In the spring of 1902, Jolson accepted a job with Walter L. Main's circus.
Although Main had hired him as an usher, Main was impressed by Jolson's singing voice and gave him a position as a singer during the circus's Indian Medicine Side Show segment.
By the end of the year, the circus had folded and Jolson was again out of work.
In May 1903, the head producer of the burlesque show Dainty Duchess Burlesquers agreed to give Jolson a part in one show.
He performed "Be My Baby Bumble Bee", and the producer agreed to keep him, but the show closed by the end of the year.
He avoided financial troubles by forming a vaudeville partnership with his brother Hirsch, a vaudeville performer known as Harry Yoelson.
The brothers worked for the William Morris Agency.
Jolson and Harry formed a team with Joe Palmer.
During their time with Palmer, they were able to gain bookings in a nationwide tour.
However, live performances were falling in popularity as nickelodeons attracted audiences; by 1908, nickelodeon theaters were dominant throughout New York City.
While performing in a Brooklyn theater in 1904, Jolson began performing in blackface, which boosted his career.
He began wearing blackface in all of his shows.

In late 1905, Harry left the trio after an argument with Jolson.
Harry had refused his request to take care of Joe Palmer, who was in a wheelchair.
After Harry's departure, Jolson and Palmer worked as a duo but were not particularly successful.
By 1906 they agreed to separate, and Jolson was on his own.
He became a regular at the Globe and Wigwam Theater in San Francisco and was successful nationwide as a vaudeville singer.
He took up residence in San Francisco, saying the earthquake-devastated people needed someone to cheer them up.
In 1908 Jolson, needing money for himself and his new wife, Henrietta, returned to New York.
In 1909, his singing caught the attention of Lew Dockstader, the producer and star of Dockstader's Minstrels.
Jolson accepted Dockstader's offer and became a blackface performer.

According to Esquire magazine, "J.J. Shubert, impressed by Jolson's overpowering display of energy, booked him for La Belle Paree, a musical comedy that opened at the Winter Garden in 1911.
Within a month Jolson was a star.
From then until 1926, when he retired from the stage, he could boast an unbroken series of smash hits."

On March 20, 1911, Jolson starred in his first musical revue at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City.
La Belle Paree helped start his career as a singer.
Opening night drew a large crowd, and he became popular with the audience by performing Stephen Foster songs in blackface.
The show closed after 104 performances.
After La Belle Paree, he accepted an offer to perform in the musical Vera Violetta which opened on November 20, 1911, and like La Belle Paree it was a success.
In the show, he again sang in blackface and became so popular that his weekly salary of $500 (based on his success in La Belle Paree) was increased to $750.

After Vera Violetta closed, Jolson starred in another musical, The Whirl of Society, propelling his career on Broadway to new heights.
During his time at the Winter Garden, Jolson told the audience, "You ain't heard nothing yet" before performing additional songs.
In the play, he debuted his signature blackface character "Gus."
Winter Garden owner Lee Shubert signed Jolson to a seven-year contract with a salary of $1,000 a week.
Jolson reprised his role as "Gus" in future plays and by 1914 achieved so much popularity with theater audiences that his $1,000-a-week salary was doubled.
In 1916, Robinson Crusoe, Jr. was the first musical in which he was the star.
In 1918, his acting career was pushed further after he starred in the hit musical Sinbad.
It became the most successful Broadway musical of 1918 and 1919. "
Swanee" was added to the show and became composer George Gershwin's first hit recording.
Jolson added "My Mammy".
By 1920, he had become the biggest star on Broadway.

His next play, Bombo, became so successful that it went beyond Broadway to performances nationwide.
It led Lee
In the spring of 1902, Jolson accepted a job with Walter L. Main's circus. Although Main had hired him as an usher, Main was impressed by Jolson's singing voice and gave him a position as a singer during the circus's Indian Medicine Side Show segment. By the end of the year, the circus had folded and Jolson was again out of work. In May 1903, the head producer of the burlesque show Dainty Duchess Burlesquers agreed to give Jolson a part in one show. He performed "Be My Baby Bumble Bee", and the producer agreed to keep him, but the show closed by the end of the year. He avoided financial troubles by forming a vaudeville partnership with his brother Hirsch, a vaudeville performer known as Harry Yoelson. The brothers worked for the William Morris Agency. Jolson and Harry formed a team with Joe Palmer. During their time with Palmer, they were able to gain bookings in a nationwide tour. However, live performances were falling in popularity as nickelodeons attracted audiences; by 1908, nickelodeon theaters were dominant throughout New York City. While performing in a Brooklyn theater in 1904, Jolson began performing in blackface, which boosted his career. He began wearing blackface in all of his shows.
In late 1905, Harry left the trio after an argument with Jolson. Harry had refused his request to take care of Joe Palmer, who was in a wheelchair. After Harry's departure, Jolson and Palmer worked as a duo but were not particularly successful. By 1906 they agreed to separate, and Jolson was on his own. He became a regular at the Globe and Wigwam Theater in San Francisco and was successful nationwide as a vaudeville singer. He took up residence in San Francisco, saying the earthquake-devastated people needed someone to cheer them up. In 1908 Jolson, needing money for himself and his new wife, Henrietta, returned to New York. In 1909, his singing caught the attention of Lew Dockstader, the producer and star of Dockstader's Minstrels. Jolson accepted Dockstader's offer and became a blackface performer.
According to Esquire magazine, "J.J. Shubert, impressed by Jolson's overpowering display of energy, booked him for La Belle Paree, a musical comedy that opened at the Winter Garden in 1911. Within a month Jolson was a star. From then until 1926, when he retired from the stage, he could boast an unbroken series of smash hits."
On March 20, 1911, Jolson starred in his first musical revue at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City. La Belle Paree helped start his career as a singer. Opening night drew a large crowd, and he became popular with the audience by performing Stephen Foster songs in blackface. The show closed after 104 performances. After La Belle Paree, he accepted an offer to perform in the musical Vera Violetta which opened on November 20, 1911, and like La Belle Paree it was a success. In the show, he again sang in blackface and became so popular that his weekly salary of $500 (based on his success in La Belle Paree) was increased to $750.
After Vera Violetta closed, Jolson starred in another musical, The Whirl of Society, propelling his career on Broadway to new heights. During his time at the Winter Garden, Jolson told the audience, "You ain't heard nothing yet" before performing additional songs. In the play, he debuted his signature blackface character "Gus." Winter Garden owner Lee Shubert signed Jolson to a seven-year contract with a salary of $1,000 a week. Jolson reprised his role as "Gus" in future plays and by 1914 achieved so much popularity with theater audiences that his $1,000-a-week salary was doubled. In 1916, Robinson Crusoe, Jr. was the first musical in which he was the star. In 1918, his acting career was pushed further after he starred in the hit musical Sinbad. It became the most successful Broadway musical of 1918 and 1919. "Swanee" was added to the show and became composer George Gershwin's first hit recording. Jolson added "My Mammy". By 1920, he had become the biggest star on Broadway.
His next play, Bombo, became so successful that it went beyond Broadway to performances nationwide. It led Lee
Al Jolson