The Kraft Music Hall Starring Al Jolson

The World's Greatest Entertainer...As You've Never Heard Him Before!

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.

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.

But too much Jolson could wear out any audience -- which is where Oscar Levant comes in. Laconic, sarcastic, obsessive-compulsive to the point of mania -- and a musical genius to boot -- the pianist/raconteur had built a cult following through his regular appearances on the panel quiz "Information Please" since the late 1930s, until clashes with that program's iron-fisted producer compelled his departure. Levant was about as opposite in performing style and manner from Jolson as possible -- but in a classic case of 'opposites attract,' the two immediately clicked, complementing each others' style rather than detracting from it, and creating an unlikely partnership that quickly zoomed to a lofty spot on the Hooper charts.

Recordings from this series have long been available, but in wildly variable audio condition and often chopped and cut to bits in Armed Forces Radio rebroadcast versions. But now, you can hear these classic radio programs as you've never heard them before -- even BETTER than they sounded when first broadcast! Digitally remastered from pristine NBC Orthacoustic linecheck lacquers, and painstakingly restored, these 1948-49 programs are big time late-era radio entertainment at its finest.

Experience a legend once more -- or discover him for the first time -- with this collection from Radio Archives: ten half-hour NBC network broadcasts featuring Al Jolson, Oscar Levant, Lou Bring and his Orchestra, announcer Ken Carpenter, and a sparkling array of top notch guest stars.

Guest Ed Gardner
Ed Gardner, in his "Duffy's Tavern" role as Archie the bartender, auditions Al and Oscar to see if they'll fit in with the gang at Duffy's. Al sings "I'm Just Wild About Harry," "Mary," "Lady, Play Your Mandolin," "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," "I'm Going to Maxim's," "A Fellow Needs a Girl," and "Without a Song" and Oscar solos with Chopin's "Polonaise in A-Flat."
Thursday, February 5, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

Guest Edward G. Robinson
Edward G. Robinson plays Jolson's conscience! Al sings "Margie," "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," "Oh, How I Miss You Tonight," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," "The Anniversary Song," "Ramona," "About a Quarter to Nine," and "Always" and Oscar solos with Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."
Thursday, March 18, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

Guest Judy Garland
It's the first show of the new season and Judy Garland is in fine voice as she stops by to banter, promote her new films "Words and Music" and "Easter Parade" and sing "Pretty Baby" with Al. Jolson sings "Is It True What They Say About Dixie?," "Poor Butterfly," "All Alone," "When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along," and "When I Lost You" while Judy wows the audience with "Johnny One Note" and Oscar Levant performs excerpts from Tchaikovsky's 5th Piano Concerto.
Thursday, September 30, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

Guest Edward G. Robinson
Edward G. Robinson makes his second appearance as a guest to promote his new picture "Key Largo" and intimidates Jolson with his tough-guy demeanor. Jolson sings "Baby Face," "A Tree in the Meadow," "Sonny Boy," "When You Were Sweet Sixteen," "Liza," "The Best Things In Life Are Free," "What'll I Do?," "Chinatown, My Chinatown," and "In Our House." Oscar Levant plays portions of a Rachmaninoff piano concerto and Brahms Lullaby.
Thursday, October 7, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

A Jolson Concert
One of the best shows of the series, as Jolson takes center stage to reenact his glory days on the stage of the Wintergarden Theater and encourages requests from the studio audience. Musical selections include "For Me and My Gal," "More Than You Know," "About a Quarter to Nine," "Toot Toot Tootsie," "You Made Me Love You," and "Without a Song." Oscar plays portions of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with the orchestra.
Thursday, October 21, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

Guest Dennis Day
Dennis Day kids with Al about his boss Jack Benny, does some excellent impersonations, and sings "Clancy Lowered the Boom." Meantime, the cast celebrates announcer Ken Carpenter's 2000th network show - his twelfth year with Kraft. Al sings "Ma, He's Makin' Eyes at Me," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "They Didn't Believe Me," "All By Myself," and "Old Man River." Oscar plays a beautiful rendition of Debussy's "Clair De Lune."
Thursday, December 9, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

Guest Dinah Shore
Al and Oscar have stopped speaking, so Dinah Shore decides to settle their feud. Al sings "I'm Sitting on Top of the World," "Dinah," "Down Among the Sheltering Palms," and "When Day is Done," Dinah Shore sings "I'll Be Seeing You" and duets with Al on "Put Your Arms Around Me" and "It's Been a Long, Long Time" and Oscar Levant solos on "Malaguena."
Thursday, December 16, 1948 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

Guest Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx is going into the fur coat business and tries to make a sale to Al. Al opens the show with "That Certain Party," Oscar plays excerpts from Gershwin's "Second Piano Concerto," and later Al sings "I'm Crying," "Latin from Manhattan," and closes the program with "When I Leave the World Behind."
Thursday, January 13, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

Guests Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
Guests Roy Rogers and Dale Evans join Al in a western drama entitled "Buffalo Asa Rides Again." Al sings "At Sundown," "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," and "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," Roy and Dale sing "San Antone," and Oscar Levant plays "Espania."
Thursday, March 17, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods

Guest Victor Moore
Al and Victor Moore decide to take a fishing trip and later duet on "Pretty Baby." Al opens the show with a medley of "Melancholy Baby" and "My Blue Heaven," and also sings "I Got Lucky in the Rain," "That Wonderful Girl of Mine," and "Some Enchanted Evening." Oscar Levant plays a piano selection by Khatchakurian.
Thursday, May 12, 1949 - 30:00 - NBC, sponsored by Kraft Foods