Al Jolson Home Page|His Works|Radio|24 Mar 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.

George Jessel and Al Jolson
George Jessel and Al Jolson
This program was originally broadcast on Thursday, March 24, 1949, with Jolie's old friend and sometimes rival, George Jessel, as guest star. 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.

Relating being in a restaurant for inspiration, Al Jolson's opening number was "Chinatown, My Chinatown." After the number, enjoy a bit of bantering between Al and Oscar, with a few Larry Parks jokes thrown in for good measure.

Oscar Levant then sat down at the piano for one of his favorite Music Hall numbers, the Grieg "Concerto."

Edited in very nicely, enjoy this interpolated rendition of "Nearest Thing To Heaven."

Back to the original show, Levant tickles Jolson with a medley of Spring songs, including "White Christmas," "The Last Rose Of Summer," and Mendelssohn's Spring Song. Well, this was a comedy! But Jolson let a young man's fancy turn to love, and sang a "perfect song for spring," "A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody."

Jolie welcomed George Jessel to the Music Hall next, and they spent a few minutes throwing barbs back and forth. Eventually, they cast back into their youths, and spend some time recounting their careers.

After a cut commercial, Jolson next soloed with a song only he could sing, "Let Me Sing, And I'm Happy."

And then, Jolson and Jessel set themselves up as minstrel end men, with Levant as Mr. Interlocutor. Listen to Jolson's put on accent, and compare it to the one he affected in movies such as "Mammy." Jolson and Jessel ended the segment with a parody of "Camptown Races." Unfortunately, two verses are cut in this AFRS version. Hopefully, the whole show will turn up somewhere.

To close the show, a song I've heard others do, but never like Jolie could, "Without A Song."


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 24 Mar 1949 Kraft Music Hall, starring Al Jolson with George Jessel. George Jessel joined Al Jolson and Oscar Levant in a series of jokes and personal recollections, capped by a recreation of an old time minstrel show.


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