Al Jolson Kraft Music Hall With Boris Karloff 12-25-47

·30 min·2 clips

Al Jolson hosts a 1947 Christmas radio show where Boris Karloff appears as a sinister Santa Claus.

The episode begins with a promotional segment for 1-2-3 Ready TV before transitioning to the Kraft Music Hall Christmas broadcast. Host Al Jolson opens with the song 'Is It True What They Say About Dixie?' He then engages in banter with pianist Oscar Levant about Christmas gifts and stockings. Jolson performs 'I Can't Give You Anything But Love' followed by operatic parodies with Levant. The central comedic sketch features Boris Karloff appearing as Santa Claus in Jolson's home on Christmas Eve. Karloff explains he wears the Santa suit because children run screaming from his normal appearance due to his horror movie roles. He discusses the challenges of being typecast as sinister characters. Oscar Levant enters and expresses skepticism about Karloff's Santa identity. Karloff gives gifts including an autographed Jolson photo and a violin for Levant. After the sketch, Jolson and Levant discuss whether the events really happened. The show concludes with a Kraft Foods Christmas message and Jolson singing 'By the Light of the Silver Moon.' Announcements promote Boris Karloff's film 'Unconquered' and next week's guest Madeleine Carroll.

As heard by us

Al Jolson's Christmas variety hour finds its odd spark in Boris Karloff's strange Santa.

Al Jolson's Kraft Music Hall Christmas program plays as a warm, busy holiday variety hour, with Jolson moving from a question about Dixie into music that includes "Near You." Oscar LeBlanc, Lou Bring, the orchestra, and chorus help fill out the broadcast, but the real curiosity…

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Why you'd press play

Press play for Al Jolson holiday-season songs, Lou Bring's orchestra and chorus, and Boris Karloff turning up as a very strange Santa Claus.

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