[quote="Matt Quinn"]Well there's nothing like resurrecting a dead thread and muddying the waters at the same time
To my certain knowledge there were at least TWO Al Jolson impersonators in and around Glasgow. Our 'artistic' friend was one of course, but he was pre-dated by a very good friend of mine, one Mr Les Smith.
Les had been a cinema projectionist at one time and by the late 70's was encamped in the Audio Visual Unit of Strathclyde University as a storeman/projectionist. He was a HUGE Jolson fan and quite an expert on the man and his music.
Les had also at one point been involved in the variety circuit. He and his Wife Nan had an act that they toured 'round various clubs. I had the pleasure of filming them once in such a club in Port Glasgow. They were very talented people even if what they were presenting had fallen a bit behind the times.
Les' main act though was to dress up and mime to Jolson. Something he was VERY accomplished at, in start contrast to our busker friend. I'm sure some of the lads at the uni must have footage of him and speaking personally it would be nice to see it again. It wouldn't surprise me actually if the 'Jolson' that was spotted on Clydebank was actually Les rather than the other fellow. Les came from and lived in Clydebank (and was quite an authority on the area's history) and did quite a bit of charity work.
Sadly, Les was taken from us a year or three past. quite a blow as (apart from his smoking) he was a very fit, energetic and active man. He was also a very kindly man, providing much in the way of guidance and advice and even doing what he could to help when times got hard. After his retirement he set up his own 'mobile cinema' presenting film shows to the elderly and no doubt reviving many a happy memory for them. It was a real shock to learn of his passing.
Les never said as much to me, but I don't think he was at all impressed by his counterpart. My feeling is that the other guy 'pinched' Les' act, and never really perfected it. Certainly when the 'tags' started going up around the city Les expressed some very definite views as tot he mental state of the author!
But I guess they both brought a smile to a few faces and it's good that these things are remembered and recorded.[/quote]
They (Les and Nan) were neighbours of mine at one time. A lovely couple with a lovely family. Good people.