Jolson, Famous Comedian, Resigns from Westchesterbiltmore Country Club

Al Jolson, Broadway comedian, resigned from the aristocratic Westchester Biltmore Country Club at Rye, N. Y., because of the club’s policy of discrimination against Jews, according to a report published yesterday in the “Daily Mirror.”

Jolson has long been a member of the club. Ever since his application for membership was accepted he has been welcomed on his occasional visits to the club.

Early this Spring Mr. Jolson invited Harry Richman, a cabaret entertainer, and one of his best friends, to the club. Mr. Richman was introduced to the members of the club. One of them, Richman says, urged him to put in an application for membership.

When the club was formally opened for the season two weeks ago, Mr. Jolson invited Mr. Richman.

“I was given a note from Roy Jackson, manager of the club, requesting me to call him on the telephone as soon as possible. When I called him, Jackson requested me to cease bringing undesirable guests to the club. He meant Harry Richman, he explained, when I asked what he meant.

“I demanded to know what was undesirable about Mr. Richman. Harry is an old friend of mine, one of the finest, cleanest, straightest fellows I have ever known.

“‘If you want it straight,’ responded Jackson, ‘I’ll tell you. Mr. Richman is undesirable for the simple reason that he’s a Jew’.” Mr. Jolson is quoted by the “Mirror.”

“That flabbergasted me. I asked him if he didn’t know that I, too, am a Jew.

” ‘Of course, I know it,’ Jackson said. ‘But you are an exception.’

“Well, I told him then and there that I was most certainly not an exception. I’ve always been a Jew and always will be. I’m just as much a Jew in the Westchester-Biltmore Club as I am at home.

“The next day I wrote to Jackson offering my resignation. Mr. Bowman, owner of the Biltmore Hotel, called me up to say he regretted the incident. But the resignation was accepted. It had to be.”