Jolson on the Radio

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Jolson on the Radio

"The World's Greatest Entertainer"

In the annals of American Show Business, circa 1900-1950, you could make a convincing argument that there should really be only two names:

Al Jolson...

...and Everybody Else.

Al Jolson sings on NBC, circa 1938

He was a towering figure of the musical theatre - unquestionably the most exciting stage star of his generation, and a profound influence on the generations to follow. He was the first breakthrough star of talking pictures -- his string of Vitaphone successes between 1927 and 1930 - “The Jazz Singer,” “The Singing Fool,” “Say It With Songs,” and “Mammy” - helping to get a new era in filmdom off to a high-energy start. He was a recording artist of long standing: between 1912 and 1930, Al Jolson placed 85 songs on the pop music charts. Twenty-three reached No. 1, putting him ahead of the Beatles and Elvis Presley.  But for most of his career, success in radio seemed to elude Jolson.

He made several attempts as the host of variety programs during the 1930s and early 1940s, but it wasn’t until Jolson’s dramatic resurgence in popularity after the Second World War that he found a radio format that truly captured something of the dynamism Jolson brought to his live performances. Taking over the venerable “Kraft Music Hall” in 1947 - a series he had headlined briefly in the early 1930s - Jolson parlayed renewed interest in his career sparked by the smash motion-picture success “The Jolson Story” into one of postwar radio’s brightest musical-variety attractions.

The program was a masterpiece of careful planning and careful understanding of how to package a performer to his best advantage. Previous Jolson vehicles had presented him either as a solo master-of-ceremonies or as a singing top-banana comedian, his gags propped up by an assortment of increasingly unfunny stooges. Neither role genuinely suited him. But in preparing the 1947 season of the Kraft series, the J. Walter Thompson agency staff finally came to understand that the only way to properly present Jolson on radio was to simply let Jolson be Jolson -- punching over his songs in his inimitable manner, practically leaping out of the loudspeaker to entertain his audience.

This collection from Radio Archives features the ten programs contained in the original Kraft Music Hall collection from Radio Archives as well as 20 more Jolson hosted episodes, all newly restored to the highest audio quality using equipment that was not available when the first collection was produced. In addition, this volume features other classic Jolson radio appearances, including three Lux Radio Theater episodes, two episodes from The Al Jolson Show from 1938, and 1943, and A Salute to Al Jolson.

John Dunning stated that ‘Depending on the source, Al Jolson was either the world’s greatest entertainer or the world’s biggest ham. Some people would have said both.” Regardless of how he was viewed, Jolson most definitely had a massive, long lasting impact on entertainment, hints of which can still be felt today. Jolson on the Radio, a 20 CD set, from Radio Archives is the most comprehensive, best sounding collection of this fantastic performer’s classic radio appearances, showing clearly why Al Jolson deserves every single accolade given him.

The Kraft Music Hall

Jimmy Durante

Thursday, December 18, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Boris Karloff

Thursday, December 25, 1947 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Madeleine Carroll

Thursday, January 1, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Lucille Ball

Thursday, January 22, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Walter O'Keefe

Thursday, January 29, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Ed "Archie" Gardner

Thursday, February 5, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Edward Everett Horton

Thursday, March 11, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Edward G. Robinson

Thursday, March 18, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Clifton Webb

Thursday, March 25, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Henry Morgan

Thursday, May 20, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Judy Garland

Thursday, September 30, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Edward G Robinson

Thursday, October 7, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Al Jolson and Oscar Levant

Thursday, October 21, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Groucho Marx

Thursday, November 18, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Victor Mature

Thursday, November 25, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Peggy Lee

Thursday, December 2, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Dennis Day

Thursday, December 9, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Dinah Shore

Thursday, December 16, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

The Kraft Choral Club

Thursday, December 23, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Doris Day

Thursday, December 30, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Larry Parks

Thursday, January 6, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Groucho Marx

Thursday, January 13, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Dennis Day

Thursday, February 3, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Peggy Lee

Thursday, February 10, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Joan Davis

Thursday, February 17, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Dorothy Kirsten, Phil Harris, and Elliott Lewis

Thursday, March 3, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Jimmy Durante

Thursday, March 10, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Thursday, March 17, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Dennis Day

Thursday, May 5, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Kraft Music Hall

Victor Moore

Thursday, May 12, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

The Al Jolson Show

Andy Devine

Tuesday, March 8, 1938 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Lifebouy Soap commercials

The Al Jolson Show

Monty Woolley

Tuesday, January 5, 1943 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Colgate Toothpowder commercials

The Lux Radio Theatre

"Swanee River"

Monday, April 2, 1945 - 60:00 - CBS, sponsored by Lux Soap commercials

The Lux Radio Theatre

"The Jolson Story"

Monday, February 16, 1948 - 60:00 - CBS, sponsored by Lux Soap commercials

The Lux Radio Theatre

"Jolson Sings Again"

Monday, May 22, 1950 - 60:00 - CBS, sponsored by Lux Soap commercials

A Salute to Al Jolson

Tuesday, October 1, 1946 - 60:00 - MUTUAL

Average Customer Review: Average Customer Review: 5 of 5

5 of 5 Total Reviews: 12 Write a review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

	June 25, 2022
Reviewer: Matthew Pickard from Paul's Valley, OK United States

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Great Job	May 20, 2022
Reviewer: Alan Johns

I was sure surprised to find the Jolson set in my box Saturday. Man, that was quick! A couple years or so ago I discovered Al Jolson through the web and lamented the fact that I couldn't find whole programs in quality that did the productions justice. So when this collection was announced, I wasted no time. There are some very subtle things going on in the background at times which are well-defined and stand out very clear on your restorations. Anyone who doesn't want Jolson, bigger than life and more, better pass on this collection. Great job! I'm already looking forward to see what comes next.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

I Am Genuinely Amazed	May 20, 2022
Reviewer: David Gibbs

I recently purchased your Kraft music Hall and Big Show Vol 1 sets. I am genuinely amazed. You do marvelous work.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Ended Up Adoring Them	May 20, 2022
Reviewer: Dominick Cancilla

I ordered your recent Al Jolson set more out of curiosity than anything and ended up adoring them. I listened to the whole set twice (and a couple of shows three times). If you could do another collection of these some time, I'd love it! I can't tell you how many wonderful new shows you folks have opened my eyes to! Thanks again for helping to keep old radio alive.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Hope There Are More Sets to Come	May 20, 2022
Reviewer: Garth Miller

I am enjoying the Jolson collection and hope there are more sets to come devoted to musical shows.

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