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Contrary to what was portrayed in the
highly fictionalized biopics of Al Jolson, i.e. "The Jolson Story"
and "Jolson Sings Again," Jolson was married four times, not two.
The films only mention his last two wives.
At the time Jolson's career was
beginning to take off, he married a woman named Henrietta Keller.
They were married for more than eleven years--from the time of his early success
with Dockstader's Minstrels, vaudeville, and his first appearances
in such stage shows as "La Belle Paree," "Vera Violetta," "The Whirl
of Society," "The Honeymoon Express," "Dancing Around," "Robinson
Crusoe, Jr.," and "Sinbad."
It was during this time then, when
Jolson became arguably the major Broadway star at the time, that
Jolson was married to Henrietta. This marriage was in trouble early
on and ended in divorce.
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| Jolson was married to Ethel Delmar
(nee Alma Osborne) for less than four years. During this time,
Jolson continued his success on stage with such hits as "Bombo"
and "Big Boy." Ethel occasionally traveled with Jolson on the road as he
performed, but also was often left at home when he went on the
road. This became a lonely existence for Ethel. She wanted her husband home
more; she also liked to have an active social life. Now she had
neither. When he was home, Jolson
would talk to Ethel about quitting the business or taking time off
from show business to spend more time at home. There was even talk about
adopting a child, and they started the ball rolling on this. Jolson,
however,
made promises he couldn't keep. Jolson most always wanted to perform to an
audience; he was none too patient to sit at home very long. He was
soon offered the starring role in the production of "Big Boy," and
that was that.
This was all too much for Ethel to bear. When Jolson was appearing
in "Big Boy," Ethel was taking a ship voyage to Paris. Soon after,
she filed for divorce. |
