My grandmother used to sing this song in the car. My grandparents had migrated from cold old Rochester, New York, to sunny Southern California in the 1920s, just when this song was at the height of its popularity. They were probably singing “California, Here I Come” all the way.
Al Jolson’s recording of the song just entered the public domain. It is out of copyright so the recording can be played and the song can be recorded without seeking permission from the copyright owner. Other popular songs from 1924, like “Ain’t Misbehavin'” and “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” are also now in the public domain.
Listen here to Al Jolson singing “California, Here I Come.” https://www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-69143/
Other works of art have a slightly shorter (although still very long) copyright term of 95 years. Quite a few famous (and not so famous) works of literature, paintings, photographs, films (talkies were new) and cartoons (early Mickey Mouse, Popeye!) are now in the public domain. To explore what’s new in public domain, or learn more about it, check out these two websites.
goldfields 