Jolson Made Encino’s Voice Be Heard

Known by fans as one of the happiest couples in Hollywood, Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler made their home in Encino during their 11-year marriage.

The couple built their $150,000, 15-room house in 1935 on Louise Avenue south of Ventura Boulevard. It was set on 12 acres planted with lemon and orange trees. Radio dials decorated the rim of a backyard pool and loudspeakers were installed overhead.

There the Jolsons raised their adopted son, Al Jr., who would later change his name to Peter.

Al Sr., best known for his role in the 1927 first-ever talkie, “The Jazz Singer,” was also active in local politics. He became Encino’s first honorary mayor in 1935, when 2,000 residents lived in the community and there was one grade school. He is also considered one of the founders of the Encino Chamber of Commerce.

In a letter to the community, he wrote: “All of us love Encino, otherwise we would not be living here. It is a lovely place; but we must be watchful to keep it so. And Encino still needs much: adequate lighting, crossing protection, school facilities, underground wiring, sewerage, a community building, playgrounds, protection against nuisances--and a united forward-looking community spirit.”

Meanwhile, Keeler kept busy as a movie star and mom to Al Jr. She and Jolson starred in “Go Into Your Dance” in 1935, the same year she appeared in “Shipmates Forever.”

The following year, Keeler starred in “Colleen” and followed up with “Ready, Willing and Able” in 1937.

Jolson, the proud mayor, often gave the growing community free promotion on his CBS radio show.

After he and Keeler broke up in 1939, Jolson sold the house to actor Don Ameche, Jolson’s co-star in “Swanee River,” which was released the same year. Jolson bought it back in the mid-1940s, when he married Erle Krasna, and lived in it until his death in 1950.