a Private in World War Two. Working in the Entertainment Corps gave him the opportunity to meet Al Jolson, his boyhood idol. Mr. Jolson takes an interest in him, encouraging his ambitions to become an entertainer. When they meet a second time, Mr. Jolson tells him that he has improved greatly and should really consider show businesss in lieu of Mr. Harmon's desire to be a doctor. He tells him, "Being a doctor of Medicine is honorable, but you'll touch so many more lives as a doctor of laughter."

With this encouragement, Mr. Harmon goes to USC on the GI Bill, majoring in Theater.Upon graduating he auditioned at NBC studios in Los Angeles. He is chosen to play "Captain Comet", one of the first space characters to appear on TV. His character was a space pilot from Venus who comes to earth as a guide for the Universe. Ironically, Mr. Harmon was a tremendous fan of the race to break the sound barrier, and later, a strong enthusiast of NASA's Space Program, an interest which he managed to incorporate into his show. He actually flew in the Zero Gravity plane with the Mercury Astronauts, reporting about it on his show.

In 1956 he bought the rights to the "Bozo" character. He then set out to license other "Bozo's" to take the show to other cities across the country. From there it was a non-stop journey, with trips around the world. His adventures with the Cannibals in New Guinea, after his plane crashed, are extraordinary. After meeting the tribesmen, who are fascinated by the size of his feet, he is wined and dined. He then entertains them as Bozo, and leaves alive, proving that laughter is the Universal Cure for all that divides us.

This is a very unusual book about a very unusual guy. At first I found it hard to take "Bozo" seriously, since my memories of him are all tied up with the image of his size 83XXX shoes and the red hair and nose. But beneath this facade was a very deep man, with vision and dreams.

When all is said and done, Al Jolson was right. Larry Harmon did become that "Doctor of Laughter", and he did touch many more lives in his journey as Bozo the Clown.

"Blue Skies" / Day Off

The skies are a perfectly clear blue and it is a beautiful fall day. So I'm taking a day off. Nothing to do, just a day off. I feel like that old Irving Berlin song that Al Jolson used to sing, "Blue Skies." I'll see you tomorrow or Monday. I promise. Thanks!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djd1XfwDAQs

Blue Skies

I was blue, just as blue as I could be
Ev'ry day was a cloudy day for me
Then good luck came a-knocking at my door
Skies were gray but they're not gray anymore

Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see

Bluebirds
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds
All day long

Never saw the sun shining so bright
Never saw things going so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you're in love, my how they fly

Blue days
All of them gone
Nothing but blue skies
From now on

I should care if the wind blows east or west
I should fret if the worst looks like the best
I should mind if they say it can't be true
I should smile, that's exactly what I do


Written By ANDREW COCUP, TOM FINDLAY, IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics are © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.