1938: A Tribute to Irving Berlin | Al Jolson, Ethel Merman & All-Star CBS Birthday Broadcast

Historic CBS radio broadcast of A Tribute to Irving Berlin, aired on August 3, 1938, in celebration of the 50th birthday of legendary songwriter Irving Berlin and the upcoming premiere of the 20th Century Fox musical film Alexander's Ragtime Band. Originating from New York and featuring remote segments from Chicago and Hollywood, this remarkable all-star program brought together some of the biggest names in American entertainment to honor the composer whose songs had become part of the nation's cultural identity. Hosted by Al Jolson, the broadcast featured appearances by Eddie Cantor, Sophie Tucker, Ethel Merman, Ben Bernie, Rudy Vallée, Tommy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo, Paul Whiteman, Connie Boswell, the Brox Sisters, and many others, with Irving Berlin himself taking part in the festivities. 00:00 - Historical Context and Introduction 00:26 - A Tribute to Irving Berlin 04:23 - Al Jolson's Tribute to Irving Berlin 06:25 - Irving Berlin's Philosophy on Songwriting and a Trip Down Memory Lane 10:47 - Irving Berlin's Songs 15:13 - Ben Bernie's Tribute to Irving Berlin 18:37 - The Three Brox Sisters' Performance 20:43 - Rudy Vallée and Tommy Dorsey Join the Tribute 23:57 - Hollywood and New York Join the Celebration Key moments featured in this broadcast: Walter Winchell opens the tribute: • The program begins with a dramatic news-style introduction announcing an all-star celebration for the man whose songs had entertained America for three decades. Al Jolson's tribute to Irving Berlin: • Jolson recalls his early association with Berlin and celebrates the composer whose songs helped define American popular music. Irving Berlin appears on the broadcast: • In a rare radio appearance, Berlin modestly thanks his friends and declares that a songwriter can best express himself through music rather than speeches. Classic Berlin songs performed by legendary entertainers: • The program includes performances and reminiscences surrounding songs such as Heat Wave, Say It Isn't So, My Wife's Gone to the Country, The International Rag, and many other Berlin standards. Hollywood and Chicago join the celebration: • Remote contributions by Rudy Vallée and Tommy Dorsey demonstrate the nationwide admiration for Berlin and the extraordinary reach of his music. Promotion of Alexander's Ragtime Band: The broadcast also served as a celebration of the new 20th Century Fox film Alexander's Ragtime Band, which showcased dozens of Berlin's compositions and became one of the year's biggest musical successes. Historical significance: Broadcast only two days before the premiere of Alexander's Ragtime Band, this program preserves a unique moment in American entertainment history, when the leading stars of radio, theater, and film united to honor the composer often described as "American music" itself. By 1938, Irving Berlin had already written some of the most enduring songs in popular culture and had become one of the defining figures of the Great American Songbook. This broadcast captures not only his extraordinary influence but also the warmth and affection he inspired among his fellow performers. Today, A Tribute to Irving Berlin remains one of the most remarkable surviving all-star radio specials of the Golden Age of Broadcasting. Subscribe for more historical radio broadcasts, vintage entertainment programs, and rare recordings from the Golden Age of Radio. #IrvingBerlin #AlJolson #OldTimeRadio #CBS #AlexandersRagtimeBand