Al Jolson Home Page|His Works|Radio|07 Apr 49 Kraft Music Hall

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.

Groucho with Al and Oscar
Groucho Marx with Al Jolson and Oscar Levant
When The Red, Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along This program was originally broadcast on Thursday, April 7, 1949, with the one and only Groucho Marx making a return visit to the Kraft Music Hall. This was Groucho's fourth visit to the Kraft Music Hall; his next visit would be on the last episode of the program.

Opening the show sounding very happy, Al Jolson went right into his opening number, "When The Red, Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along."

After this song, Ken Carpenter discussed last week's pre-empted program. Mr. Jolson took a few moments to impersonate Winston Churchill, the responsible party. Following this, there was some of the usual bantering about Mr. Jolson's education, with a lateral to a character in another program. Ultimately, we get to Mr. Levant's piano number, the second movement from Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto Number One.

A Velveeta commercial was next on the schedule, followed by a reference to Easter, that year the Sunday following the broadcast. After Oscar Levant gave his interpretation of "Easter Parade" for rabbits, Al Jolson and Lou Bring brought out the true beauty of this Irving Berlin seasonal classic.

After the number, enjoy some ethnic memories of New York and its gastronomic delights, along with a few stories of Jolie's little son, Asa. With a glance toward the Broadway scene, the Cole Porter show Kiss Me Kate was mentioned, and Jolson went into a great performance of a number from the show, "Why Can't You Behave?"

Entering in his unique manner, Groucho Marx next approached Jolson with the offer of buying a baseball team. Stocked with double entendres, listen carefully as these two masters wade their way through this bit.

They finally get to the end of this bit, and reward us with a duet of an old Jolson tune, recorded on Columbia in 1913, "That Little German Band."

A new spring food idea is the center of the next commercial, Velveeta on veggies. Yum!

To close the program, Al Jolson introduced another Irving Berlin song, putting his own touch to "Say It Isn't So."


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

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     This is an excerpt of the 07 Apr 1949 Kraft Music Hall, starring Al Jolson with Groucho Marx. Groucho tries valiantly to sell Al Jolson a baseball team, and the two conclude the segment with a duet of "That Little German Band."


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This listing and material Copyright © 1995-2025 Marc I. Leavey, M.D. Baltimore, Maryland
Updated 06 Apr 25