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Al Jolson

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,...