RARE Al Jolson Esco Chalkware Statue Start Price USD 250.00 Current Price USD 250.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, October 25, 2008 End Time Monday, November 24, 2008 Location Westfield, Indiana See more about 'RARE Al Jolson Esco Chalkware Statue' Description Offered for sell is this EXTREMELY RARE Al Jolson Esco Chalkware Statue.  The statue stands about 14 inches tall and is in very good condition.  There are a few places where the paint has worn a little but it doesn't really take away from the piece.  Mr. Al Jolson, born Asa Yoelson on May 26, 1886, in Russia, was a highly acclaimed American singer, comedian, and actor, and the first openly Jewish man to become an entertainment star in America.  His career lasted from 1911 until his death in 1950, during which time he was commonly dubbed the world's greatest entertainer.  Many well-known singers such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, to name a few, were influenced by his music. By 1920, he was America’s most famous and highest paid entertainer.  From 1911 to 1928, Al had nine sell-out Winter Garden shows in a row, more than 80 hit records, and 16 national and international tours.  He is best remembered today for his leading role in the world’s first talking movie picture, The Jazz Singer, released in 1927.  He starred in a series of successful musical films throughout the 1930's.  After a few years break in the early 1930's, Jolson returned to his successful career working on the 1946 oscar-winning biographical film, The Jolson Story.  Larry Parks played Jolson with the songs dubbed in with Jolson’s real voice.  A sequel, Jolson Sings Again, was released in 1949, and was nominated for three Oscars.  (The first lip sync!) According to the St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, "Jolson was to jazz, blues, and ragtime what Elvis Presley was to rock 'n' roll."  He was the first popular singer to make a spectacular event out of singing a song; he became a rock star before the dawn of rock music.  His specialty was building stage runways extending out into the audience.  He would run up and down the runway and across the stage, teasing, cajoling, and thrilling the audience, often stopping to sing to individual members, all the while the perspiration would be pouring from his face, and the entire audience would get caught up in the ecstasy of his performance. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Jolson became the first star to entertain troops overseas during World War II, and again in 1950 became the first star to perform for GI's in Korea, doing 42 shows in 16 days. He enjoyed performing in blackface makeup (as he is depicted in this Esco statue) – a theatrical convention in the early 1900's.  With his unique and dynamic style of singing black music, like jazz and blues, he was later credited with single-handedly introducing African-American music to white audiences.  As early as 1911, at the age of 25, he also became noted for fighting black discrimination on the Broadway stage.  Jolson’s well-known theatrics and his promotion of equality on Broadway helped pave the way for many black performers, playwrights, and songwriters, including Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and Ethel Waters.    Stereotypes embodied in the stock characters of blackface minstrelsy played a significant role in cementing and proliferating racist images, attitudes and perceptions worldwide.  In some quarters, the caricatures that were the legacy of blackface persist to the present day and are a cause of ongoing controversy.  By the mid-20th century, changing attitudes about race and racism effectively ended the prominence of blackface makeup used in performance in the U.S. This would be a nice piece for any collection.   PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY:  All of the items I list come from my own personal collection, which over the years I have purchased at estate sales, garage sales, and/or auctions.  Although I try to make sure that the items are as clean as possible; if you have allergy problems with dust or smoke--PLEASE DO NOT BUY MY ITEMS.  I will not be held responsible for these types of condition problems as they are beyond my control. Payment and Shipping Instructions:  PAYPAL ONLY! {{{PAYMENT IS EXPECTED WITHIN 7 DAYS UNLESS PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE!}}} NO PERSONAL CHECKS!  Canadian customers, Mexican customers and International customers must use Paypal ONLY.  I charge a $3.00 handling fee on all international orders.  Your order will be shipped when payment has cleared.  I will combine purchases for reduced shipping charges.  No returns or refunds!  All items sold as is.  Please ask any and all questions before bidding or buying and take a good look at the picture(s).  If there is a legitimate reason the buyer is not satisfied, such as an error in the listing; I will work with the buyer to find a satisfactory solution to both parties.  I try to be as honest as possible in my description but occasionally there may be an oversight.  I want repeat customers so I will try my best to resolve any issues.  Please refrain from leaving feedback until I have a chance to make things right.  Items will be shipped within 5 business days after payment has cleared.  Insurance is the responsibility of the buyer.  After the item is shipped from my address; I will not be held responsible for any damage that may occur.  I strongly recommend buying insurance for fragile or expensive items.  I would personally recommend insurance for any item over $50.00. 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