Born in a Jewish village in Russia, Al Jolson became one of the most iconic and
highest paid stars of the 1930s, indelibly associated with songs like Swanee and
Mamie and "blacking up" in the style of old minstrel shows; a practice
unthinkable today, but which wasn't considered racist in the climate of the day
and brought Jolson great fame. He was five when his father, a rabbi, moved to
America, the rest of the family joining him there three years later and, during
times of hardship, Jolson developed a street act performing for money with his
brothers. In 1902 he joined a circus,...