Billy McWatters: Charlie Douglas - Al Jolson
Thu, Aug 28th 2014 at 12:00 am - 12:00 am
Club's weekly meeting with guest speaker
Hawick Rotary Club was treated to an appreciation of the famous entertainer Al Jolson by Charles Douglas when they met last Thursday night. Chuck has had a lifelong interest in the artist and portrayed him from his birth in Russia about 1880. His father went to America to start a new life and once he had saved up enough money brought his family across about two years later. Al showed an aptitude at an early age for the stage which was popular at the time in the States and performed in circuses, minstrel shows, music halls and vaudeville. His career quickly took off and in 1926 he landed a part in "La belle Paris" and other stage successes being linked with Irving Berlin and others. Records were becoming popular and his career progressed with the famous "Swannee" reaching great heights. This all changed in 1927 when talking films were introduced but he adapted to this media and "The Jazz Singer" was a huge success. He also had an astute business brain and he maximised his potential by all means possible.
In 2005 Charles attended an event in Newcastle in honour of Jolson and was seated beside Rudi Whistler who had sung as Jolson in movies. Chuck played recordings of some of Jolson's notable performances which he had collected over the years but the highlight was when he played a track he recorded himself at a recording studio which was an excellent impersonation of the great man and much enjoyed by the members. Charles answered many questions which arose and President Sandy Bannerman gave the vote of thanks and congratulated Charles on an excellent presentation with musical accompaniment.
He had a cable from Jolson to local knitwear firm Pringle's where he said Mrs Jolson was delighted with the cashmere sweaters they had sent her and were envied by all the stars in Hollywood. He'd hoped to visit the mill to thank the workers but unfortunately this never happened.
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