Blackface to Blacklist: Al Jolson, Larry Parks, and "the Jolson Story" (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Originally published in 1987 by Scarecrow Press, an illustrated history of the 1946 Hollywood biographical musical, The Jolson Story, and its star, Larry Parks. It chronicles the career of Parks, particularly the deterioration following his admission to holding Communist beliefs.

About the Author

Doug McClelland, a former newspaper and magazine editor, is a writer-lecturer on film. He is the author of eleven books, including "Susan Hayword: The Divine Bitch", "Down the Yellow Brick Road: The Making of the Wizard of Oz", and "Hollywood on Ronald Reagan". He has written for such periodicals as "After Dark", "Films in Review", "Films of the Golden Age", and "Hollywood Studio Magazine". --This text refers to the Textbook Binding edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 284 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Pr (December 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810819651
• ISBN-13: 978-0810819658
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,642,091 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Guess Who Didn't Sing Again., December 21, 1999

By	Ray Carnay (Eugene, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blackface to Blacklist (Textbook Binding)

I could probably add another "star" to the rating of this book if McLelland would make at least one correction. This is really not a review but rather an important comment. Important, at least, to me.

On a back page of "Blackface to Blacklist" is a photo of Saul Silverman. He is credited as having dubbed the cantorial voice for papa Yoelson (Ludwig Donath) in both the Jolson Story and Jolson Sings again. Doug is HALF right. Silverman did the cantorial dubs for Donath in The Jolson Story. In Jolson Sings Again, however, the voice was that of Ray Carnay who was the Cantor at Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills. Since I am the one who did the cantorial vocal I'd like to set the record straight. My Columbia press releases, photo with thanks inscribed by Donath and countless news articles in my files lend credence to my claim. I'd like to get this information to McClelland. The International AL Jolson Society has already received this information and corrections will be made in their archives and future releases.

Great memories!

Ray Carnay 1336 Emerald Park Dr. Eugene, OR 97404-2708 541/461-6161 541/688-2242 541/688-1234

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars GOOD BUT NOT GREAT, April 12, 2000

By	David E. Lobosco (Glenshaw, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Blackface to Blacklist (Textbook Binding)

When I got this book, I couldn't wait to pour through the contents. However, I was disappointed in that the book gave too much of a book report on "The Jolson Story" and "Jolson Sings Again", and not enough time to Larry Parks. The book is worth reading, and I did learn some interesting tidbits. However, it did leave me wanting more. Other books may be better, but to a new fan of Al Jolson/Larry Parks it may be more fullfilling than it was to me.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very informative, fast moving with great pictures., August 24, 1999

By A Customer

This book is just what I needed. One of my favorite actors is Larry Parks. Trying to find movies and any information about him nearly impossible, it was wonderful to find a book about two of his movies, with pictures.

This book will also interest all Al Jolsen fans and classic movie buffs or anyone interested in how movies are made. It took you backstage to how the movies about Jolsen were conceived and made, with intereview with the actual participants. Lots of backstage gossip.

For me it was the pictures and information about Larry Parks. I wish to thank the author when trying to find anything about Parks is like trying to navigate a Black Hole, which is a pity and a great loss.