Al Jolson Home Page|His Works|Radio|24 Feb 49 Kraft Music Hall

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.

Andrews Sisters and Al Jolson
The Andrews Sisters and Al Jolson
This program was originally broadcast on Thursday, February 24, 1949, with the Andrews Sisters as guest stars. This transcription is an AFRS edited version, without reference to Kraft or commercials, and with interpolated songs. As before, if anyone has a clean copy of the original broadcast of this week's show, we'd love to hear from you.

By this point in the Kraft Music Hall series, the format which had been so preserved was beginning to unravel. Right from the opening, which the Andrews Sisters participate in, you know that this show will be a good one.

Jolie with his new growth

Asking to have "those girls outta my shower," Jolie leads off with a cute number, "Bright Eyes." This is not the same recording as the Decca version, showing us again that Al Jolson just could not sing a song the same way twice. Following the song, we learn that Jolie was sporting a mustache, with the inevitable series of jokes about his new growth.

After some fooling around, Al Jolson and the Andrews Sisters joined voices in a wonderful rendition of "'Way Down Yonder In New Orleans." This is the original, it was reprised on a Decca studio recording in April, 1950.

Next comes an interpolated song, courtesy of the AFRS, "All By Myself."

Back to the show at hand, the gang engages in lots of jokes about radio shows and performers of the day. Most of us will understand only a sampling of these lines, I'm afraid. This segued into a "Hillbilly" bit, with the finale being the Andrews Sisters singing "Feuding, Fussing and Fighting."

Oscar Levant finally got his turn at the piano, with a wonderful rendition of the "Moonlight Sonata."

With a crazy setup about an onion taster, Jolson then soloed with a beautiful "Am I Blue?" That is followed by an interpolated "They Didn't Believe Me."

On the first Kraft Music Hall, back in October, 1947, Jolson had fun with "Sonny Boy," playing it against Charlie McCarthy. Here he reverses roles in the song, and camps it up with the Andrews Sisters. The song never sounded so good!

Jolson closed the show with "If We Can't Be The Same Old Sweethearts." Nobody ever did the song better.


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 week's program

    
     This is an excerpt of the 24 Feb 1949 Kraft Music Hall, starring Al Jolson with Oscar Levant and guest star The Andrews Sisters. During this segment, Al Jolson and The Andrews Sisters sing two songs, "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans" and "Sonny Boy." Images from the time and from composites help visualize the interactions.


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This listing and material Copyright © 1995-2025 Marc I. Leavey, M.D. Baltimore, Maryland
Updated 23 Feb 25