Evening star., 1950-10-24

father, the late Rabbi Moses Y
AL Jolson, who died last night in
San Francisco, is well remembered
along Fourth street S.W. 1t used
to be -Four -and-a- half street."
but the fraction was dropped
years ago.
The former home of Rabbi
Moses Yoelson at 7l3 is now
owned by Max Sherman, who
operates liquor store across the
street. The first floor of the house
has been converted into a florist
shop run by Rhoney Brook.
Most of the Yoelson family's
friends and neighbors have moved
away but a few still are in bust
ness nearby.
Never Forgot Way Home.
1t was far cry from Four and
a-Half street to the bright lights,
but AL Jolson was a man who
made the jumps-both ways
easily. He was a big star but he
was also a man who never forgot
his way back home.
On recent visits AL would belle
his age with a crew haircut and
a turtle neck sweater. He would
always come through with a story
for the press-how his gang used
to fight with the gang of Bo-
jangles Robinson, the great tap
dancer, in Southwest; how he and
Babe Ruth were together at st.
Mary's Industrial School in Bal
timore.
His Quotes Were Quotable.
He kept things happening at
press conferences with quick body
movements and quick quotes. Re-
porters never had to look for an
angle" when Al started to talk.
Everything he said was quotable
Everybody called him Al.
One interview ran this way:
1t was last year in room at the
Carlton Hotel. 1t was just
another hotel room until you put
JolSon in it. Then it was like a
stage. and you were on it. Al had
a way of giving" when he just
said hello at close range in the
manner performers do when
they're trying to ''project" to the
people in the back row.
Lots of Hollywood men were
standing around AL saying yes, :"
as AL avidly read the latest base
ball news from newspaper lying
on the desk and exicteedly talked
about the Senators. You got tn
idea Al was just excited about
baseball, but when you talked tc
him about anything you got the
same Jolson excitement.
I'm JOlson."
The Hollywood men were look
ing SNUG and laughing when a
girl newspaper reporter walked in.
They went right on talking to A.,
but he interrupted them with one
swift move. Rushing up to the
reporter, he made a big definite
step with his right foot and set
tied on it long enough to say I'm
Jolson" as he thrust out his right
hand for a powerful handshake.
The Hollywood men showed they
had heard the reporters questions
before, but not Jolson. He an
swered with enthusiastic quotes
and illustrated his talk. One
minutes he was boxing like I used
to when 1 was a toughie and had
to live like one on old Four-and-
a-Half street S.W." The next min
ute your eyes focused on his small,
trinity -shod feet as he pointed out
a scar where he nearly cut off his
foot jumping over a Southwest
fence" He landed on a broken
bottle.
"A girl at the office wants to
know your right age, AL" a report
er said.
I'm 61," he said. ASK her if
that's old enough"
Are you tired of seeing people
initiate you?" he was asked.
Tired of Everything"
I'm tired of everything" AL
said, throwing up his hands. But
somehow you didn't believe him.
+ Sometimes he was invited to big
Washington events with many
celebrities present.
Many members and guests of
the Alfalfa Club will recall in the
early 20s when AL, the late Will
Rogers and the late George O'Con-
nor were the main attractions.
After Jolson and O'Connor had
sung some songs, Rogers observed
that it was interesting to hear the
two Washingtonians sing-but
"the best voice stayed at home in
Washington" a reference to
O'Connor.
Early Recollections.
This brought Jolson to his feet,
with the remark that he agreed
that O'Connor had the better
voice. Then he launched into
some early recollections of WASH
ington, one of which went about
like this:
I'm glad to be back here in
Washington. for it was right down
on the corner (the dinner was
held at the Willard Hotel, at
Fourteenth and Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. that I got my first real start
in business. I was selling news
papers one cold Christmas eve.
I had not done much business, but