Show how howl I 1 broke into athe the M movies ovi es j copyright by hal C merman T 1 L BY AL JOLSON DON T believe I 1 broke in the I 1 movies at all I 1 think I 1 sauntered into them through a front door that was left open by the warner brothers and there was a welcome mat in the hall I 1 at least I 1 did a lot of look ing before leaping I 1 looked into the movies several times during the years that immell abely preceded the development of pictures but I 1 be convinced that the silent screen was a proper medium for me to use to reach an aud ence several producers and directors tried to persuade me but I 1 was always debt ous I 1 went so far as to make tests to plan a story but I 1 was still dubious and finally decided that the silver screen was tor for me im still spek ab about out silent pic pie tures but the public has been kind in its approval of the jazz singer and the singing fool I 1 had resisted some tempting offers to try the silent picture and was on the road with my show big boy when the suggestion that I 1 make a singing picture was first discussed N W e were in denver with the show and before we left there I 1 had thought the proposition over and decided to make the experiment warner brothers who had just then perfected the and who had approached me with the proposal that al al jolson I 1 make their first full length talking and singing picture were notified that I 1 would accept their offer to make one picture dur during the rest of the tour of big boy we planned the story of the jazz singer and when the road show closed I 1 went to hollywood for the first tests I 1 was not easily won away from my intention to make the legitimate stage the only med urn um between the public and me but offered me an opportunity I 1 could not resist the success of the jazz singer is motion picture history it did break into the movies with a loud bang and I 1 found a new and satisfactory way of reaching a vastly increased audi ence having made the break and having learned that the public approved of the break it fol followed loved naturally that warner brothers wanted more pic pie tures and that I 1 was willing to make them in a way I 1 have gone hollywood I 1 have a home there and will probably always spend a part of my time and energy making pictures I 1 looked a long longtime time before I 1 leaped but once the leap was made into the movies I 1 had no regrets service |