Al Jolson was a Lithuanian-American singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. He was one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1920s, and was self-billed as "The World's Greatest Entertainer." Jolson was known for his "shamelessly sentimental, melodramatic approach" towards performing, as well as for popularizing many of the songs he sung. Jolson has been referred to by modern critics as "the king of blackface performers."Although best remembered today as the star of the first talking picture, The Jazz Singer (1927), he starred in a series of successful musical films during the 1930s. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he was the first star to entertain troops overseas during World War II. After a period of inactivity, his stardom returned with The Jolson Story (1946), in which Larry Parks played Jolson, with the singer dubbing for Parks. The formula was repeated in a sequel, Jolson Sings Again (1949). In 1950, he again became the first star to entertain GIs on active service in the Korean War, performing 42 shows in 16 days. He died weeks after returning to the U.S., partly owing to the physical exhaustion from the performance schedule. Defense Secretary George Marshall posthumously awarded him the Medal for Merit.According to music historian Larry Stempel, "No one had heard anything quite like it before on Broadway." Stephen Banfield wrote that Jolson's style was "arguably the single most important factor in defining the modern musical."With his dynamic style of singing jazz and blues, he became widely successful by extracting traditionally African-American music and popularizing it for white American audiences who would be unwilling to listen to it when performed by black artists. Despite his promotion and perpetuation of black stereotypes, his work was often well-regarded by black publications and he has been credited for fighting against black discrimination on Broadway as early as 1911. In an essay written in 2000, music critic Ted Gioia remarked, "If blackface has its shameful poster boy, it is Al Jolson", showcasing Jolson's complex legacy in American society.
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Some of their strengths
Al Jolson has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Energetic, Confident, Intelligent, Passionate, Communicative, Optimistic, and Extroverted.
Charming and Quick-witted
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Al Jolson is someone who is a charming, quick-witted, and energetic person who combines passion and intelligence with an ability to feel what others are feeling and to effectively communicate with them. A person who is ambitious and motivated.
Active and Precise
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Al Jolson well know them as someone who can be tough, active, and sharp, like a sword.
Independent and Organized
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Al Jolson as someone who is independent, organized, inventive, and generous.
A person who is curious and a loves learning, who seems to always know what to say, who has an optimism that can overcome any difficult situation, and who seems to be able to master almost any skill.
Communicative and Intelligent
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Al Jolson is someone who tends to have a desire to communicate with others, either verbally, through written form, or otherwise, and to have a knack for understanding art, beauty, and aesthetics.
They are also someone who is confident and creative, and who has a love for starting new projects, inventing new things, and giving back to the community.
Logical and Reasonable
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Al Jolson tends to be someone who is understanding, logical, and reasonable. Who can be intellectual and intuitive, speak the truth at any cost, be witty and sociable, and live life to its fullest.
Some of Al Jolson's challenges
While Al Jolson has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Al Jolson can be Status-seeking, Impatient, Hypocritical, Self-centered, Arrogant, Difficult, and Perfectionist.
Hypocritical and Self-centered
One of Al Jolson's key challenges is that they are someone who can be perceived as hypocritical and self-centered.
Al Jolson must also exercise caution as they can be short-tempered and aggressive, and can be excessive and unrealistic.
Domineering and Impatient
Al Jolson is someone who can be demanding, egotistical, and controlling, can have a lack of judgment regarding personal finances, be argumentative and stubborn, and who can have a tendency to be withdrawn and spend time in self-imposed isolation.
Indecisive and Distracted
Finally, Al Jolson also can have a hard time staying focused and can easily become restless.
