Al Jolson Home Page|His Works|Radio|07 May 47 Crosby Program


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. Here is another full length radio program for your enjoyment.

Bing, Al, and Irving
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Just one month after his last appearance on the program, Al Jolson returned to Bing Crosby's Philco Program, joined by Bing and Al's favorite composer, Irving Berlin. Broadcast May 7, 1947, Bing opened the program with "Country Style," a tune that ran for a while in a powdered lemonade commercial.

After the song, Ken Carpenter eased Bing right into a Philco commercial, extolling the latest in modern technology.

It was his show, so Bing took the opportunity to croon another song, choosing the then hit tune, "Linda."

Introduced with every accolade, Irving Berlin then joined the show, commenting on the show and the star. In a tip of the cap to the contests so popular on the radio in the late 1940s, a "Mr. Mystery" contest is announced, with a long list of prizes and an obscure fellow whose identity is to be guessed. Don't worry, I won't give the secret away here.

Comparing song writing talents with Berlin, Berlin got a cut in about the "Anniversary Song," and Berlin countered with a comment about Jolson's age. Finally getting to a song, Irving Berlin sang his classic "Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning" as only he could. The comments after the song remain worth the price of admission.

Try to hold Jolson down from singing a Berlin tune, he offered an oldie that only he could do justice to, "Lazy."

A few comments about film biographies followed, including Jolson's, of course, and Ken Carpenter got a few words in about Philco.

It was duet time, so Bing and Al joined voices in another great Berlin number, "All By Myself." They segued that right into a radio version of a tune they had just recorded for Decca. Yes, this is, by dates, after the studio version of "Alexander's Ragtime Band." The dialog is similar to, though not exactly the same, as the studio version.

The last song of the program is "Easter Parade" sung by the boys. Irving Berlin gets his words and complements in to both Jolson and Crosby at the end of the show. Don't miss the bit about "White Christmas" at the end, though, with Jolson's comment to Irving Berlin. Click on the link below, and sit back to hear 30 minutes of three giants of the entertainment industry!


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

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     This is an excerpt of the 07 May 1947 Bing Crosby Program with Al Jolson. Irving Berlin appeared on this show along with Bing and Al, and all the music is his, of course. Here is a little clip with Bing and Al singing "All By Myself" and "Alexander's Ragtime Band." This live duet is a bit different than the released Decca version, which was recorded the month before, but you can see the similarity. Contemporary pieces from the newspaper and photos of Jolson and Crosby complement the audio track.


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This listing and material Copyright © 1995-2026 Marc I. Leavey, M.D. Baltimore, Maryland
Updated 03 May 26