Al Jolson Podcast

Excerpt of the 07 Dec 1935 broadcast of the NBC Radio Studio dedication, featuring Al Jolson. This is a brief sample of the two hour broadcast, of which about an hour and a quarter survive, and includes Al Jolson singing "Cantor on the Sabbath." Jolson is one of many stars on the program, appearing several times in the broadcast. There is much more in the complete broadcast of this show, which circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 30 Nov 1949 Bing Crosby Program with guest star Al Jolson. Along with the great songs sung by Bing, Al Jolson and Bing Crosby joined voices in a duet with "Back In Your Own Backyard." There is much more in the complete broadcast of this show, which circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 30 Nov 1949 Bing Crosby Program with guest star Al Jolson. Along with the great songs sung by Bing, Al Jolson joined the program with a few songs, including the one in this podcast. With Bing's pithy introduction, enjoy Jolie singing and whistling "Toot, Toot, Tootsie," with more from Bing at the end. There is much more in the complete broadcast of this show, which circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 23 Nov 1948 broadcast of "This Is Your Life," honoring Ada Nelligan, a wardrobe mistress whose years in the entertainment industry were marked with the program. This is the Jolson segment of the program, recalling Al Jolson's contact with Ms. Nelligan some 23 years previously. There is much more in the complete broadcast of this show, which circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 01 Nov 1938 Lifebuoy Program starring Al Jolson with guest Gov. Al Smith. This is the closing segment of the program, with Al Jolson going over old times with the former Governor of New York, Al Smith. Al Jolson concluded the segment with a rendition of "Avalon." There is much more in the complete broadcast of this show, which circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 18 Oct 1938 Lifebuoy Program starring Al Jolson. This is a sample of the material in the half hour show, which also stars Martha Raye and Parkyakarkus, with guest stars Marie Wilson and Charles Butterworth. Al Jolson's songs, "Confidentially," and "When Day Is Done," are included for your enjoyment. Within the program itself, Jolson and Raye duet in "Sweet Georgia Brown," and several comic sketches are featured. There is much more in the complete broadcast of this show, which circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 01 Oct 1936 Sears program Then and Now guest starring Al Jolson. Along with other stars of the day, Al Jolson appeared on this programs celebrating Sears 50th anniversary, and sang excerpts of his hits in a biographical fashion. He also puts part of The Singing Fool on the radio, complete with "Sonny Boy." There is much more in the complete broadcast of this show, which circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 27 Oct 1946 Barry Gray Show with Guest Star Al Jolson. Al Jolson appeared on the late night talk show just after the opening of The Jolson Story, and for almost 90 minutes told stories of his life, joked, and sang. This podcast contains three of the songs from that evening, Ma Blushin' Rosie, April Showers, and Swanee, and there is much more in the whole program. There is much more in the complete broadcast of this show, which circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 26 Oct 1949 Steve Allen show with guest star Al Jolson. Al Jolson's candid, unscripted, appearance during this 45 minute broadcast is only hinted by the sample included in this podcast. Listen to him joke and interact with a very young Steve Allen, whose career was just starting, and thrill the audience with a performance of "California, Here I Come," with a long ovation in response. There is much more in the complete broadcast of this show, which circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 01 Oct 1946 tribute broadcast to Al Jolson. This star-studded program originated from both New York and California, and included George Jessel, Eddie Cantor, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Perry Como, and others, in an hour long tribute to the World's Greatest Entertainer upon the release of The Jolson Story. This podcast includes songs by Eddie Cantor, Dinah Shore, and Frank Sinatra, along with the ending of the program by Mr. Jolson. If there is any doubt about how those in the business felt about Al Jolson, this should get rid of them for all time. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 16 Sep 1933 broadcast from Belmont Park with Al Jolson. Having wrapped one movie, starting another, and headlining on the radio, Al Jolson took time to go to Belmont Park in New York, and appear on the radio to joke and call a race at the track. This is just a race and a little humor, there is much more in the 30 minute program. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the September 8, 1937, Memorial Concert to George Gershwin with George Jessel and Al Jolson. This brief excerpt of the two hour program includes Jessel's eulogy of Gershwin, and Jolson's performance of Gershwin's first, and greatest, hit, "Swanee," which he sang without whistling. An edited version of this long show circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the September 7, 1937, Lifebuoy Program starring Al Jolson with guest George Jessel. This clip from the existing 16 minute transcription of the broadcast features Al Jolson and George Jessel having fun with "Toot, Toot, Tootsie." The full existing segment of the broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the September, 1949, polio drive program in Baltimore featuring Al Jolson. In this edited segment, Jolson recalled his boyhood in Charm City, and sang "April Showers," accompanied by Harry Akst. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the August, 1942, Contact program starring Al Jolson. This program, broadcast in support of the military during World War II, featured Al Jolson as Honorary Soldier of the Week. This excerpt includes some topical humor, along with his popular "California, Here I Come." The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 13 Aug 1941 Treasury Hour Program, featuring Al Jolson. Having just closed his last Broadway show, Al Jolson joined in this effort to sell Defense Bonds before World War II erupted. Here is an edited version of his closing segment, which suggests the plot of his life story, The Jolson Story, to be made five years later. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 03 Aug 1938 Tribute to Irving Berlin featuring Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and Irving Berlin. This one hour radio program was both a tribute to Berlin, and a plug for the new movie Alexander's Ragtime Band. Along with the many other stars in the show, enjoy three great stars singing great Berlin tunes. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 08 Jun 1948 broadcast of The Eddie Cantor Pabst Blue Ribbon Program with guest star Al Jolson. Al Jolson took note of the 34th anniversary of Eddie and Ida Cantor being wed, and sang a song to them as only he could. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 23 Jul 1944 broadcast of Your All Time Hit Parade, starring Tommy Dorsey with guest star Al Jolson. Recovering from illness contracted while entertaining the troops in World War II, Al Jolson appeared on just this program during the summer of 1944. Singing two songs, one of which, April Showers, is featured in the podcast, he continued the work he started to maintain the morale of our fighting men and women. Harry von Zell is also featured on this broadcast. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 16 Jul 1940 broadcast from Arlington Park with Al Jolson. Appearing in Chicago promoting his last Broadway show then in preview, Al Jolson took time to call a race at the track. This is just the race, there is much more in the ten minute program. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.