"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie onFebruary 16, 1948 with Evelyn Keyes reprising her film role. Al Jolson who performed the songs for Larry Parks in the film plays himself in this version of his life story.
Highest-grossing movie in America in 1946. This marked the first blockbuster hit for Columbia Pictures in it's 20+ year history.
In addition to the fee he received for selling the rights to his life story, Al Jolson also was paid $25,000 for recording the songs for the film.
In the long shot of Jolson performing on the "runway", Al Jolson played himself; his only appearance in the film.
Interestingly, the cover picture of "The Jolson Story" soundtrack album, consisted of a drawing of two hands with white gloves, with no reference to his, at times controversial, "black face" makeup.
The film's accuracy was severely compromised by the fact that Al Jolson's third wife, Ruby Keeler, refused to allow her name to appear on screen.
The soundtrack album, released in 1947, was the first of its kind for a film. The album consisted of several two sided 78s , all performed by Al Jolson, each in a sleeve, like pages in a book. LPs would not be introduced until 1949.
The soundtrack album, the first of its kind. titled "The Jolson Story" (Decca), released in 1947, consisted of re-recordings by Jolson of many of his standards performed in the film to the lip sync of Larry Parks. It was first issued as 6 two sided 78 RPM records in an actual "record album". LPs were not introduced until 1948.
When Jolson attends the premiere of The Jazz Singer we hear the soundtrack, but Warner Bros. - which owned the rights to "The Jazz Singer" - would not permit a visual clip to shown in this film, which was made by Columbia.
When shooting the musical numbers, Larry Parks didn't merely mouth the words to Al Jolson's pre-recorded vocals, as was customary. Instead, he sang along to Jolson's records in full voice so it would look like he was actually singing.
When the young Asa Yoelson is at the burlesque theater watching Steve Martin, there is an usher standing behind him and slightly to the right of the frame. Many have speculated that this usher is actually the real Al Jolson himself, this is not true.