By Steve Crum

After “Robinson Crusoe, Jr.” had its initial, New York, Winter Garden run, Feb. 17-June 10, 1916, the national run began. From Aug. 28, 1916 through Nov. 17, 1917, Jolson’s show was enjoyed in dozens of American towns and, en route, a couple of Canadian cities. Audiences heard Jolson’s newest songs, along with what had already become his classics. During “Robinson Crusoe, Jr.’s” run, Jolson sang “Where the Black-Eyed Susans Grow,” “Down Where the Swanee River Flows,” “Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula,” and–naturally–”Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go with Friday on Saturday Night?”

Kansas City audiences jammed the Shubert Theater throughout “Crusoe’s” May 6-13, 1917 run. They could not get enough of their Al. Except for brief advance stories about “Robinson Crusoe, Jr.” opening, there were no local reviews or interviews published.

However, a huge, Columbia Records display ad, which ran while the show was in town, depicts Jolson in his Gus Jackson/Friday character, in blackface, beside what appears to be the Robinson Crusoe character. The ad promotes “Al Jolson’s latest and biggest hit, sung by Al Jolson himself….” 

A display ad for the show itself has only a chorus girl pictured, but AL JOLSON is listed above the show’s title for the first time–at least in KC.  #

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Head and shoulders etching of Mabel Wotten, followed by advance blurb:

Mabel Wotten, the youthful prima donna of “Robinson Crusoe Jr.,” in which Al Jolson is starring at the Shubert.