A Visit To The AL JOLSON Memorial & Gravesite - 2009

[LordIam1]

Jolson!!! Let me point something out. I am a 50 year old black man and here's the scoop on Jolson and why he is called the wolrds greatest entertainer. True he pioneered many new ventures. But when they made the biopic about him, many singers, including Jackie Wilson, went wild and began impersonating Jolsons style, moves and persona. From Jackie Wilson we got Michael Jackson, Prince, Usher,Ne-Yo, and it goes on! Jackie Wilson made and entire Jolson album called You Ain't Hear Nothing Yet.

[spirithunter121]

unlike the tv quick fix takeaway singers today who show little talent if any they have for the five minutes of fame and drift back into the fog of time never to resurface.

Al Jolson , a great entertainer of his day, he had a story, he worked hard, and i still get a kick from his music, I have been past his house in LA , never to his grave site. As for the new generation of our day? well I cant name a lot of their singers? and many dont know any classical music where most modern music came from.

[friscolobo]

Jolson is STILL the greatest. Love that man.

[soniaman1]

I love anything by the great Jolson. Do you know anything about a song of his called something like Bride and group?

[sanfor43]

OCTUBRE 23-2011------61' años de su muerte,pero siempre escuchando su voz maravillosa.

UN RECUERDO Y UNA ORACION A TU MEMORIA.

GRACIAS AL

RIP

[generalgibberish]

Ok , so most young folks today DON'T know who jolson was. He died in 1950 for goodness sakes! LOOOOONNNNGGGG before the youth of today were born. In years to come, believe it or not, there will be people who don't remember Michael Jackson too. Does this mean we should do away with his grave too?? Jolson WAS the first "World's greatest entertainer", & was billed as such on publicity & on his records. Elvis & Michael picked up his torch that he alone lit. He died before tv too, so less film exists

[WIZZINGSHIRE]

WHAT??????????????? there WOULD have been a sinatra.al jolson.the guy was a clown.

[WIZZINGSHIRE]

i wouldnt call this guy the worlds greatest entertainer.maybe in 1930.his legacy does not live on.young people know who frank sinatra,judy garland,sammy davis jr,dean martin,elvis presley were.they never heard of al jolson.what an overhyped person with a gravesite thats too grand for what he was.

[Chaplin1914]

@WIZZINGSHIRE You're entitled to your opinion, but I feel as if the only thing that still touts his legacy as "The World's Greatest Entertainer" IS his gravesite. Jolson's legacy over the years has been swept under the rug due to over-the-top politcally correct individuals. Without Jolson there would have been NO Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Judy Garland or Sinatra.

[soniaman1]

@Chaplin1914

Couldn't agree more

[Chaplin1914]

@WIZZINGSHIRE Jolson was Elvis BEFORE Elvis was Elvis. Check out Jolie's rendition of "Are You Lonesome Tonight" which was covered by Elvis in almost the exact same rendition. Jolson did most everything first in his lifetime. A dynamic entertainer who pioneered in album sales, radio and made the silent films SPEAK.

[Chaplin1914]

@WIZZINGSHIRE ...and as a 24 year old, I can tell you that, unfortunetly, most young people today do not know about the entertainers you listed. They may have heard of Elvis and MAYBE Sinatra, today, but they don't listen to them. Judy Garland is known because of OZ, but thats it...many people think it's the only movie she ever made. It's a sad fact, but it's true.

[Chaplin1914]

You have every right to not like Jolson, but you cannot so easily diminish his legacy. The people who actually pay attention still care...do the rest really matter?

[babyfacemichael]

@WIZZINGSHIRE - Jolson was the father of showbusiness as we know it today. Even Tom Jones and Elton John have personally cited Jolson as their sole inspiration for entering showbusiness. However, denouncing a person's grave purely because he may not be as well known today by today's youth really is quite sick!

[soniaman1]

@WIZZINGSHIRE Jolson was one the great singers and entertainers; when he died they dimmed the Broadway lights in his honour; the grave site is perfect to his memory.

[Wehategod]

His legacy still lives on today

[randysinatra]

Thanks so much. I feel like I've been there. Jolie died Oct. 23, l950, but his legacy lives forever thanks to film, recordings, and the nice folks on YouTube. Perfect song choice--He waxed a few Stephen Foster sides afterward, but "No Sad Songs for Me" was basically the last pop tune he recorded. Thanks again!

[Titanic19127]

He will be greatly missed :"( That is a great video.

[Jolson1950]

Wonderful. I have never visited the Jolson memorial - this film is the next best thing