lyricook (October 4, 2008 at 10:34 pm)

Goldman DID NOT work closely with the Cantor family--just me, Janet Cantor Gari. He called constantly, not for information about my father, just to rant about his own family and how he "wished he had killed his father when he was a teenager!" He later admitted privately that if he didn't have a source, he'd invent one! As for his several innuendos that Jolson might have been bisexual, I had to explain to this grown man that a misogynist is not gay. The Fanny Brice book was a total flop.

voglesque89 (September 30, 2008 at 4:51 am)

actually, one of their "minions" was just a fellow youtuber. Either that, or I've been playing a year-long game of "who would you do" with a member of the Cantor family.And the criticism was of apparent contradiction in his writing style every other page.

LazlosPlane (September 29, 2008 at 4:53 pm)

Further to above, Mr. Goldman's Cantor book won the ASCAP Award for "Best Biography of the Year," no small honor. It's too bad what happened with the Cantor family. The book is an extremely valuable document of Cantor's life and career.

LazlosPlane (September 29, 2008 at 2:53 pm)

As something of a scholar myself (music history) I can tell you with certainty the "Banjo Eyes" is about as good, authoratative, accurate, and unbiased biogaphy as you can find. Interestingly, Eddie's "dalliances" are only mentioned in passing, and have very little weight compared with the gravity and profoundity of the man's benevolence, and talent. The Cantors just refuse to accept it. Pitifully sad, really. The book does enormous justice to Mr. Cantor.

LazlosPlane (September 29, 2008 at 2:50 pm)

Yes, you probably heard that from a member of the Cantor family or one of their minions who have been spreading the word that the bio is worthless. Sadly, Herb Goldman worked very closely with the family on this book, and when it came to discuss Eddie's "dalliances" with the opposite sex, they were adamantly against it, and cut-off themselves off from Mr. Goldman. Judging by his other works (ie, Jolson bio, Fanny Brice bio) Mr. Goldman was not to be bullied into playing with the truth.

voglesque89 (September 29, 2008 at 2:45 pm)

Actually, I've always heard that that biography is really awful...

LazlosPlane (September 29, 2008 at 7:40 am)

May I also strongly recommend, for those interested in Cantor, his life and career, a first-class bio "Banjo Eyes," by Herbert G. Goldman. You'll find that Cantor was more, much more than a great entertainer. In fact, he may have been one of the great men of the twentieth century. Really.

oxofro (September 26, 2008 at 7:32 pm)

Thanks for this - he's such a great performer!I laughed out loud when he made the sudden change to the 'phone' gesture. It's incredible that we're still able to see a film that includes a (at the time)topical joke about the change from candlestick-style telephones. Even more incredible that it's still funny! A credit to him.

HarborGuy (September 2, 2008 at 12:41 am)

Ole "Banjo Eyes" at his best. Even the color is good for the time........5 Stars

LazlosPlane (August 27, 2008 at 8:56 pm)

Fabulous. Thanks for posting this.