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The program was the Eddie Cantor Pabst Blue Ribbon Show, a successful radio program sponsored by the beer of the same name, on the NBC network in the late 1940s. Harry Von Zell was the announcer and Cookie Fairchild was the conductor on this program, broadcast from Los Angeles.
Acknowledging Jolie's presence right off the bat, Eddie Cantor opened the show with a tribute in song, by singing Jolson's hit, "I'm Sitting On Top Of The World."
After a few little jokes about Jolson's age, success, money, and, of course, The Jolson Story, the scene switches to a mythical sound stage, where Al Jolson makes his entrance singing "Swanee." Following this, a bit looking at just how Jolson and Cantor got started. Believe this one, or don't. I wouldn't!
Among the bits and bad jokes, Jolson managed to inject his hit from The Jolson Story, "The Anniversary Song." As opposed to the Decca recording, by the way, he sang the lyrics as "relive" not "recall," by the book this time!
After a Pabst commercial, the last segment of the program is just filled with Jolson and Cantor hits. Preceeded by a staged "mutual admiration society" and some comments about motion picture bio-pics, you will hear "California, Here I Come," "If You Knew Susie," "Ida! Sweet As Apple Cider," and "Toot, Toot, Tootsie." Now, who sang them, and how the songs were performed - for that you're gonna have to listen for yourself!
There are even a few stories about Jolson and Cantor's youths, with Jolie even cracking a joke about blackface.
Cantor closed this half-hour program with his traditional "One Hour With You." Thank you, Mr. Cantor!
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this week's program | ||
| This is an excerpt of the 06 Mar 1947 Eddie Cantor program with guest star Al Jolson. Here is Al Jolson singing two songs not elsewhere recorded, both associated with Eddie Cantor. Although Jolson introduced "If You Knew Susie," it was Cantor who popularized it, and "Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider" was sung by Eddie as a tribute to his wife. Here's Jolie doing both, along with comments from Cantor. Along with a photo of the pair from the late 1940s, there is an article from Variety describing this show and the one the day before, which was featured on the site last week. |
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Updated 08 Mar 26 |