Al Jolson Home Page|His Works|Radio|14 Apr 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.

Al and Margaret
Al Jolson and Margaret Whiting
This program was originally broadcast on Thursday, April 14, 1949, with songstress Margaret Whiting visiting the Kraft Music Hall. 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.

Hinting at an upcoming trip back east, Jolson's first number is a rousing version of the George M. Cohan hit, "Give My Regards To Broadway."

After this song, Oscar Levant takes center stage, with a beautifully performed rendition of "Clare de Lune."

Following the applause for Oscar, we are treated to an interpolated rendition of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," from a previous program.

We miss the commercial, but get an excerpt of "When You Were Sweet Sixteen." Jack Kirkwood, from the Jack Benny Program, then joined the show. He has a variety of novelty songs, or at least titles, to promote to Jolson.

The main guest of the evening was Margaret Whiting, who was the daughter of the songwriter Richard Whiting. Of course, Jolson said that he went out with her mother, I have no idea if that is true or not!

Margaret's mother, the former Eleanore Youngblood, was always her father's inspiration. Eleanore's sister, a vaudeville and nightclub singer, Margaret Young, had introduced the song, "Hard-Hearted Hannah, the Vamp of Savannah". And her godmother was Sophie Tucker. So could Jolson have been involved? It's anybody's guess!

Turning to a song from Kiss Me Kate, Ms. Whiting sang the number "So In Love."

After that solo, and a little clowning, Jolie joined Maggie in one of her father's songs, "Ain't We Got Fun?"

Jack Kirkwood returns, with more songs to plug, and a line or two for Henny Youngman to use, as well. But the segment is closed with the great Gershwin song, "Embraceable You," embraced by Jolson and Whiting.

Instead of the closing commercial, you get an interpolated "Ma! He's Making Eyes At Me." Seems like a fair trade to me!

Back to the original show at the end, just sit back and enjoy Jolson plugging an Irving Berlin song. Since he often said that any Berlin song he sang was the best, I'll let you be the judge, as Jolie sings, "What'll I Do?"


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 14 Apr 1949 Kraft Music Hall, starring Al Jolson with Margaret Whiting. The daughter of songwriter Richard Whiting, Margaret joins Al in two duets along with a turn of her own in this edited portion of the broadcast.


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This listing and material Copyright © 1995-2025 Marc I. Leavey, M.D. Baltimore, Maryland
Updated 11 Apr 25