A tribute to President Dwight Eisenhower as he prepares to leave office at the end of January. 

The first of this season's wonderful programs from Carnegie Hall in New York City. Leonard Bernstein conducts, performs and explains. 

This CBS special pays tribute to composer George Gershwin. Maurice Chevalier, Florence Henderson, Frank Sinatra, Julie London, Ethel Merman, and Ron Husmann are all on hand to salute the great composer. One in a series of variety programs sponsored by General Electric. 

Musical Highlights:

"Lady Be Good"- Maurice Chevalier 
"The Man I Love"- Julie London, Florence Henderson 
"Strike Up The Band"- Ethel Merman     
"I've Got A Crush On You"- Frank Sinatra
"Someone To Watch Over Me"- Florence Henderson 
"I Got Rhythm"- Ethel Merman 
Porgy and Bess Dance Medley- Alvin Ailey and Carmen de Lavallade

Host: Richard Rodgers
Ronald Reagan: Series Host 

                                       

The third of six General Electric specials- a review of life in the 1920's and '30s, against a background of George Gershwin's music presented by top name stars: Maurice Chevalier, Florence Henderson, Ron Hussman, Julie London, Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra. Richard Rodgers is host.             

Outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower gives his farewell address to the nation as he prepares to welcome the new incoming President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. 

John F. Kennedy is sworn in as the 35th president of the United States. Live coverage from CBS and NBC news. Vice-President Lyndon Johnson is also sworn in. Poet Robert Frost recites a poem. NBC coverage from Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, Edwin Newman, and Ray Shearer. CBS coverage by Walter Cronkite and Nancy Hodgeman. 

JFK inaugural, Benediction,, Lyndon Baines Johnson is sworn in, Poem by Robert Frost, President elect John F. Kennedy is sworn in who states that this is not a victory party but a celebration."

Note: President John F. Kennedy held the first presidential news conference to be carried live on radio and television.                                                  

Live radio coverage of the Inaugural Ball for President-Elect John F. Kennedy is broadcast from the DC Armory In Washington, DC.           

Special on President Dwight David Eisenhower as he leaves office, passing the reigns of the Presidency to John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Includes Kennedy's inauguration speech.       

Presented on "PLAY OF THE WEEK." Orson Bean and Kaye Ballard lead this potpourri of music, songs and sketches about New York City.             

NBC News special on the pirate ship in the Caribbean. The "Santa Maria" is hijacked by Portuguese rebels against the Antonio Salaza government.            

1010 WINS RADIO New York switched from top forty to the first successful all-news station April 19, 1965. 
Previously when WINS was one of four premiere New York Rock 'N' Roll radio stations only a few snippets of on the half hour five minute Dick Waffle "Newswatch" broadcasts are known to exist. This rare audio was recorded by Phil Gries at 10:55 AM from his Brooklyn New York home on Saturday morning, February 4, 1961. 
 
Dick Waffle reports at the "Newswatch." Waffle reports initial bulletins reporting the blizzard of '61. 
This third "knockout" blizzard of the winter accounted for a 17 consecutive day of temperatures below freezing, the longest in New York history. We also hear the 1010 WINS sign off as the WINS announcer reports that the next news bulletins will be heard will be at 11:25 AM. 

NOTE:
The Blizzard of February 3 - 4, 1961

The storm, U.S. HEAVIEST SNOW STORM SINCE 1947 tied up the Northeast coast. It occurred toward the end of an extended cold snowy period that brought the temperature in New York's Central Park down to -2 (2 degrees below zero) on the morning of February 2nd. The storm reached blizzard proportions throughout much of the northeast and winds at LaGuardia airport gusted over 80 miles per hour on the 4th. Snowfall totals exceeded 20 inches over much of the region. Falling on top existing snow cover, including that left over from the "Kennedy inaugural" snowstorm on the 19-20th of January, the aftermath of the storm found near record snow cover over the region ranging from 2 to 2 1/2 feet in and around New York City up to nearly 4 feet around Newburg, New York. 

Snow began falling on the evening of February 3rd 1961, dumping six inches and continued through the morning of the 4th, with an additional 11.4 inches of snow piling up. The snow that fell on February 4th was heavy and wet and was driven by gale force winds. This was the third major snowstorm of the winter, following 15.4 inches on December 11th and 12th 1960, and 9.9 inches of snow recorded on January 19th and 20th. However, those storms were characterized by very cold temperatures while this storm saw temperatures rise from the upper 20's to the mid 30's during the afternoon of the 4th when the snow changed to rain. This was the second winter in a row to have two snowstorms of one foot or more.                                                  

Music and comedy special. 

Dupe Of Number 5417.         

A 12-part series produced for the National Educational Television & Radio Center by KRMA-TV, Denver Colorado.

The Ragtime Era with host Max Morath, who at the age of 32 is the ideal spokesman. He holds forth at an elegant pianoforte, singing and playing in a lively, authentic style. He' a close student of the period when America's popular music developed, and he sparks the narrative segments with anecdote and erudition that is as bright as the music.

We hum ragtime tunes quite casually today, unaware, as Mr. Morath points out, that ragtime was once a national issue, and that the musicians’ union once passed a resolution censuring this type of music. Mr. Morath explains why ragtime was more than just another kind of tune. He tells of its origins and the men who first wrote it: Scott Joplin, the author of Maple Leaf Rag; John Stark, the first publisher of good ragtime music; James Scoot and others. He defines ragtime, syncopation, polyrhythm, and improvisation. He speaks of the player piano, the importance of the ragtime composer who wrote his music down, and the spread of ragtime across the nation by the end of the first decade of the twentieth century.


Episodes in this series cover American pop music from the 1890's to 1920. Included are broadcasts focusing on the Blues, Ragtime, Musical Comedy, Tin Pan Alley, the Mauve Decade, Those Singin' Songs, Movie Music, the Song Pluggers, Tempos of the Time, and the songs made popular during World War 1.

From radio to television to national fame as a performer, Max Morath became the recognized purveyor of music and popular culture of the ragtime era. That is the way most people remember Max Morath as “Mr. Ragtime.”

In 1959, his epic 12-episode TV series The Ragtime Era, was the first modern educational documentary at KRMA-TV in Denver that both entertained and informed. It ushered in a field now produced by modern documentarians like Ken Burns at Florentine Films. Max wrote, hosted, and performed each 30-minute episode live in one-take and followed that series with other TV projects.

He pioneered educational television with his producer Moss Hall and this series helped move the transition from National Educational Television (NET) to the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).

Archival Television Audio, Inc. has preserved in its archive ten of the twelve part series. Missing is the sixth broadcast in the series, "The Yankee Doodle Boy," and the ninth broadcast in the series, "Emancipation of Women: New Music of the 20's"


With “The Ragtime Era” National Educational Television brings viewers one of the most delightful, and at the same time informative series ever produced. But “The Ragtime Era” is more than a recreation of the music from 1890 to 1920. It is also a careful study of American social history between 1890 and 1920, a period which saw the beginning of the labor movement, modern technical achievements, feminism, the growing importance of Negroes and immigrants. It was a period of activity, unrest, gaiety and real distress. And, finally, “The Ragtime Era” provides the audience with some sound and at the same time uncomplicated, musical theory and analysis. To do all of this KRMA-TV, the Denver affiliate of NET, has drawn on the services of singer-pianist-musician Max Morath, who combines with his performances of ragtime classics a presentation of the pictures, stage sets, and other paraphernalia of “The Ragtime Era.”

Episodes:

Episode #1: The Mauve Decade

Episode #2: Any Rags Today

Episode #3: Lonesome Road

Episode #4: Those Real Singin’ Songs

Episode #5: More Music than Comedy

Episode #6: The Yankee Doodle Boy

Episode #7: Tin Pan Alley

Episode #8: Tin Pan Alley Also Ran

Episode #9: June, Moon, and Spoon (New Music of the '20s)

Episode #10: The Tempos of Our Time

Episode #11: Feet First

Episode #12: The Great War



In this opening episode presented on February 11th, 1961, pianist Max Morath presents music from the Mauve Decade, the 1890's. A retrospective trip back in time exploring music of the 1890s, also called "The Gay Nineties" or "Naughty Nineties." 

Note: Max Morath passed away on June 19th, 2023 at age 96. 

A salute to Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe on this Valentine's Day live presentation saluting the play "My Fair Lady." Hosts are Samuel Liff, stage production manager for the original Broadway production and conductor Franz Allers, who also performed during the Broadway "My Fair Lady" debut. Musical selections are played from the British and American productions. They include "I Could Have Danced All Night," sung by Julie Andrews, "The Rain in Spain," sung by Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison from the London Production, "With a Little Bit of Luck," sung by Stanley Holloway from the London Production, "The Ascop Gavotte," and "I've Grown Accustomed to her Face," sung by Rex Harrison.  

Anecdotes and recollections by Franz Allers and Samuel Liff reflect the many transitions experienced for this great classic as the company tours the world three years prior to the making of the motion picture in 1964.

NOTE:
The musical MY FAIR LADY had its pre-Broadway tryout at New Haven's Shubert Theatre. Then it played for four weeks at the Erlanger Theatre in Philadelphia, beginning on February 15, 1956.

The musical premiered on Broadway March 15, 1956, at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City. It transferred to the Broadhurst Theatre and then The Broadway Theatre, where it closed on September 29, 1962, after 2,717 performances, a record at the time. Moss Hart directed and Hanya Holm was choreographer. In addition to stars Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews and Stanley Holloway, the original cast included Robert Coote, Cathleen Nesbitt, John Michael King, and Reid Shelton. Harrison was replaced by Edward Mulhare in November 1957 and Sally Ann Howes replaced Andrews in February 1958. By the start of 1959, it was the biggest grossing Broadway show of all-time with a gross of $10 million.

The Original Cast Recording, released on April 2, 1956, was the best-selling album in the United States in 1956.

Original London production
The West End production, in which Harrison, Andrews, Coote, and Holloway reprised their roles, opened on April 30, 1958, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where it ran for five and a half years (2,281 performances). Edwardian musical comedy star Zena Dare made her last appearance in the musical as Mrs. Higgins. Leonard Weir played Freddy. Harrison left the London cast in March 1959, followed by Andrews in August 1959 and Holloway in October 1959.

MY FAIR LADY won six 1957 TONY awards, including Best Musical, and the Film version released in 1964 with Audrey Hepburn replacing Julie Andrews in the role of Eliza Doolittle won five Oscar awards including Best Actor for Rex Harrison and Best Picture.                        

December 8, 1957-June 18, 1961. 
Programs not hosted by Dinah Shore (every 4th week during the season of 1957-58 and 1958-59, more often thereafter until June 1961) were known as "The Chevy Show." 

Presented on "THE CHEVY SHOW." An original musical fantasy, based on a story by Stephen Vincent Benet, about an Irishman who sets off for America.   

The leprechaun Rory and his friends are portrayed by the Baird Marionettes. Book by A. J. Russell from  a story by Stephen Vincent Benet. Music by David Saxon. Lyrics by Diane Lampert and Peter Farrow. 
Songs include, "Every Little Boy," "Watcha Do on Sunday,?" "Hoo Boo,""Shenanigans," "Watersprite Ballet," and Goin' Green."   

NOTE: A "LOST" television broadcast only survives on B/W 16mm original negative stock and separate 16mm neg. optical track...not processed since its original broadcast almost sixty years ago. 

Unlike many other musical productions for television during the 1950's and 1960's NO LP was conceived or created for this presentation.

The ATA original reel to reel pristine direct line audio recording of O'HALLORAN'S LUCK was completed at the time of its one time airing, in color, on NBC TV.                              

Bing Crosby goes international from France to Italy.

Tonight, Bing goes International. From France, Maurice Chevalier, from Italy, tenor Aldo Monaco, and from America, singer-dancer Carol Lawrence.
Bing and Maurice compare their little black books and do a little reminiscing about the girls they have known in song. Everyone sings, Carol dances, a modern jazz ballet, and Nelson Riddle and orchestra provide the background for the entire taped hour.

Highlights:

"Without a Song" "Second Time Around"- Bing
" Alouette" "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries"- Maurice 
"Anema e Core" "Granada"-Aldo Monaco
"Cool, Cool, Cool, Of The Evening"- Bing, Maurice, Carol
"I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore" "Thank Heaven For Little Girls" "Once in Love With Amy" "Ida" "Gigi" "Candy" "Louise " "Pigallie"-Bing, Maurice, 
"Flattery"- Bing, Carol.


Dupe of 5060. Also, 7006.                  

Bing Crosby goes international from France to Italy.

Dupe of 5060.                          

Radio broadcast of an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins. The top of the fifth inning is heard with the Twins leading 1-0. Batters include Mickey Mantle, who singles, Yogi Berra grounds out, Elston Howard fouls out, and Moose Skowron grounds out. Phil Rizzuto calls the play by play. 

5 minute excerpt

          

January 23, - July 16, 1960.

A prime time our-long documentary series hosted by Chet Huntley and Frank McGee.

A repeat showing of the special Easter time program first presented on NBC on April 16, 1960; filmed in the Holy Land without actors, it traces the route Jesus took through Jerusalem as he bore the cross to his crucifixion on Calvary. Frank McGee introduces the program. Last years presentation was a part of the World Wide 60 series.  Music conducted by Jacques Belasco.  

Narrated by Alexander Scourby.
Norman Rose contributes the biblical voice.  

                       

Gary Cooper narrates the story of the American West between 1840 and 1900. The accent is on the "real"... the people, the land and the hardships that wed one to the other. Score by Robert Russell Bennett. Produced and directed by Donald B. Hyatt, and written by Philip Reisman, Jr.   

Duplicate of #77.           

Moscow's reception for Yuri Gagarin.             

The 15th annual Tony Award presentations for distinguished contributions to the theater is broadcast. Phil Silvers is host. Announcer is Art Hannes.                                                                 

Bob Hope is host (master of ceremonies for the ninth time) for the 33rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony, telecast live from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica California.  

Producer & Director for TV is Richard Dunlap.
Academy Award Producer is Arthur Freed.
Academy Award Director is Vincent Minnelli.   

                                                                                                               

Bob Hope is host (master of ceremonies for the ninth time) for the 33rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony, telecast live from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica California.  

Producer & Director for TV is Richard Dunlap.
Academy Award Producer is Arthur Freed.
Academy Award Director is Vincent Minnelli.                                                                                         

EYEWITNESS - September 30, 1960 - July 26, 1963

Originally titled "Eyewitness to History" title shortened to "Eyewitness" by the Fall of  1961

------------------
EYEWITNESS
-----------------
 'CBS News' Production
US Documentary series 1960-63   30 minute Documentary program

Hosted by Charles Kuralt (1960-61)
Hosted by Walter Cronkite (1961-1962)
Hosted by Charles Collingwood (1962-1963)

A CBS special report and analysis on the failure of the Cuban invasion.

Host: Walter Cronkite.                                     

December 8, 1957-June 18, 1961. 
Programs not hosted by Dinah Shore (every 4th week during the season of 1957-58 and 1958-59, more often thereafter until June 1961) were known as "The Chevy Show." 

Presented on "THE CHEVY SHOW." which was also a weekly summer replacement for "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show" in 1958 and 1959. June 22, 1958 to September 27, 1959, with rotating hosts Janet Blair, John Raitt and Edie Adams. The format was a mixed bag of popular and classical music, skits and monologues. During the summer run of 1959 (June 7, 1959 to September 27, 1959), Blair and Raitt returned as co-hosts. Dorothy Kirsten appeared during both seasons.

 Live musical with interesting premise. Seems things are in a miserable state of Earth, so a heavenly messenger is sent down to deliver a "commercial" over a world-wide television network. The angel tells his viewers that their lives can be free from worries about such trivial maters as money and health. He announces he'll prove his point by showing a day in the life of young Kathy Hewitt, assisted by himself as her guardian angel.

Janis Paige sings, "Too Old," and joins Craig Stevens in "Dancing in a Dream." Axel Stordahl conducts the orchestra.                           

December 8, 1957-June 18, 1961. 
Programs not hosted by Dinah Shore (every 4th week during the season of 1957-58 and 1958-59, more often thereafter until June 1961) were known as "The Chevy Show." 

Presented on "THE CHEVY SHOW." which was also a weekly summer replacement for "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show" in 1958 and 1959. June 22, 1958 to September 27, 1959, with rotating hosts Janet Blair, John Raitt and Edie Adams. The format was a mixed bag of popular and classical music, skits and monologues. During the summer run of 1959 (June 7, 1959 to September 27, 1959), Blair and Raitt returned as co-hosts. Dorothy Kirsten appeared during both seasons.

 Live musical with interesting premise. Seems things are in a miserable state of Earth, so a heavenly messenger is sent down to deliver a "commercial" over a world-wide television network. The angel tells his viewers that their lives can be free from worries about such trivial maters as money and health. He announces he'll prove his point by showing a day in the life of young Kathy Hewitt, assisted by himself as her guardian angel.

Janis Paige sings, "Too Old," and joins Craig Stevens in "Dancing in a Dream." Axel Stordahl conducts the orchestra.                                        

    Judy Garland's sputtering career was helped and revitalized through a series of popular concerts. Her conductor for her greatest concert, April 23, 1961 at Carnegie Hall, was Mort Lindsey. The performance was recorded at the time by Capital Records and this live performance won four Grammy Awards. It spent three months at No. 1 on the Billboard top 200. The Carnegie Hall concert was seen by a star-studded audience of 3,000. Lindsey arranged the rousing overture, a snazzy medley of Garland's hits including "The Trolley Song," "Over the Rainbow," and "The Man That Got Away." Garland's throaty renditions of "Puttin' on the Ritz," "I Cant't Give You Anything But Love" and "San Francisco" earned repeated standing ovations and whistles and cheers.                       

A series of radio shows sponsored by Steinway Pianos. The accent is showcasing musicians. This broadcast presented an all-star jazz concert.             

Live coverage of the Freedom 7 space flight with Commander Alan B. Shepard aboard. Complete flight from countdown to post-flight report.            

A special NBC radio report on astronaut Alan B. Shepard who becomes the first American to be launched into space. Broadcast live from Cape Canaveral, Florida.       


Duplicate of 8505. 

A special NBC radio report on astronaut Alan B. Shepard who becomes the first American to be launched into space. Broadcast live from Cape Canaveral, Florida.         

President John F. Kennedy greets astronaut Alan B. Shepard at the White House following his historic 15-minute spaceflight on May 5th, 1961.            

Live press conference with Rear Admiral Alan Bartlett Shepard, the first United States astronaut in space, three days after his historic flight.            

Live press conference with Rear Admiral Alan Bartlett Shepard, the first United States astronaut in space, three days after his historic flight.       

Duplicate of 6956A.     

Astronaut Alan B. Shepard holds a press conference following his historic spaceflight on May 5th, 1961.   

Dick Powell and Joey Bishop are the hosts for the 13th Primetime Emmy Awards held in the Moulin Rogue Nightclub in Los Angeles, California.   

NOTE: Not Complete. Some abrupt continuity at times.                                                  

The second annual TV Guide awards show is telecast. Comedy sketches by Jackie Cooper and Nanette Fabray. 

Host: Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.