Al Jolson - Shell Chateau 14 Sep 35

|His Works|Radio|14 Sep 35 Shell Chateau

Al Jolson's experience with radio began in the dawn of the medium, and continued until the birth of television, and his death. He started the Kraft Music Hall, along with programs for Lifebuoy Soap, Colgate Tooth Powder, and Chevrolet, and died while waiting to go on to Bing Crosby's Chesterfield program. On this page, I will be featuring radio programs for your enjoyment.

From April, 1935, through March, 1936, Al Jolson starred in the Shell Chateau, broadcast on Saturday nights over the NBC Red Network. There were 39 one hour broadcasts, only a few of which survive.

The cast of this week's Shell Chateau
Jackie Hughes, Henry Fonda, Victor Young, Fanny Brice, Al Jolson, an actress who performed with Fonda in his scene, and Tish Lee and Al Stone in the front.

From Saturday night, September 14, 1935, enjoy the Al Jolson Shell Chateau program, with guests Jackie Hughes, Al Stone and Tishie Lee, Fannie Brice, and Henry Fonda. The orchestra was conducted by Victor Young, and Jack Stanton and Peggy Gardiner continued as regular featured players.

Jolie opened this program with the "Good Evening, Friends" that was his custom at the time. After the opening, Jolson introduced the guests for the evening, with a few choice jokes directed at each one of them.

Al Jolson opened the program by singing a song he had sung previously on the Chateau, "Moonlight and Magnolias."

Next up, young Jackie Hughes, an 11 year old child singer popular at the time. After comparing family trees with the boy, he sang the Irish song, "Macushla."

With an introduction by the composer, it seems, regulars Jack Stanton and Peggy Gardiner next sang a song titled "All for You."

You may recall that "Al Stone" was the part Al Jolson played in The Singing Fool, but it was also a stage name assumed by one Hyman Kaplan who, along with Tish Lee, trod the boards at many a vaudeville theatre. They brought their brand of comedy to their segment of the Shell Chateau this week.

Jolson returned to center stage to sing a medley of three songs: "Whispering," "My Melancholy Baby," and "Poor Butterfly."

Victor Young then had the orchestra perform a medley of songs from "Shipmates Forever." Dubin and Warren could sure write tunes!

Calling him "Harry Fonda," Al Jolson next introduced Henry Fonda in a dramatic excerpt from "The Bride The Sun Shines On," a comedy of the day. Here's a young star at the beginning of his career.

Although they were said not to be the best of friends, Fannie Brice was appearing in the movie "The Great Ziegfeld" as this program was airing, and appeard on this show, perhaps to help plug the picture. Anyway, we get to hear her "Mrs. Cohen At The Beach" routine, a classic. And then, she caps her performance with the song she called her own, "My Man."

Into a dialect for the closing number, Al Jolson had fun with the song from the movie Mammy, "Yes We Have No Bananas," sung in the Jolson style.

Promising another great show next week, Jolson signed off with his traditional "Thank You Father."

Listen to this radio program and watch a Video Podcast with an excerpt of the show illustrated with photos of the stars.

Click this link to listen to this week's program
		This is an excerpt of the 14 Sep 1935 Shell Chateau starring Al Jolson with guest star Fannie Brice. Al Jolson begins the segment with a medley of three songs: "Whispering," "My Melancholy Baby," and "Poor Butterfly." Jolson then introduces Fannie Brice, the original Funny Girl, singing her signature piece, "My Man." The segment concludes with Al Jolson singing a song introduced in his movie, "Mammy," although this time in dialect, "Yes, We Have No Bananas." Photos of Jolson and Brice, real and composite, let you imagine being in the audience.

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Updated 08 Sep 24