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Al Jolson appeared on radio many times, sometimes as a guest star,
but mostly on his own radio shows (five in number).
Jolson's first radio show
was on NBC, late on Friday nights, from November 1932
through February 1933. It was sponsored by General Motors and
Chevrolet and lasted for fifteen broadcasts.
Little more than two years after this show had ended, Al Jolson
reappeared on Saturday nights as the master of ceremonies in "The Shell Chateau," a
radio show
sponsored by Shell Oil. This show was on NBC radio and lasted
from April 1935 to March 1936. For the first
twenty-six weeks, the show originated out of New York; the final
thirteen were broadcast from Los Angeles.
From late 1936 to
early 1939, Jolson also hosted CBS's "Lifebuoy"
program. Originally the program was titled "Al Jolson's Cafe Trocadero"
and was sponsored by Lever Brothers Co; there were ninety-nine
broadcasts of Trocadero. Separate performances were given on Tuesday evenings for
the East Coast and West Coast, at 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM, respectively.
Martha Raye and Sid Silvers were regulars on the program. Silvers
left after a few broadcasts and was replaced by Harry (Parkyakarkus)
Einstein.
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above: Jolson with
Martha Raye |
Some of
the program's guests were Groucho Marx, Fay Bainter, Zasu Pitts, Peter Lorre,
Jackie Cooper and George Jessel.
Unfortunately, there are only a
small number of transcriptions available for these shows (you can
listen to some show snippets, as well as purchase some of these
recordings, through the
International Al Jolson Society.)
Here, at the Museum of Family History, you can listen to some
of Jolson's many radio programs. |
Between October 1942
and June 1943, Jolson starred in his fifth radio program,
also on CBS, this time sponsored by Colgate Tooth Powder.
Though the program initially was broadcast from New York, it
eventually moved to Los Angeles. As was done for the Lifebuoy
program, separate performances were done for both the East and West
Coast audiences. Monte Woolley and vocalist Jo Stafford were program
regulars.
Jolson first introduced "The
Kraft Music Hall" to NBC radio listeners in 1933-4, though
he assumed the starring role in this broadcast in October 1947.
The KMH broadcasts of thirties played its run of twenty-six shows
and could be heard from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Thursday nights. His
second go at the Kraft Music Hall was also on NBC every Thursday night,
but this time at 9 p.m. EST for thirty minutes.
This show ran seventy-one broadcasts from October 2, 1947 to May 26,
1949. Pianist Oscar Levant would appear on most every show. For nearly
seventeen months, Jolson featured many stars from stage, screen and
radio on his program. His first show's guests included Edgar Bergen
and Charlie McCarthy. Opera singer Dorothy Kirsten appeared on Kraft
Music Hall the most often (seven times), Groucho Marx appeared six
times, pal Jimmy Durante four.
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