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May 24, 2013

Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb: When I didn't so 'humbly disagree'

Caroline B. Glick: Thank you, Hafez al-Assad

Diana West: From the Brooklyn Bridge to London
Morgan Housel: Why spotting bubbles is so much harder than you think

Environmental Nutrition editors: NuVal labeling to the rescue?

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Memorial Day: Jews Serving and KIA in War on Terror; Liberace Bio-Pic; Jew Wins "Survivor"; Shalom, Dr. Brothers; More

The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen: HIDE THESE FROZEN TREATS FROM THE KIDDIES!: Sangria pops; Irish cream pudding pops; mango Lassi pops

May 22, 2013

John Thorne: They launched the 'Arab Spring' but now yearn for the good old days of a strongman

John Rosemond: 'Disciplinary math' adds up to parental successl

Warren Richey: Are prayers before public meetings OK? Supreme Court to decide
Rick Montgomery: Use of ADHD drugs as study aid raises concern on campuses

Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.: 6 convincing reasons you should keep carbs in your diet

Eoin O'Carroll: Scientists examine nothing, find something

The Kosher Gourmet by Carole Kotkin: This soup is made from one of the great pleasures of spring: A wonderful pairing of rosy color and earthy tang

May 20, 2013

Richard A. Serrano: Is Meir Kahane's assassin now a changed man?

Hannan Adely: Town raises Palestinian flag at City Hall

Melissa Healy: Genetic copies of living people from embryos no longer science fiction
Morgan Housel: When smart investors do stupid things

Sharon Saloman, M.S., R.D.: Hunger games: Eat more, weigh less, without starving

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Jews Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame; Anton Yelchin co-stars in New "Trek" film; Kutcher (but not Kunis) visits Israel; Jewish TV Star Praises Jewish Rap Star

The Kosher Gourmet by Cathy Pollak: WARNING: This WALNUT CAKE WITH PRALINE FROSTING, perfect for afternoon coffee, is addicting

May 13, 2013

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Why the giving of the document that would permanently change the world could only be done in desolation

David G. Savage: Church-state, literally? Supreme Court weighing public school graduation in a church

Emily Alpert: Recession dragged down birth rates for less-educated women
Morgan Housel: The deep downside of home ownership

Peter Teffer: Will Dutch police soon be stalking cybercriminals on your computer?

Heidi McIndoo, M.S., R.D.: Meatless 'meat' can have its own set of problems

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate! This must-try appetizer is delicate yet has depth of flavor: Corn-Leek Cakes with Caviar, Smoked Salmon and Creme Fraiche

May 10, 2013

Rabbi Berel Wein: Be all that you should be

Caroline B. Glick: The dirty little secret about Israel's Arabs

Mona Charen: Hawking's Moral Calculus: The man and the movement he embraces
Morgan Housel: The biggest retirement myth ever told

Sandi Doughton: Eyes may provide new insight into brain problems

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : The Great Gatsby's Jewish Ties; Jews in the "Time 100 list" List; People's Most Beautiful Women

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: A sweet-hot meal: Pear salsa spices up salmon

May 8, 2013

Peter Ford: Why China is welcoming both Israel's Netanyahu and Palestinians' Abbas

Warren Richey: Obama administration quietly backs out of appeal over new contraceptive mandate

Fred Weir: At Kerry-Putin meeting, US-Russia relations thaw --- a tad
Amanda Paulson: Study reveals sad truths about community colleges

Harvard Health Letters: Evidence weak that zinc, echinacea are beneficial

The Kosher Gourmet by Leela Cyd Ross : Almost too pretty to eat, this colorful salad with Sicilian inspiration will tickle the taste buds and delight your visual sensibility

May 6, 2013

Edmund Sanders and Patrick J. McDonnell: Think Israel's objective in Syria is to weaken Assad or embolden the rebels? Think again

Brian Bennett: Israeli airstrikes may show weakness in Syrian defense

Michael Ollove: Millions of ex-felons, parolees and those on probation are about to be entitled to tax-payer paid health coverage
Karen Kaplan: Most men can skip PSA test for prostate cancer, urologists say

Kimberly Lankford: How to track down a lost life insurance policy

Dream of Mars exploration achievable, experts say

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan M. Selasky: EGGPLANT WRAPS are an easy, sumptuous and scrumptious meal

May 3, 2013

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Human Courage and the Unavoidable, Disturbing Text

Steven Emerson: Attorney General Fights CAIR in Court, Lauds it in Public

Mediterranean diet helps beat dementia: study
Harvard Health Letters: When to be screened for a hearing problem

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Iron Man's Jewish Connections; Marc Maron's New TV Show; Martin Landau Grows Up with Israel; Shalom, Allan Arbus

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: A sweet surprise for Mother's Day dessert

May 1, 2013

Jonathan Rosenblum: An Improbable Journey to Orthodoxy

Jonathan Tobin: Blame Obama, Not Israel for Syria Push

Kids, kittens the Same? With employee perks at struggling Internet pioneer Yahoo! it's hard to tell
Halena M. Gazelka, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: What you need to know about implanted pain relief devices

Sandy Kleffman: Artificial kidney offers hope to patients tethered to a dialysis machine

Jessica Shugart: When it comes to math, MRIs may be better than IQs

The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: The celebrated chef on how high-maintenance ASPARAGUS RISOTTO need not be

April 29, 2013

Roy Gutman: Poland's new Jewish museum celebrates life, doesn't revisit Holocaust

Mark Clayton: Terrorism in America: Is US missing a chance to learn from failed plots?

Kim Murphy: Boston Bomber's 'Svengali' Revealed
Morgan Housel: He's rich, smart and old: Listen to him

Thomas Salinas, D.D.S.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: The safety of amalgam fillings

Harvard Health Letters: Tomatoes and stroke protection

Pete Spotts: Tiny satellites + cellphones = cheaper 'eyes in the sky' for NASA

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Swing into spring with lemon cream pie

April 26, 2013

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The world is a mirror

Caroline B. Glick: Time to confront Obama

Clifford D. May: Defense in the Age of Jihadist Terrorism
Kimberly Lankford: New strategies ease pain of paying for long-term care insurance

Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Too much ibuprofen?

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: How to feel your best -- with plenty of energy, a healthy weight and optimal mental and physical function -- without driving yourself batty

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Jewish Major Leaguers, 2013; New Movies and Comedy Show; Shalom, 'Lumpy' (Leave it to Beaver)

The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : A bright and cheerful salad to herald the warmer months ahead

April 24, 2013

Steven Emerson: Boston Bomber Exposes Islamist Secret

Morgan Housel Admit it: No one has any idea what's going on
Harvard Health Letters: Can you get headaches from headache medication?

Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D.: How to easily get more Omega-3s in your diet

Melissa Healy: Pot in a pill: All the pain relief without the smoke

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan Russo: Chipotle Chili Butternut Squash Soup is bold, zesty, hot

April 22, 2013

Ken Dilanian: Counterterrorism's future is unclear

US man departing country arrested on terror charges
Barbara Williams: An unorthodox but growing treatment in a 9-year-old's battle against cancer

P.J. Skerrett, M.D.: How to recognize a good whole grain product

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Teen actor Jonah Bobo in New Flick: Hunky James Wolk on Mad Men; Erich Segal's Daughter Writes Prize-Winning Jewish Novel


Jewish World Review Oct. 15, 2010 / 7 Mar-Cheshvan, 5771

Lohan, Lewis, and Jolson

By Greg Crosby



http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | In a recent television interview Jerry Lewis was asked to comment on the latest Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton misadventures. He shook his head and said, "One, they don't know who Al Jolson was." Although I understand what Lewis was getting at, it's a silly thing to say in relation to these young girls. Of course they don't know who Al Jolson was. Al Jolson died in 1950, probably before Lohan's and Hilton's parents were even born. Lindsay Lohan is 24 years old and most likely doesn't know who any celebrity was before the year 1990. Paris Hilton at 29 is a bit older, but I'm pretty certain she wouldn't know any old time show business names much before Michael Jackson.

These girls aren't into show biz history, they're into themselves. Narcissism mixed with money is always a dangerous combination, add to that plain ordinary stupidity and a total lack of moral fiber and you've got the society/celebrity of the 21st Century. It's sad. It's also disgusting and shameful. I'm sure you could add a few of your own favorite adjectives to that list.

In the interest of keeping our young celebrity narcissists fully educated I thought I'd take a shot of explaining just who the heck Al Jolson was. Gather around kids, you might actually learn something.

Al Jolson was known in the industry as "The World's Greatest Entertainer," for well over 40 years. Born Asa Yoelsonon May 28th, 1886 in Russia, his family immigrated to the US when he was a young boy and settled in Washington D.C. Jolson's career began in vaudeville, slowly at first, but when his talents were recognized by the Shubert Brothers and he was signed by them to appear in the opening show of their new Winter Garden Theater on Broadway. That was in April of 1912. Jolson soon became "King of the Winter Garden," with shows specifically written for him. Winter Garden and Jolson became synonymous. This lasted for close to 20 years. During that time Jolson received reviews that have yet to be matched.

The Jolson presence on stage is said to have been magical. Audiences loved his bigger than life singing style and his warm, happy manner. Audiences shouted, begged, and often would not allow the show to proceed unless Jolson would come back out on stage. At one performance in Boston, the usual staid and conservative audience stopped the show for 45 minutes! He was said to have had an "electric" personality, along with the ability to make each member of the audience believe that he was singing only to them.

Then in 1927 Jolson starred in the early sound movie, "The Jazz Singer" and his appearance in that film caused a worldwide sensation and changed motion pictures for ever more. Al Jolson became bigger than ever and moved to Hollywood to make pictures. Unfortunately his screen persona didn't rise to the same level of his stage presence. He just couldn't make the successful transition from live stage entertainer to movie actor. He continued to make pictures throughout the 1930's however and also starred in his own radio show, but by the late '30's his star was not shinning as brightly as it once had.

When World War II broke out Jolson was among the first entertainers to travel overseas to entertain the troops. While in Africa and Sicily he contracted malaria and pneumonia which cut short his show travels. He continued to entertain the troops stateside after he recovered.

In 1946 Colombia Pictures struck a deal with Jolson to film his life story starring Larry Parks. "The Jolson Story" became a surprise smash hit and rejuvenated Jolson's career. The picture was the highest grossing film of the year and earned Parks an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actor. A sequel, "Jolson Sings Again," was made in 1949 (to this day the only biography sequel in film history) and that too became a box office hit.

Jolson was at the top once again, so much so that in 1948 at the peak of the popularity of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Perry Como, Jolson was voted "The Most Popular Male Vocalist" by a Variety poll.

In 1950 and against doctor's orders, Jolson went to Korea to entertain his favorite audience, American troops. While there his health declined and shortly after his return to the U.S. he suffered a massive heart attack and died.

Al Jolson was undoubtedly the first American entertainer to become a true phenomenon. He was the biggest Broadway star of his time. He was the first show business superstar, setting the stage for others such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. Elvis, by the way, always said that Jolson was his idol and he recorded "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" one of Jolson's last recordings, in tribute. How sad to note that today there is no plaque or statue or even a sign anywhere on Broadway to honor him.

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JWR contributor Greg Crosby, former creative head for Walt Disney publications, has written thousands of comics, hundreds of children's books, dozens of essays, and a letter to his congressman. A freelance writer in Southern California, you may contact him by clicking here.

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