I am looking for information regarding a script for a Crosby show....it was to be recorded on 23rd Oct 1950, but saddly Al Jolson died the night before and the show was never made. Does anyone have any idea where I might be able to find a lead on this?
Posted by Greg Van Beek on July 14, 1998 at 19:52:11:
In Reply to: Lost Script posted by David Hamer on July 14, 1998 at 11:27:49:
The show you're looking for would've been taped on Tuesday, Oct.24. Jolie arrived in San Francisco the evening of Monday, Oct. 23 and checked into the St. Francis hotel. While there, he talked briefly to Bing's writer, Bill Morrow, who informed him of the fine restaurants in the Bay area. After the dinner, Jolie and his entourage went back to his suite at the St. Francis, where his piano player Harry Akst was working on a parody of "I'm Just Wild About Harry (Truman)" which Jolson was to have sung on the Crosby show (a later report in Variety magazine said Jolson was also to have soled on "Japanese Sandman", as well as the inevitable duet medley with Bing). It was while playing gin rummy that Jolson was stricken with the fatal heart attack.
The show that was to be taped on Oct. 24 with Jolson would've aired Nov. 1. Dorothy Kirsten subbed for Jolson on the show, which was taped later in the week. No mention of Jolson's passing or any songs associated with him were performed. The first real "tribute" to Jolie occured on the 12/6/50 show, when Judy Garland sang "Rock a bye Your Baby" for the first time and got a huge ovation, so much so that she kept the song in her shows for the rest of her life.
The October 25th show, which was taped before Jolson died and should've mentioned him as the following weeks' guest star, had a new ending recorded and spliced in on Oct. 24, mentioning Dorothy Kirsten as the following weeks' guest.
It would be great to find the original script. Gonzaga would
probably be a good place to try, or the family of Bill Morrow or
Harry Akst. Good Luck!