Al Jolson Podcast

Excerpt of the 20 Feb 1947 Burns and Allen Show, with guest star Al Jolson. In this portion of the show, enjoy the comedy of George Burns and Gracie Allen, and Al Jolson singing "I'm Sitting On Top Of The World," and "April Showers." The latter rendition is unlike any other Jolie ever recorded. The complete broadcast recording, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 16 Feb 1948 Lux Radio version of The Jolson Story, starring Al Jolson. Al Jolson played himself in the radio adaptation of his fictionalized film biography. In this brief excerpt of the one hour broadcast, you can hear William Demarest narrating, while Al Jolson sings "Ma Blushin' Rosie," "Toot, Toot, Tootsie," and "My Mammy." There is much more, of course, in the complete radio program. The complete broadcast recording, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 15 Feb 1950 Bing Crosby Show, with guest star Al Jolson. Enjoy a great rendition of "California, Here I come," followed by some Crosby and Jolson banter, and concluded with a duet of "Bye, Bye, Baby." This is, of course, only a small sample of the half hour radio program, with Al Jolson joining Bing Crosby on the radio, just eight months before his death. The complete broadcast recording, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 01 Feb 1950 Burns and Allen Show, with guest star Al Jolson. This segment of the show concerns Gracie Allen's efforts to find out just what keeps Jolson so young looking. Enjoy the comedy segment with Gracie and Al, followed by a great rendition of "Toot, Toot, Tootsie." The complete program includes George Burns, of course, and Bill Goodwin, who was featured in The Jolson Story and Jolson Sings Again. The complete broadcast recording, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 19 Jan 1943 Al Jolson Colgate Program. This program was dedicated to the War effort, and the podcast is Jolson's closing monologue and song, "There'll Never Be Another War." The complete program includes Monte Woolley, Parkyarkarkus, and Carol Bruce, with much more material. The complete broadcast recording, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 12 Jan 1943 Al Jolson Colgate Program. Humorist Robert Benchley joined Al Jolson on this program, along with the regulars. Here is some of the comedy routine between Benchley and Jolson, followed by Benchley's introduction of Jolson's classic hit, "Sonny Boy." The complete program includes more Benchley, Parkyarkarkus, and Carol Bruce, with much more material. The complete broadcast recording, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at 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." This is, of course, just a sampling of the material in the half-hour radio show. The complete broadcast, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at 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, on the Al Jolson Website, Jolson and Raye duet in "Sweet Georgia Brown," and several comic sketches are featured. The complete broadcast, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at 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's more on the whole show, but this podcast can give you a taste. The complete broadcast, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at 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. The complete broadcast, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at 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 will be on the Jolson website through the end of next month. The complete broadcast, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at 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, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 16 Sep 1950 Al Jolson performance at the Itazuke Air Force Base in Japan. This excerpt includes three songs from the half-hour transcription, which includes Jolson joking and singing for his favorite audience, soldiers at the front. "Swanee," "April Showers," and "The Anniversary Song" are the three songs heard here, there is quite a bit more in the original program. This is likely the last transcribed performance of Al Jolson; he died about one month after this show. The complete broadcast, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at 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, along with other Jolson radio shows, is available at 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 is currently online, along with other Jolson radio shows, at the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.