Say it with Songs (Warner Bros.) (1929)

AL JOLSON in “SAY IT WITH SONGS’’—Warner Bros. Latest All-Talking, All-Singing Vitaphone Picture STORIES FORC JOLSON PRESENTS HIMSELF TO THE WORLD-AT-LARGE Born Asa Yoelson, son of a Jewish cantor, of St. Petersburg, Russia —became Al Jolson, master entertainer of the world—This is the outline of his personal history. Hes. hi Palins. SPOLS in the ; spectac % : ular. pro= gress are many — the most outstanding would include: The day he ran away from home to escape a ¢a CUPEERUREREREERRRCGECRORES ERE RSPERERRSEREEEEREEERESCREE EERE SSERSER EE RED AUCCUUSUUAUOUSEOUEACAOSDEREOESUUOEECESEUEECUERUEGEEEDESEEEEDETA U/l Jolson reer as a cantor in Se coetrately = the... ddewmah Cut or Mat synagogue. DEUGEREEEEDDEREREEERSGRSREREERRORREEEER EOS The day he joined a eir cus as ballyhoo man. The day he started his vaudeville career with his brother and one other. The night he first donned black-face make-up and stole the show. The night the Shuberts saw him and realized his possibilities. The day he signed with Warner Brothers to make the first full length talking, singing Vitaphone picture, “The Jazz Singer.” Asa was brought to America while yet a baby and was picked by his father as the one to follow in his footsteps and become the sixth in a succession of Jewish cantors in the Yoelson family. Against this the vyy eventually rebelled and while yet very young joined a traveling circus as a ballyhoo man, later changing to cafe entertainer. Family objections were finally overruled and Jolson—his brother and a third man, formed a vaudeville act and went on the road. Several years went by with in different success for Jolson while he played kerosene circuits and threea-day ‘houses from one ocean to the other. In 1906, following the San Francisco earthquake, while trying to make himself heard above the noise of a city undergoing repairs, he discovered his peculiar ability to please an audience by confidential chatter and songs from informal places, such as the top of the orchestra’s piano. A little later he was advised by an old colored man who was helping him dress, to black his face and see if it did not improve his ability to make an audience laugh. Then was born the greatest of all black-face comedians and “mammy” singers. He joined Dockstader’s minstrels and after two years with them he was seen one night by the Shuberts. Jolson’s climb into stardom on stage and screen was meteoric from that time on. Within five years he had outgrown the Winter Garden shows where he was cast and had become the headliner for them. Instead of “Vera Violetta” with Al Jolson, it became Al Jolson in “Robinson Crusoe, Jr.” Fabulous’ stage salaries were earned by Al Jolson. The screen made offers but he could not be weaned away from the stage. Then came Vitaphone pictures and the opportunity to be heard as well as seen from the screen. Jolson consented to try one picture for Warner Brothers. They called it “The Jazz Singer” and it made motion picture history. It was the first full length talking picture ever made and it revolutionized the entire industry. Jolson followed this with “The Singing Fool,” a picture which broke attendance records in all parts of the world. His third and greatest picture to date is “Say It With Songs,” showing now at the........ oe eae Theatre. “Why doesn’t Daddy come home to sing?” LS aa Scene from” Say /t with Songs"Starring Al JolsonA Warner Bros. Product ion Little Pal Listens in at Home While Daddy Sings in Prison Production No. 7—Cut or Mat Al JSo/sor URRENT USE Stock N-23—Cut or Mat—Order Separately DAVEY LEE AGAIN LITTLE PAL TO JOLSON, IN “SAY IT WITH SONGS” Four-year-old Davey Lee was the first player to be chosen for Al Jolson’s second super-special, “The Singing Fool,” and it was his astonishingly natural work as_ the tiny tragic figure, “Sonny Boy,” that caused Warners to elevate him to stardom—and to present him in the delightful comedy, “Sonny Boy,” Al Jolson’s selection of Master Davey as the “Sonny Boy” of the Singing Fool” meant a triumph for WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT JOLSON? . Where was he born? What was his name? . His father’s occupation? What was his first part? What circus experience? . His next venture? . First vaudeville team? . Who suggested black-face? . Joined what minstrels in 1911? . First Winter Garden Shows? . What was his first starring revue? . What is his third talkie? . Produced by whom? . Where playing? . St. Petersburg, Russia. . Asa Yoelson. . A Jewish cantor. . Child of Zangwill’s “Children of the Ghetto.” 5. Ballyhoo man. 6. Singing in cafes, then burlesque with Al Reeves. 7. With brother and another as “Jolson, Palmer and Jolson,” 8. An old negro dresser in Washington theatre. 9. Dockstader’s. . “Bow Sing” and “La Belle Paree.” . “Dancin’ Around.” . “Say It With Songs.” . Warner Bros., Inc. ie at) es Se ee a Theatre. PwWh Offer tickets for best ten answers to above questionnaire. the lad over one hundred and eighty sereen children who were being considered by the Warner Bros.’ casting office. And it was a personal triumph for Davey, for he won out all by himself. SUUCCUEEOCODOEEEREREEEEOUOESCUUEREEGOROHMSREESSEREREOROQESUREEOSREERESS = “Every Mother’s Son’ im Davey Lee Stock S-241 Cut or Mat Order Separately TOPTERREREEERERERERDRECREROSSRRERRERRECROCCREGERECEERSCSEGERERERERERROREROSERERSEEREOEE FEUEPERURUEGEERSEEREDOSECEEECHEOQHCOUEERREROEERERCOEESUERESEREREOERSE While Joe Marks, casting director, was interviewing the tot’s mother, Davey wandered out on the lot, and was later discovered by his frantic mother riding pick-a-back on the shouders of the star, Al Jolson. The two had already decided between themselves that Davey was to have the part. After seeing a screen test of Davey Lee, Jack Warner, production manager, expressed the belief that the child was ideal, having much of the charm that Jackie Coogan showed in earlier screen roles, together with utter lack of self-consciousness. The child has an elfin twinkle, a shy humor and a way of playing his part that is quite irresistible. Al Jolson again chose Davey as his “Little Pal” in “Say It With Songs,” Warner Bros. latest alltalking, all-singing Vitaphone picture now showing at the........... sit See Theatre. The child gives a most amazing performance as “Little Pal.” Jolson, Star of “Say It With Songs,” His Triumphant Life Al Jolson, star of “Say It With Songs,’’ all-talking, all-singing Vitaphone special, now showing at 111 eM ee POM) SRR Ai eas Theatre, ‘was in St. Petersburg, Russia, and brought to America at an early age, the family making their home in Washington, D. ©. The elder oelson—for so the family still] spells the name—was fifth in a line of Jewish cantors and quite naturally wished his favorite son to succeed him in the service of the church. Cantor Yoelson’s antipathy to the theatre must have been far ex: ceeded by his son’s love for it, for the latter, when still a lad, managed to: get a part in Israel Zangwill’s “Children of the Ghetto” and even to be engaged as ballyhoo man for a traveling circus. Some time after the Spanish War, while singing in a Washington cafe, his father had him placed under sur veillance. He soon became ill and was at once taken home. After an astonishingly swift recovery, he was off again, next being seen in an Al Reeves burlesque show. Vaudeville experience followed— himself, his brother, and a mutual friend appearing in a sketch under the name of Jolson, Palmer and Jolson. It was during this period that the idea of using burnt-cork was suggested by a negro dresser, his black-face work bringing him instant and tremendous recognition. He had been a member of Dockstader’s Minstrel for two years when one of the Shuberts saw him and at once engaged him for a Winter Garden institution, apper ing “ane “Bow, Sing,” “Ta, «Br Paree,” “The Whirl of Soc} “Vera, Violetta,’“Phe Honeymoon Express,’ “Robinson Crusoe, Jr.” Stardom came with the latter, among his later revues being “Big Boy” and “Bombo.” Jolson for years resisted the offers of motion picture producers but was finally won over by Warner Bros., appearing for them in the first great special production, “The Jazz Singer’’—a picture which broke records all over the country. This was followed by the even greater success of “The Singing Fool.” Now comes “Say It With Songs.” Al Jolson is recognized as the world’s greatest entertainer — whether on stage or screen. Funny Davey Gets Odd Fan Letters A letter dropped in a mail box in Chicago, bearing two words only, as an address, has been delivered. All that was written on the envelope was: “Davey Lee.” No address, no city, state or studio. It was sent directly to Warner Brothers studio in Hollywood where Davey Lee recently appeared in Jolson’s new singing Vitaphone picture, “Say It With Songs.” A week previous, another letter, mailed from Boston and addressed only to “Sonny Boy” was delivered to Davey’s mother. Such is fame. A year ago such letters would have gone to the dead letter office. There are probably a thousand David Lees, but following the showing of “The Singing Fool” there was only one David Lee and one “Sonny Boy” so far as the mailsorter knew. Davey does his finest screen work in “Say It With Songs.” AL JOLSON There is no other performer who holds such an absolute dictatorship over an audience. It is magical.... ALEXANDER WOOLCOTT, New York Sun. 2! a