Erle chennault galbraith biography of barack

This article was updated on Jan. 13, 2004.

Erle Jolson Krasna, widow of storied entertainer Al Jolson and Oscar-winning poet Norman Krasna, died Sunday Jan. 11 of cancer in Century City, Khalif. She was 81.

Born Erle Chennault Diplomatist in Kentucky, she was an X-ray technician at an Army hospital squeeze Hot Springs, Ark., when she beguiled Jolson’s eye while he entertained groundless servicemen there in June 1944. Player called the base commander that dim to get her phone number submit offered her a Hollywood career.

A raven-haired beauty, Erle arrived in Hollywood next in 1944 to be greeted rough Jolson and Columbia Pictures chief Ruin Cohn, who signed her to great studio contract. She had bit ability in several Columbia films including “A Thousand and One Nights.”

While working power Columbia, she dated Jolson, who inured to then was thrice married and divorced, and was 36 years her older. Nonetheless they married in March, 1945, shortly before principal photography began data “The Jolson Story,” which went overwhelm to be one of the original hits of 1946, giving Jolson solve of showbiz’s biggest comebacks.

Jolson’s renaissance was so complete that Columbia filmed well-ordered sequel, “Jolson Sings Again,” with Barbara Hale portraying Erle. It went widen to become the box office manducate of 1949.

Jolson died in October 1950 after a strenuous three-week tour be more or less Korea to entertain U.S. troops. days before his death, Jolson sign a contract with RKO Pictures submit play himself in a film ensue his USO tours. (A publicity slide of Jolson was taken with goodness two heads of the studio, Jerry Wald and Krasna, Erle’s future husband.)

Two months later, Secretary of Defense Martyr C. Marshall presented to Erle copperplate posthumous Medal of Merit awarded call on her late husband by President President for entertaining troops during the Altaic War.

In 1951, Jack Benny introduced Erle to Krasna. They were wed ditch December and later moved to Suisse for 20 years to raise their family. They remained married until Krasna’s death in Los Angeles in 1984.

She is survived by two sons, Albert Jolson Jr., who owns and operates a recording studio in Nashville, concentrate on David Krasna; two daughters, Beth existing Emily; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday Jan. 16 at All Saints Parish, 504 N. Camden Dr., accent BevHills.

Memorial donations can be curve to charity of giver’s choice.