Al Jolson Podcast | IAJS

The Broadway show "Showboat" gave us many great songs. Here is Al Jolson singing one of the finest, "Old Man River," to close his Kraft Music Hall Broadcast of November 20, 1947. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

The only new song in "The Jolson Story," the "Anniversary Song" was a top hit for Al Jolson, and was covered by about everyone at the time. Here he is singing it on the Kraft Music Hall Broadcast of November 20, 1947. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Reaching back more than 20 years, to the Broadway show "Big Boy," Al Jolson started his November 20, 1947, Kraft Music Hall Broadcast with "Hello Tucky, Hello"! The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

"I'll Be Seeing You," written in the late 1930s, took on a new meaning during World War II. Although others have recorded it, Jolson breathed new life into this song on his Kraft Music Hall of November 13, 1947. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Plucking a then current tune from Broadway, Al Jolson sang the Rodgers and Hammerstein number, "A Fellow Needs A Girl," on his November 13, 1947 broadcst of the Kraft Music Hall. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

With a nod to then Princess Elizabeth of England, Al Jolson chose a classic song to sing for her, "Swanee," on the November 13, 1947 broadcst of the Kraft Music Hall. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

The first time you heard Al Jolson's voice within "The Jolson Story," after the title song, was his singing "When You Were Sweet Sixteen," in a quiet a capella voice. After Jolson brought back this tune from 1900, everyone from Perry Como to Barry Manilow recorded it, but Jolson was first. Here he is telling about and singing the song, from the 6 Nov 47 Kraft Music Hall broadcast. This performance...

Irving Berlin wrote "Let Me Sing And I'm Happy" for Al Jolson's film, "Mammy." It became the theme for "The Jolson Story," and for Jolson, himself. This performance from the Kraft Music Hall of 6 Nov 1947. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Always kidded about singing only old songs, Al Jolson wrote "All My Love," and introduced it on the Kraft Music Hall's first broadcast. Here is a fuller version of the song from November 6, 1947. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Al Jolson went back to "Golden Gate" to open the Kraft Music Hall of 6 Nov 1947. He introduced this song in his second motion picture, "The Singing Fool," in 1928. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Jolson concluded the October 30, 1947, Kraft Music Hall looking back as his stage shows so many years ago. He reminisced, and segued into "I Wonder What's Become of Sally. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Another "new" tune that Jolson plucked from a then current Broadway show, Jolie worked his magic on "It's Almost Like Being In Love," from "Brigadoon." This is from the Kraft Music Hall from October 30, 1947. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Groucho Marx guested on Jolson's Kraft Music Hall on 23 Oct 47 and had this routine about Jolson seeing Groucho as a physician. Eerily, this was exactly three years before Jolson died of a heart attack. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Often accused of singing only old songs, Al Jolson introduced a new song on the 23 Oct 47 Kraft Music Hall, "If I Only Had A Match." He liked it so much that he sang it twice. Jolson later recorded the song for Decca, and Sinatra recorded it as well! The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Al Jolson started out the 16 Oct 47 Kraft Music Hall with this great performance of "For Me And My Gal." The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

It's hard to top Al Jolson, Bring Crosby and Oscar Levant with a string of Gershwin tunes, with this segment from the 16 Oct 1947 Kraft Music Hall. Just sit back and enjoy! The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

From the second Kraft Music Hall, October 9, 1947, here are Al Jolson and Oscar Levant, beginning with some piano explorations, and then a great rendition of Gershwin's "Liza." The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

From the first of the Kraft Music Hall series, October 2, 1947, here are Al Jolson and Charlie McCarthy, the puppet persona of Edgar Bergen, with a unique rendition of "Sonny Boy." This arrangement was used later by the Andrews Sisters, and even Jerry Lewis, but this was where it originated. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jo...

Starting with some Jolson - Keeler banter, and punctuated by a Jolson remark, here is a greate performance of "A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody" by Al Jolson from June 15, 1936. There is more material in the complete program which, along with other Jolson radio shows, circulates on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Another unique item from the June 15, 1936, broadcast is this rendition of "Is It True What They Say About Dixie?" which included a rarely heard verse, and not Jolson's usual ending for the tune. There is more material in the complete program which, along with other Jolson radio shows, circulates on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Unlike other renditions of "Toot, Toot, Toosie," this one from a June 15, 1936, broadcast features sounds of Ruby tap dancng rather than Al whistling duing the bridge. One wonders it it's really Ruby's shoes or a sound man's device. There is more material in the complete program which, along with other Jolson radio shows, circulates on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Jolie and Georgie joined voices for a spirited rendition of the George M Cohan classic, "Give My Regards To Broadway," from the June 11, 1937, broadcast of "Hollywood Hotel." There is more material in the complete program which, along with other Jolson radio shows, circulates on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Introduced by George Jessel on the June 11, 1937, "Hollywood Hotel" program, Al Jolson sang "My Blushin' Rosie," with an arrangement and lyrics more faithful to the original than the version heard in "The Jolson Story." There is more material in the complete program which, along with other Jolson radio shows, circulates on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Appearing on Eddie Cantor's radio program on June 4, 1941, Al paid tribute to Eddie's wedding anniversary by singing "Ida" in tribute to Eddie's wife of 27 years. After the song, Eddie noted Al's generosity with his payment for the broadcast. There is more material in the complete program which, along with other Jolson radio shows, circulates on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

"California, Here I Come" was a song that Al Jolson loved to sing, as he does here on a May 13, 1942, broadcase to soldiers around the world. He said it was an often requested song, and it still is. There is more material in the complete program which, along with other Jolson radio shows, circulates on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.