We Want Cantor: Part II Janet and Brian Gari Interview
We want Cantor, We want Cantor!
This week we continue with Part II of our special 9-part interview with Janet Cantor Gari, the youngest daughter of Eddie Cantor and Brian Gari the grandson of the legendary, “Apostle of Pep”. Janet and Brian will be sharing with us their stories and special memories about “Banjo Eyes”, Al Jolson, Bert Williams, Margaret Whiting, Sammy Davis Jr., the August 2006 Jolson Festival on Long Island and their ongoing efforts to keep the memory of Eddie Cantor alive even 42 years after his death.
The Tenth Annual
Margaret Whiting with Jolie on the
“Banjo Eyes”, the man of a thousand stares
We Want Cantor: Part II Janet and Brian Gari Interview
Brian Marcus Decker: When was the first time you saw your father perform in public? And what was that experience like?
Janet Cantor Gari: Well I always saw him perform in public but the first time I ever saw him in a book show was when I was 14. He did “Banjo Eyes” and it was the most amazing experience to me ever because, first of all, they gave him a standing ovation before he said his first line. And you could just feel the love going back and forth between him and the audience. I mean it was amazing to me, and then seeing him in the show and seeing how funny he was, I saw what made him a star.
Brian Marcus Decker: How different was Eddie Cantor with his show business persona versus his private family life? What was it like growing up as the youngest member of the Cantor family?
Janet Cantor Gari: Well, I was always treated as the baby until I think I finally had kids of my own and they decided I wasn’t such a baby, but he was a wonderful father. He was never "on" at home, ever. He was funny, but kind of like anybody’s father with a good sense of humor, and he was playful. In fact, he was a little devil is what he was.
The Magnificent Seven: Eddie and Ida Cantor with their five daughters. Beginning at the left, the girls are Marjorie, Natalie, Edna, Marion and our very special and talented Janet Cantor Gari (with Boots the dog)
Brian Marcus Decker: Out of curiosity, is it true that you father often had cornflakes and milk for dinner, even in fancy restaurants?
Janet Cantor Gari: Never
Brian Marcus Decker: Was your father really being considered for the scarecrow in the film version of "The Wizard of Oz"?
Janet Cantor Gari: So I was told. I really don’t know. I thought he was also being considered for Puck in "Midsummer Night’s Dream".
Brian Marcus Decker: Extraordinary.
Janet Cantor Gari: Well, I think he said, "Me, Shakespeare. What." And that was the end of that.
Brian Marcus Decker: Well I seem to recall there was a lyric in one of his songs where he talks about, as Shakespeare would say, "A wow".
Next Week Part III We Want Cantor: Janet Cantor Gari discusses
- Who was some of your father’s closest friends in show business?
- Didn’t you also live across the street from Ira Gershwin?
- Was there always music in your house growing up?
- Did your father perform for the family?
- Who were some of the other children celebrities that you grew up with?
1930’s board game
This is Brian Marcus Decker and thank you for joining us on the Jolson Blog. This is the first blog dedicated to the legendary life and musical influences of Al Jolson, The Worlds Greatest Entertainer and Friends and don’t forget to visit us weekly at www.JolsonBlog.com .
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