Al Jolson - Lux Jazz Singer

|His Works|Radio|02 Jun 47 Lux - The Jazz Singer

Al Jolson's experience with radio began in the dawn of the medium, and continued until the birth of television, and his death. He started the Kraft Music Hall, along with programs for Lifebuoy Soap, Colgate Tooth Powder, and Chevrolet, and died while waiting to go on to Bing Crosby's Chesterfield program. On this page, I will be featuring full length radio programs for your enjoyment.

Al Jolson and Gail Patrick break for lunch

On August 10, 1936, just about ten years after its release, the first talkie, The Jazz Singer, was presented as a radio production on the Lux Radio Theatre, just two months after the program had featured Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler in a production of Burlesque. This first broadcast recording of the movie has, unfortunately, been lost to history.

Eleven years later, though, with Al Jolson's renewed popularity following the release of The Jolson Story, the first biopic of the life story of The World's Greatest Entertainer, and the featuring of Al Jolson in Lux presentations of Swanee River and Alexander's Ragtime Band, the Lux Radio Theatre presented a new production of The Jazz Singer.

Broadcast on June 2, 1947, this new production joined Al Jolson with Ludwig Donath and Tamara Shayne, fresh from their roles in The Jolson Story, along with Gail Patrick, who had appeared on the radio with Jolson, Carlton Kadell and Bill Johnstone.

The one hour radio program closely followed the original story of the movie, with narration filling in the cracks. This recording, without commercials, lasts about 47 minutes.

Within the show, enjoy Al Jolson singing "Toot, Toot, Tootsie," "I'm Sitting On Top Of The World," "Blue Skies," "Keep Smiling At Trouble," "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody," and, of course, "Kol Nidre." As an encore after the show, Al Jolson performed "All My Love."

So sit back for about forty-five minutes, and enjoy this wonderful broadcast, of The Jazz Singer!

Listen to this radio program and watch a Video Podcast with an excerpt of the show illustrated with photos of the stars.

Click this link to listen to this week's program
		This is an excerpt of the 02 Jun 1947 Lux Radio Theatre, starring Al Jolson in a radio adaptation of "The Jazz Singer," llustrated with images of the stars, real and composite, to get a feeling for the broadcast. Along with Jolson, the production starred 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."

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Updated 01 Jun 25