Al Jolson Revival of Sinbad

[EdEval]

Al Jolson Revival of Sinbad#1

Posted: 1/22/18 at 9:07am

There are many Al Jolson imitators even today. I am wondering what brave actor or producer would be willing to be so politically incorrect and brave to do a revival of Sinbad(1918) with a white actor in blackface and re-create the show as it was done in 1918.  Perhaps do the show with an Afro-American entertainer in the lead instead.  I'm asking would you think it would go over?  What actor black or white could do it?

[raddersons]

Al Jolson Revival of Sinbad#2

Posted: 1/22/18 at 9:21am

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinbad_(musical)

Sounds racist but okay.

[darquegk]

Al Jolson Revival of Sinbad#3

Posted: 1/22/18 at 9:32am

Issues of racism aside, Wikipedia makes it pretty clear that "Sinbad" is not a great show- it's a Jolson star vehicle with most of his concert hits tacked into a kitschy musical revue. A successful musical juxtaposing the Arabian Nights with American jazz music already exists, and it's called Aladdin. It's also pretty diverse without the use of shoe polish- go check it out and see some tap dancing.

[markypoo]

Al Jolson Revival of Sinbad#4

Posted: 1/22/18 at 10:52am

I would much rather prefer a revival of Jolson's 1940 Hold On To Your Hats; in which he not only did not appear in Blackface, but fought Nazis, too.