AL JOLSON’S BID

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 898, 15 February 1930, Page 27

AL JOLSON’S BID

INCOME MAY BECOME £1,000,000 EACH YEAR PLANS FOR COLLABORATION A sensational transfer in the world of talking pictures was announced recently. On the termination of his present agreement with Warners Al Jolson is to join United Artists. Al Jolson, as far as the public is concerned, was the creator of talking pictures. Other artists had appeared in talk ing pictures before him, but It was not until the presentation of “The Jaz;z Singer” that the talkies swept America. What "The Jazz Singer” did foi him in America “The Siuginf Fool” accom plished in New Zeaianu. Under his agreement with Warners Al Jolson is paid £45,000 in cash, with, in addition, a royalty of 10 per cent, on all gross receipts over £200,000. It is expected that “The Singing Fool” in Great Britain alone will make £500,000 gross.

£5,000 A WEEK It is, therefore, probably underestimating A 1 Jolson’s income, very heavily, to say that it amounts to £5,000 a week. The members of United Artists work on results, and may receive 25 per cent, of the gross takings of their pictures. Even if he were to make; only two pictures a year of the class of “The Singing Fool,’ 1 Al Jolson may anticipate an annual income of roughly £1,000,000. Fantastic as that figure may appear, it is quite within the bounds of possibility, because George M. Cohan, America’s greatest dramatic impresario, is, at the same time, joining United Artists, and will write and direct Al Jolson’s first talking picture for United Artists. GEORGE M. COHAN’S* HELP George M. Cohan is dramatist, lyrist, composer, producer and actor. He is the author of “Broadway Jones,” “Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford,” “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” "The Miracle Man,” “So This Is London,” and more than 200 other plays of every description. He is also the composer of the inspiring American marching song, “Over There.” > The combination of Al Jolson and George M. Cohan will be the strongest in the talking picture world. Al Jolson’s father was a Jewish cantor, who emigrated from Russia to America. The story of “The Jazz Singer” is said to be, in great measure, the story of Al Jolson’s own life.