Al Jolson Home Page|His Works|Radio|28 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.

Doris Day and Al Jolson
Doris Day and Al Jolson
Making her second appearance on the Kraft Music Hall, Miss Doris Day joined Al Jolson on this program, originally broadcast on Thursday, April 28, 1949. 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. Swanee

It's one of his classics, and he said he could not let the season go by without singing it... George Gershwin's first hit song, "Swanee."

Oscar Levant was up next, with some discussion about the great outdoors. During this segment, if you have a good memory, you will remember hearing some of the jokes from the first season. After this strained session, Levant played a Rachmaninoff concerto.

Thanks to the AFRS editors, we next have an interpolated rendition of "I Only Have Eyes For You."

Doris Day made her entrance, and, after some bantering around, introduced a rarity to the Music Hall, a new song. Enjoy Doris Day singing "My Dream Is Yours," from the picture of the same name.

Next up, a comedy routine based on a Broadway Show, starring you know who! After a few flubbed lines, Jolson has his first song, "You'll Always Be Beautiful," which Jolson wrote with the late Saul Chaplin.

That Wonderful Girl of Mine

Somehow, the routine moves to the French Foreign Legion. Between the accents and jokes, this is one for the books! But, it ends with a wonderful song, based on an old Yiddish melody, "That Wonderful Girl Of Mine."

And then, the show takes a Jolsian turn, with an ending that harks back to Al's stage shows. A quick plot summary and we get Al Jolson and Doris Day singing, "Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey."

Exactly where the song came from, or when it was recorded, I cannot say, but enjoy next an interpolated version of "Where or When."

The program concludes with a really old song, one of Jolson's favorites, Paul Dresser's "My Gal Sal."



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

    
No time for a full recording?
Check our this one minute short!
     This is an excerpt of the 28 Apr 1949 Kraft Music Hall, starring Al Jolson with Doris Day, illustrated with images of the stars, real and composite, to get a feeling for the broadcast. In this edited segment, Al Jolson sings "You'll Always Be Beautiful" and "That Wonderful Girl Of Mine," Doris Day and Al Jolson do a great duet, and there is a comedy segment with Ken Carpenter and Oscar Levant featuring the usual assortment of blown lines and gags.


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This listing and material Copyright © 1995-2025 Marc I. Leavey, M.D. Baltimore, Maryland
Updated 27 Apr 25