Al Jolson was called the greatest entertainer of his era. He was born in Imperial Russia and traveled to America with his family. He and his brother learned ragtime songs and performed in the streets. They were determined to break into show business. Assuming a common trend of the time, Jolson started performing in blackface in 1904. His performances grew more expressive: he danced, stamped, cried real tears, improvised risqué jokes, and outrageous physical gags—even sashayed about with wildly effeminate gestures. With the film version of "The Jazz Singer," Jolson turned himself from a Broadway icon into a silver screen fixture in a series of 1930’s movie musicals. He extended his career by becoming a popular recording star and the singing host of radio shows. His career capped in the late 1940s with a movie musical based on his life called "The Al Jolson Story" and "Jolson Sings Again." He is pictured here sitting forward on his elbows and looking intently at the camera. ThesSoftness in his face suggests a smile.