Al Jolson Home Page|His Works|Radio|05 May 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.

Dennis Day and Al Jolson
Dennis Day and Al Jolson
Coming over from the Jack Benny program for a third Music Hall appearance, singer Dennis Day joined Al Jolson and the gang on this program, originally broadcast on Thursday, May 5, 1949. California, Here I Come

Al Jolson opened up the program with the full treatment of one of his classic numbers, "California, Here I Come."

Following the number, listen to Al talk about his son, and his recent trip to the circus. Of course, Levant has to duel verbally with Jolson, and I'm still not sure who won. Still, the concluding piece of the segment, Levant playing a Rachmaninoff piece, is a classic.

After the Kraft commercial, Dennis Day joined the show. Showing his versatility, enjoy the bit with Jolson and Day, including Dennis Day's variety of vocal characters. After all the fun and barbs, Dennis Day offered to sing a song, and, not to worry, "it's old enough to be sung here!" Enjoy Dennis Day's performance of "Indiana Moon."

A few more interchanges between Al and Dennis comes next, capped with Al Jolson singing "Look For The Silver Lining." After that, some more dialects, and even a jab at Al's brother Harry.

By The Light Of The Silvery Moon

In The Jolson Story, we watched Scotty Beckett lip sync Rudy Wissler's singing of this song, but in this program you can enjoy Al and Dennis sing "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" together.

Ken Carpenter does for cabbage and slaw what no other announcer could do in his closing Kraft Commercial. You'll want to go right out and buy some Miracle Whip after this one!

Just as this year, the Sunday following the program in 1949 was Mother's Day. So, Al Jolson closed the show the a song that should still be played every year, though it's not, "Remember Mother's Day."



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

    
No time for a full recording?
Check our this one minute short
of "Remember Mothers Day"!
     This is an excerpt of the 05 May 1949 Kraft Music Hall, starring Al Jolson with Dennis Day, illustrated with images of the stars, real and composite, to get a feeling for the broadcast. In this edited segment, Dennis Day shows his talent for dialect, and even a little Yiddish, as he paired with Al Jolson in a comdey routine, capped off with a duet of "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon." Al Jolson finished the segment with a rarely heard tribute to Mother's Day, "Remember Mother's Day."


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This listing and material Copyright © 1995-2025 Marc I. Leavey, M.D. Baltimore, Maryland
Updated 04 May 25