Al Jolson Podcast

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.

Excerpt of the 12 Jul 1937 Tribute to George Gershwin, featuring Al Jolson. This was one of two numbers performed by Al Jolson on a radio tribute broadcast the evening following George Gershwin's death. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the June, 1935, Go Into Your Dance radio promotion starring Al Jolson with Ruby Keeler. This is a brief clip from a ten minute radio promotion for the Jolson - Keeler flick which was then premiering all over the country. Enjoy Jolson singing "Mammy, I'll Sing About You," then listen to the rest of the show on the website, and then watch the movie! The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 04 Jun 1941 Eddie Cantor Program with guest star Al Jolson. Jolie did not sing a lot of songs during this great show, but this tribute to Eddie Cantor's wife is a singular gem. Enjoy it, and all of the material from the show in the full program. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 15 Jun 1936 Lux Radio Theatre broadcast of Burlesque, featuring Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler. This segment features Al Jolson singing three songs from the program, some comedy scripted between Jolson and Keeler, and even some of Ruby's tap dancing. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 11 Jun 1937 Hollywood Hotel, featuring Al Jolson and George Jessel. This segment features Jolson singing an earlier version of "Ma Blushin' Rosie," and Jolson and Jessel doing a duet of "Give My Regards To Broadway." The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 06 Jun 1945 Milton Berle Show, featuring Al Jolson with biographical musical vignettes of his life. Having just recovered from the loss of much of a lung, Jolson's appearance between V-E Day and V-J Day was a poignant look at the World's Greatest Entertainer in a fragile time of his life. Listen to his words about racial and ethnic tolerance, so moving from a man often painted as a racist. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.

Excerpt of the 02 Jun 1947 Lux Radio Theatre, which featured a radio version of the movie "The Jazz Singer," starring Al Jolson, Ludwig Donath, Tamara Shayne, and Gail Patrick. This edited clip features a smattering of dialog from the program, along with Al Jolson singing "Toot, Toot, Tootsie," "Keep Smiling At Trouble," and "I'm Sitting On Top Of The World. The complete broadcast circulates with other Jolson radio shows on the Official Al Jolson Website at www.jolson.org.