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1-23 of 23
- Actor
- Composer
- Additional Crew
Al Jolson was known in the industry as "The World's Greatest Entertainer," for well over 40 years. After his death his influence continued unabated with such performers as Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Jackie Wilson and Jerry Lee Lewis all mentioning him as an inspiration.
Al Jolson was born Asa Yoelson in Seredzius, Lithuania, to a Jewish family, the son of Naiomi Etta (Cantor) and Moise Rubin Yoelson, who emigrated alone to Washington, D.C., to establish himself. After four years he sent for his family. Nine months later his wife died (apparently during childbirth), which devastated the eight-year-old Asa. Young Al would soon find his outlet in the theater. Soon he was singing with his older brother, Harry, for senators and soldiers. He entertained the troops that were headed for the Spanish-American War.
Jolson's career in vaudeville started with his brother in New York, but never really got off the ground. Different partners allowed Jolson to experiment, but it was as a solo act in San Francisco that he finally hit it big. He was signed eventually by Lew Dockstaders' Minstrels. It is important to note that, although performing in blackface, Dockstader's was not a minstrel show in the traditional sense of the "Tambo and Bones" variety of the previous century. It was a sophisticated, topical, Broadway-style revue. The myth lingers to this day that Jolson was a minstrel. He most certainly was not.
Jolson's stay in vaudeville was relatively short, as his talent was quickly recognized by the Shubert Brothers, who signed him to appear in the opening show of their new Winter Garden Theater on Broadway in April of 1912. Thus began what many consider to be the greatest career in the history of Broadway. Not a headliner initially, Jolson soon became "King of the Winter Garden," with shows specifically written for him. "Winter Garden" and "Jolson" became synonymous for close to 20 years. During that time Jolson received reviews that have yet to be matched. Audiences shouted, pleaded and often would not allow the show to proceed, such was the power of his presence. At one performance in Boston, the usually staid and conservative Boston 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.
In 1927 Jolson starred in the New York-shot The Jazz Singer (1927) and the rest is film history. But just before it was theatrically released, producer, Warner' His appearance in that film, nowadays considered a somewhat creaky, stodgy and primitive museum piece, electrified audiences and caused a sensation. Jolson was bigger than ever and Hollywood came a-calling. However, Jolson on film was a pale version of Jolson on stage. His screen appearances, with some exceptions, are stiff and wooden. Though he continued into the 1930s to star on radio, he was no longer quite the star he had been.
During World War II, Jolson entertained troops in Africa and Sicily but was cut short by a bout of malaria and pneumonia. Always a favorite with audiences, he continued to entertain in the United States when he met his fourth wife, Erle Chenault Galbraith, an x-ray technician.
By the mid-'40s, though. his stardom had faded quite a bit. Columbia Pictures, inspired by the success of Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), decided that a Jolson biography might work as well. In 1946 it released The Jolson Story (1946), with song-and-dance man Larry Parks miming to Jolson's vocals. It was the surprise smash hit of the season and the highest grossing film of the year. Parks received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Jolson was now as big, or bigger, than ever. So successful was the film that Columbia made a sequel, Jolson Sings Again (1949), which remains one of a few biography sequels in film history (Funny Girl/Funny Lady - the story of fellow Winter Garden performer Fannie Brice is another rare example). It was also quite successful at the box office. So big had Jolson's star risen that in 1948, when Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Perry Como were at their peaks, Jolson was voted "The Most Popular Male Vocalist" by a Variety poll.
In 1950, against his 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.- Actor
- Writer
Lithuanian-born Ivan Lebedeff was educated at the University of St. Petersburg. He was slated for a diplomatic career in the Imperial Lyceum at Tsarskoye Selo - a natural progression, since his aristocratic father was a highly-placed advisor to Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. However, the outbreak of World War I changed all that. Ivan enlisted as a volunteer in the Third Regiment of the Imperial Dragoons and was soon decorated and promoted after capturing a German general near Pskov, at the small town of Nevel. He was wounded in action on more than one occasion, as well as suffering from the effects of mustard gas. Transferred to the Romanian front, he found himself deserted by nearly everyone under his command as the Russian Revolution took hold.
Ivan and other Tsarist supporters made their way to Odessa on the Black Sea, which had been occupied by French and allied forces. Ivan was made impromptu food administrator for the beleaguered city, but was soon captured and imprisoned after the Bolsheviks forced an allied withdrawal. Being a resourceful chap, he was able to escape, and, briefly, led another White Russian contingent in what was - by now - clearly a futile campaign. Ivan eventually slipped across the Turkish border and found sanctuary in Constantinople. From there, he went on to Vienna and then Germany, where he found his first acting opportunities. He later proceeded to Paris, where a chance meeting with legendary director D.W. Griffith led to his being cast as Amiel in The Sorrows of Satan (1926).
Ivan arrived in the U.S. in 1925 and became a naturalised citizen within the year. After another good supporting role opposite Gloria Swanson in The Love of Sunya (1927), he had a good spell in dashing secondary leads at RKO between 1929 and 1931. After that, the stature of his roles began to diminish. He was increasingly typecast as suave continental rogues, gigolos and con-men (if not Russian/Spanish/French counts, princes and army officers - many of them phony), invariably sporting a thin moustache and slicked back hair. By the mid-1940's, Ivan had slipped into relative obscurity with just a few more bit parts and cameos, before his early death from a heart attack in March 1953.- Actor
Sol Horwitz was born on 4 November 1872 in Kovno, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. He was an actor. He was married to Jennie Horwitz. He died on 19 December 1943 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Jesse De Vorska was born on 13 July 1898 in Kovno, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. He was an actor, known for The Spider (1931), Around the Corner (1930) and The Last Parade (1931). He died on 27 December 1999 in Westwood, California, USA.
- Emma Goldman was born on 27 June 1869 in Kovno, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. She was a writer, known for Good Enough for the People (2011). She died on 14 May 1940 in Toronto, Canada.
- Nina Star was born in 1913 in Kovno, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. She was an actress, known for The Scarecrow (1921), Nina Star (1927) and L'horloge magique ou La petite fille qui voulait être princesse (1928). She died in 1984 in France.
- Director
- Writer
- Animation Department
Irene Starewicz was born on 24 September 1907 in Kovno, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. She was a director and writer, known for The Story of the Fox (1937), Fleur de fougère (1949) and Fétiche en voyage de noces (1936). She died on 15 December 1992 in Fontenay-sous-Bois, Val-de-Marne, France.- Luba Kadison was born on 13 December 1906 in Kovno (now Kaunas), Lithuania. She was an actress, known for Lux Video Theatre (1950), Goodyear Playhouse (1951) and The Goldbergs (1949). She was married to Joseph Buloff. She died on 4 May 2006 in New York, New York, USA.
- Kazimiera Kymantaite was born on 29 June 1909 in Kurshany, Shavli uyezd, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Kursenai, Siauliai County, Lithuania]. She was an actress, known for June, the Beginning of Summer (1969), Svetimi (1962) and Markizas ir piemenaite (1978). She died on 21 May 1999 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Monika Mironaite was born on 25 April 1913 in Rakishki, Novoaleksandrovsk uyezd, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Rokiskis, Panevezys County, Lithuania]. She was an actress, known for A Small Confession (1971), Ave, vita! (1969) and Zaltvyksles (1980). She died on 29 June 2000 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Production Designer
Varvara Stepanova was born on 9 November 1894 in Kovno, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. She was a production designer, known for Svoi i chuzhiye (1928). She died on 20 May 1958 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].- Producer
- Production Manager
- Director
Serge Sandberg was born on 27 November 1879 in Kovno, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. He was a producer and production manager, known for Dans les steppes de l'Asie Centrale (1937), Stenka Razine (1937) and Fauvette (1918). He died on 5 January 1981 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France.- Director
- Cinematographer
- Writer
Jaroslaw Brzozowski was born on 22 June 1911 in Kovno, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. He was a director and cinematographer, known for Interpretacje (1965), W zatoce bialych niedzwiedzi (1961) and Helioplastika (1965). He died on 29 August 1969 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Czeslaw Milosz was born on 30 June 1911 in Szetejnie, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Seteniai, Lithuania]. He was a writer, known for Robinson warszawski (1950), Teatr Polskiego Radia (2004) and Dolina Issy (1982). He was married to Carol Marie Thigpen and Janina Dluska. He died on 14 August 2004 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland.
- Valerijonas Derkintis was born on 15 November 1904 in Ketunay, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire. He was an actor, known for Adam Wants to Be a Man (1959), Kol nevelu... (1957) and Ausra prie Nemuno (1953). He died on 5 March 1979 in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, USSR.
- Anna Brodele was born on 16 September 1910 in Taurage, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Taurage, Samogitia, Lithuania]. Anna was a writer, known for Ilze (1959). Anna died on 29 September 1981 in Riga, Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic [Riga, Latvia].
- Vladimir Vladomirskiy was born on 18 October 1893 in Kovno, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. He was an actor, known for Kastus Kalinovskiy (1928), Poleskaya legenda (1957) and Kto smeyotsya poslednim (1955). He died on 24 January 1971 in Minsk, Minsk Oblast, Byelorussian SSR, USSR [now Minsk Region, Belarus].
- Actor
- Writer
Roman Rubinshtein was born on 25 October 1898 in Kovno, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. He was an actor and writer, known for Napoleon-gaz (1925), The New Babylon (1929) and Oblomov (1965). He died on 1 November 1966 in Leningrad, USSR [now Saint Petersburg, Russia].- Vladimir Sukhomlinov was born on 4 August 1848 in Kovno, Russian Empire [now Kaunas, Lithuania]. He died on 1 February 1926.
- Venyamin Zuskin was born on 28 April 1899 in Ponevezh, Ponevezh uyezd, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Panevezys, Panevezys County, Lithuania]. He was an actor, known for A Jew at War (1930), Granitsa (1935) and A Greater Promise (1936). He died on 12 August 1952.
- Lucija Baumane was born on 28 October 1905 in Laukzeme, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Kretinga District Municipality, Lithuania]. She was an actress, known for Naves ena (1972), Dundurins (1974) and A Birdless Night (1979). She died on 22 June 1988 in Riga, Latvian SSR, USSR [now Latvia].
- Emmanuel Lévinas was born on 12 January 1912 in Kovno, Russian Empire. He was married to Raissa Levi. He died on 25 December 1995 in Paris, France.
- Juozas Siparis was born on 26 February 1894 in Kusiai, Raseiniai Uyezd, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire [now Silale District Municipality, Taurage County, Lithuania]. He was an actor, known for Ausra prie Nemuno (1953) and Maryte (1947). He died on 5 April 1970 in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, USSR [now Lithuania].