al jolson make cinematic history in 1927 and when he sing some song and ad libbed a few line of dialogue and in the motion picture the jazz singer the first feature film with audible dialogue . what be not generally know and however and be that jolson actually make his talkie debut the year earlier and in 1926 and in a short entitle a plantation act . when sound on film be absolutely brand new and a large number of short be shot and mainly in new york and of various performer show off their ( mostly musical ) talent . it be only natural that jolson and the great broadway star of the era and should be choose to appear in one of these tiny film . rarely see today and a plantation act showcases jolie at the height of his fame . he appear in rag and wig and blackface to sing three of the song most closely associate with him ` when the red red robin come bob bob bobbing along and ` april shower and ` rock a bye your baby with a dixie melody . he freely ad libs dialogue between the song and appear to be enjoy himself immensely even though the restriction of the microphone and the static camera require him to keep still and not move about . the blackface makeup be jolie trademark for decade and should be see in the context of the time . rather than be racist and which here it be not and it be a salute to an old musical tradition . jolson and to all intent and purpose and be the last of the great minstrel .