Al Jolson - Kraft Music Hall 18 Nov 1948

|His Works|Radio|18 Nov 48 KMH with Groucho Marx

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 full length radio programs for your enjoyment.

This program is from the Thursday night Kraft Music Hall series starring Al Jolson, which ran from October 2, 1947, through May 26, 1949.

Groucho, Jolie, and Oscar

This program was originally broadcast on Thursday, November 18, 1948. The one, the only GROUCHO joined Jolie in the memorable broadcast.

After plugging the making of "Jolson Sings Again," Jolie sang a song that was not in the picture, but might be in the next one, "Little Girl." If only there had been a next picture. Listen for his acknowledgement of Bing Crosby, who walked in and walked out, at the end of this song.

Oscar Levant had just guest starred on Bing Crosby's program, and a review of his recent appearance set Jolie back a notch. After all this craziness, Levant played the second movement of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23.

Ken Carpenter jumped in next, with a commercial for Kraft Cheese. Somehow jealous, Levant then compared Jolie to Kraft's product. Jolson followed the jokes with the song heard as the first Jolson song in "The Jazz Singer," "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face." To close this set, Jolson sang an old, old, song, "I Wonder What Became Of Sally."

We all get notice how early Christmas shopping season seems to start every year. Well, even back in 1948 it was this early, as Jolson sang a song called "I'm Doing My Christmas Dreaming Early" on this week's show.

Thanksgiving cheese was the topic of Mr. Carpenter's commercial, following which Groucho Marx made his entrance. At the time, Groucho was doing "You Bet Your Life" as a radio program. It migrated to televison years later. Enjoy Jolson and Levant as contestants of this special version of Groucho's program.

A few more good words about wheels of cheese were added to the end of this program by Ken Carpenter. I love the image of guards watching over wheels of cheddar for months and months.

Jolson closed the show with the comfortable tune, "In Our House." This is one of those mellow songs that showed the older Jolson voice off beautifully. I hope you enjoy it.

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 18 Nov 1948 Kraft Music Hall starring Al Jolson. Groucho Marx was the guest star on this program, but this segment is from the middle section of the broadcast, and features Al Jolson and Oscar Levant, in comedy and song. After a cheesy introduction by Levant, Al Jolson sang "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face," "I Wonder What's Become of Sally," and "Christmas Dreaming," a holiday song rarely heard today. Of course, photos help the imagination.

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Updated 17 Nov 24