SKU: 78194505667

Only in America

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Only in AmericaBy: Richard Bernstein A probing biography of world renowned Jewish singer and actor Al Jolson and the history of his performance in and the making of The Jazz Singer Al Jolson, born Asa Yoelson, immigrated from a shtetl in Lithuania to the United States in 1894 after his father secured a job as a rabbi in Washington, D. C. A poor, Yiddish speaking newcomer navigating a racially segregated and antisemitic America, young Jolson dreamed of becoming a

By: Richard Bernstein     
A probing biography of world-renowned Jewish singer and actor Al Jolson and the history of his performance in and the making of The Jazz Singer

Al Jolson, born Asa Yoelson, immigrated from a shtetl in Lithuania to the United States in 1894 after his father secured a job as a rabbi in Washington, D.C. A poor, Yiddish-speaking newcomer navigating a racially segregated and antisemitic America, young Jolson dreamed of becoming a star, and he did. Thanks to his immense talent and his knack for assimilating into new environments, by the time he reached his twenties he was the most famous and highly paid entertainer in America, making almost $5,000 a week at a time when the average American made $800 a year. Jolson’s public adoration and widespread acceptance as a star marked the beginning of an enriching cultural transformation, a moment when the American mind opened up to ethnic and racial differences, widening the gap of acceptability. And yet Jolson himself, despite being ferociously ambitious and gigantically talented, was crippled by insecurity, often nervous to the point of collapse, prisoner to his many vices.

Through Jolson, Bernstein simultaneously breaks open the history and legacy of the cultural sensation The Jazz Singer. Not only was The Jazz Singer the first feature length film with synchronized music and dialogue, but it was also taboo smashing in its content: The Jazz Singer is all about Jews, Orthodox and otherwise. Bernstein expounds on the making of The Jazz Singer, what the film meant then and now, introducing the many individuals involved in its production, including Samson Raphaelson, a young Jewish writer whose short story was the basis for the movie; the four Warner brothers, who made a fortune off it; and George Jessel, Jolson’s rival and the star of Raphaelson's stage adaptation of his short story. In the background emerges a picture of old Hollywood in the Roaring Twenties: cutthroat and greedy yet visionary and progressive. And while The Jazz Singer represented the future in many ways, it also dredged up the worst of the past, including Jolson’s use of blackface, common at the time.

At once a tale of the Judaizing of American culture and an acknowledgment of the challenges to come, Only in America is a glistening examination of a man at the center of a watershed moment in the arts.
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SKU: 78194505667

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Amazon Customer
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Good product
This light bar performs very well. I have purchased 3 of them
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Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2026
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Kaden Seevers
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Best option for Sim Racing Ambient Lighting
Item Package Quantity: 2
I picked up these Light Bars from Govee specifically for my sim racing setup to be used for ambient lighting, and they’ve exceeded expectations. The RGBIC technology is the standout feature. Being able to display multiple colors on each bar at the same time makes the lighting effects far more dynamic than standard RGB strips. During races, the lighting reacts smoothly to telemetry data—RPM, flags, rev limiter, and speed shifts all translate into immersive ambient effects that genuinely add to the experience. Setup was straightforward, but the real highlight was the seamless SimHub integration. Configuration was quick, and the light bars responded immediately once connected. No complicated workarounds, no lag—just clean, real-time feedback. If you're already using SimHub for dashboards or bass shakers, these integrate perfectly into that ecosystem. Brightness is more than enough for ambient lighting without being distracting, and the diffusion along the 31-inch bars keeps everything looking clean and professional—no visible LED hotspots. The WiFi connectivity has been stable, and the app gives you plenty of customization options outside of racing as well. For anyone building a sim rig and wanting that extra layer of immersion, these are absolutely worth it.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2026
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Janie G.
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 4
GREAT way to view TV
On initial set up and use of just few days I love this little light bar I'm 74 and I set this up in less than 10 min. Playing with Govee App took about same time for basic functions. The backlighting is great and now my room is lighted during night when I sleepwalk to bathroom. I'll decide later if I want to use adhesive pads. Currently it just sits on TV stand behind TV. All in all it's great! I would definitely buy again and highly recommend. Colors in photos are actually less bright in my room. The Govee App allows many many color variations. Just set up and create color palate for favorite colors and patterns. Eezee Peezee
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Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2025
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Jasmine Jazz
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Most Elegant Buy
Item Package Quantity: 2
Perfect, beautiful designs. Room submerges in colors. Easily installation, plug in and download app. Works perfectly -programs easy. Most compatible to the app.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2025
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Al luc
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Outstanding TV backlight edition
Item Package Quantity: 2, Item Package Quantity: 2
This is an excellent addition to a TV backlight. If you go into the GOVEE app you can sync this device to a TV backlight with a camera. You can add up to five lights. I recommend this for either a TV backlight or general ambience in the room at night. UPDATE 2025: I actually have 4 of these. 3 of them I synced with the TV strip light/camera using the GOVEE app for TV watching. The 4th one I use is on ambience lamp. These are made very durable/easy to set up. These things are not cheaply made I highly recommend
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Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2025

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