NBC October 2nd, 1954-March 10th, 1959
CBS October 11th, 1959-June 5th, 1960,
George Gobel hosted three different variety series. The first was a half-hour program October 1954 thru June 1957. The second also for NBC was an hour broadcast alternating with the Eddie Fisher Show, both starring and guesting on each others program each week (September 1957 thru March 1959).
Third series for Gobel had him appear on CBS TV from October 1959 thru June 1960 back with a half-hour format.
During his NBC run George Gobel would do an "Alice" skit, parodying his own real life domestic life with wife, Alice.
Jeff Donnell (1957-1958) and later Phyllis Avery (1958-1959) played the role of Alice.
Usually there would be a guest star and a skit or two following a down home spun stand-up monolgue at the beginning of the program by "lonesone" George Gobel.
Guests: Marguerite Piazza, Vincent Price, Edward Price.
October 28th, 1950- September 15th, 1964 (CBS)
September 25th,1964-September 10th, 1965 (NBC)
Jack Benny's half-hour show mixed variety and situation comedy with a company of regulars: Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, announcer Don Wilson, Dennis Day, Mel Blanc, and Mary Livingston.
Jack Benny's guests are Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Coleman.
November 5, 1956 - June 24, 1957 (15 minutes)
July 2, 1957 - December 17, 1957 (30 minutes)
When Nat King Cole' NBC TV series began November 5, 1956 it originated from New York City while Cole was winding up his current stint at the Copacabana. After the fourth broadcast the series was broadcast from Los Angeles. where it would remain for its complete run.
Nat King Cole became the first major black performer to headline a network variety series. His 15 minute show filled the remainder of the half hour in which NBC TV aired its nightly news program, THE HUNTLEY BRINKLY REPORT.
On July 2, 1957 THE NAT KING COLE SHOW became a half hour program. Many stars appeared on the show for minimum fees as personal favors to him, in an effort to bolster low ratings. But the efforts were in vain, and it would be another decade before a black entertainer could begin to make a significant dent into he mass medium of television.
Announcer: Bill Hanrahan
A feature at the end of each show, Nat King Cole's "Musical Memories."
NOTE: The broadcast of November 12, 1956 is rare and is not archived by any of the major entertainment museums in the country.
September 20, 1952-June 22, 1957; October 3, 1958-January 2 1959; February 3 1961-March 24, 1961; September 1962-September 12, 1970
After the 1954-1955 season (one hour live broadcasts), Jackie Gleason produced a series of 39 filmed half-hour episodes of "The Honeymooners" which was syndicated (1955-1956). For the following 1956-1957 season, the Jackie Gleason Show returned to a live one-hour variety format with a Honeymooners sketch included in many of its broadcasts. After this season, The Honeymooners sketches would not be revived until the 1966-1967 season of The Jackie Gleason Show.
In this episode, a Honeymooners sketch with Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, and Audrey Meadows.
June 20, 1948 - May 30, 1971
ED SULLIVAN SHOW, THE, (TOAST OF THE TOWN)
Television's longest running variety series. Originally, titled, TOAST OF THE TOWN, the name of the series changed on September 18, 1955 to THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. Most remembered for introducing many stand-up comedians, and musical acts, including The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Beatles.
Most of the 1,087 broadcasts, encompassing 10,000 performers, have been archived. The major exceptions are the first half-year of shows circa 1948 of which a few kinescope excerpts survive.
The ED SULLIVAN SHOW was a spectacular show-case that for twenty-three years entertained the American family. In its prime, more than thirty million viewers, young and old, tuned in at the same time to view popular culture.
The guests are Louis Armstrong, Phil Silvers, Bing Crosby, and Julie Andrews.
November 5, 1956 - June 24, 1957 (15 minutes)
July 2, 1957 - December 17, 1957 (30 minutes)
When Nat King Cole' NBC TV series began November 5, 1956 it originated from New York City while Cole was winding up his current stint at the Copacabana. After the fourth broadcast the series was broadcast from Los Angeles. where it would remain for its complete run.
Nat King Cole became the first major black performer to headline a network variety series. His 15 minute show filled the remainder of the half hour in which NBC TV aired its nightly news program, THE HUNTLEY BRINKLY REPORT.
On July 2, 1957 THE NAT KING COLE SHOW became a half hour program. Many stars appeared on the show for minimum fees as personal favors to him, in an effort to bolster low ratings. But the efforts were in vain, and it would be another decade before a black entertainer could begin to make a significant dent into he mass medium of television.
Highlights sung by Nat King Cole:
"This Can't Be Love," "This was the End of a beautiful Friendship," "I'm on the Way to Cuba," "In the Evenings May I come to You?"
"Mona Lisa."
There is a "musical memory" spot at the end of each show.
Announcer: Bill Hanrahan
NOTE: The broadcast of November 12, 1956 is rare and is not archived by any of the major entertainment museums in the country.
October 28th, 1950- September 15th, 1964 (CBS)
September 25th,1964-September 10th, 1965 (NBC)
Jack Benny's half-hour show mixed variety and situation comedy with a company of regulars: Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, announcer Don Wilson, Dennis Day, Mel Blanc, and Mary Livingston.
An excerpt from the November 18th, 1956 episode of this show.
September 20, 1952-June 22, 1957; October 3, 1958-January 2 1959; February 3 1961-March 24, 1961; September 1962-September 12, 1970
After the 1954-1955 season (one hour live broadcasts), Jackie Gleason produced a series of 39 filmed half-hour episodes of "The Honeymooners" which was syndicated (1955-1956). For the following 1956-1957 season, the Jackie Gleason Show returned to a live one-hour variety format with a Honeymooners sketch included in many of its broadcasts. After this season, The Honeymooners sketches would not be revived until the 1966-1967 season of The Jackie Gleason Show.
The show's opening is heard.
September 20, 1952-June 22, 1957; October 3, 1958-January 2 1959; February 3 1961-March 24, 1961; September 1962-September 12, 1970
After the 1954-1955 season (one hour live broadcasts), Jackie Gleason produced a series of 39 filmed half-hour episodes of "The Honeymooners" which was syndicated (1955-1956). For the following 1956-1957 season, the Jackie Gleason Show returned to a live one-hour variety format with a Honeymooners sketch included in many of its broadcasts. After this season, The Honeymooners sketches would not be revived until the 1966-1967 season of The Jackie Gleason Show.
A tribute to bandleader Tommy Dorsey.
June 20, 1948 - May 30, 1971
ED SULLIVAN SHOW, THE, (TOAST OF THE TOWN)
Television's longest running variety series. Originally, titled, TOAST OF THE TOWN, the name of the series changed on September 18, 1955 to THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. Most remembered for introducing many stand-up comedians, and musical acts, including The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Beatles.
Most of the 1,087 broadcasts, encompassing 10,000 performers, have been archived. The major exceptions are the first half year of shows circa 1948 of which a few kinescope excerpts survive.
The ED SULLIVAN SHOW was a spectacular show-case that for twenty-three years entertained the American family. In its prime, more than thirty million viewers, young and old, tuned in at the same time to view popular culture.
Guests include Sophie Tucker, Myron Cohen, Luella Parsons who presents the 1956 Modern Screen Award to Janet Leigh, Eddie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, Tony Curtis, and Doris Day.
September 12, 1955-June 12, 1963. In the fall of 1955 Perry Como returned to NBC where he hosted a weekly hour show. From 1955 to 1959 it was seen Saturday evenings and was titled "The Perry Como Show." From 1959 to 1963 it was seen Wednesday evenings and was titled "The Kraft Music Hall." Regulars included Frank Gallop and the Ray Charles Singers. After his final weekly June 12, 1963 broadcast Perry Como appeared in scores of specials, beginning October 3, 1963, airing on NBC, CBS & ABC, and concluding on December 6, 1986.
Guest: Pearl Bailey.
June 24, 1956-December 27, 1961.
The multi-talented Steve Allen- musician, composer, singer, comedian,author- was the star of this live weekly variety series that bore a strong resemblance to his informal, late-night Tonight! Show. Although the program had elements of music and serious aspects, comedy was far and away its major component. Steve had with him one of the most versatile and talented collections of improvisational comics ever assembled. Among the features that were used at one time or another on a semi-regular basis were: "Letters to the Editor," "The Allen Report to the Nation," "Mad-Libs," "Crazy Shots," "Where Are They Now," "The Question Man," "The Allen Bureau of Standards," and "The Allen All Stars." The most frequently used feature, and by far the most memorable, was the "Man on the Street Interview." It was here that the comics on the show developed their best-remembered characters: Louis Nye as suave, smug Gordon Hathaway, Tom Poston as the man who can't remember his own name, Skitch Henderson as Sidney Ferguson, Don Knotts as the extremely nervous and fidgety Mr Morrison, Pat Harrington as Italian golf pro Guido Panzini, and Bill Dana as shy Jose Jimenez.
Guests: The Bickerson's, Lew Parker, Betty Keane.
February 3rd, 1951-June 39th, 1951-
A half-hour comedy/variety series starring Victor Borge.
Borge imitates Liberace. He performs his famous "Punctuation Skit."
February 3rd, 1951-June 29th, 1951-
A half-hour comedy/variety series starring Victor Borge.
Borge imitates Liberace. He performs his famous "Punctuation Skit."
Victor Borge's one-man (plus orchestra) concert show.
Duplicate of #13115 which is a fifteen-minute version.
NBC October 2nd, 1954-March 10th, 1959
CBS October 11th, 1959-June 5th, 1960,
George Gobel hosted three different variety series. The first was a half-hour program October 1954 thru June 1957. The second also for NBC was an hour broadcast alternating with the Eddie Fisher Show, both starring and guesting on each others program each week (September 1957 thru March 1959).
Third series for Gobel had him appear on CBS TV from October 1959 thru June 1960 back with a half-hour format.
During his NBC run George Gobel would do an "Alice" skit, parodying his own real life domestic life with wife, Alice.
Jeff Donnell (1957-1958) and later Phyllis Avery (1958-1959) played the role of Alice.
Usually there would be a guest star and a skit or two following a down home spun stand-up monolgue at the beginning of the program by "lonesone" George Gobel.
Guest: Eddie Fisher. Includes skit, song, and duet.
June 20, 1948 - May 30, 1971
ED SULLIVAN SHOW, THE, (TOAST OF THE TOWN)
Television's longest running variety series. Originally, titled, TOAST OF THE TOWN, the name of the series changed on September 18, 1955 to THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. Most remembered for introducing many stand-up comedians, and musical acts, including The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Beatles.
Most of the 1,087 broadcasts, encompassing 10,000 performers, have been archived. The major exceptions are the first half year of shows circa 1948 of which a few kinescope excerpts survive.
The ED SULLIVAN SHOW was a spectacular show-case that for twenty-three years entertained the American family. In its prime, more than thirty million viewers, young and old, tuned in at the same time to view popular culture.
On this show, Ed Sullivan congratulates Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson on his retirement from baseball, other guests include Sugar Ray Robinson, and Elvis Presley who sings,
"Hound Dog," (complete)
"Love Me Tender," (partial)
"Heartbreak Hotel," (partial)
Elvis Presley thanks all of his fans and introduces his biggest record,
"Don't Be Cruel," (complete),
"Too Much," (partial)
"In My Arms To Take." (partial)
A special one hour salute to Eddie Cantor celebrating his 65th birthday. On hand to salute him in this variety program are Edward R. Murrow, Burt Lancaster, Connie Russel, George Jessel, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Eddie Fisher, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnay, Milton Ager, Jimmy McHugh, and Cantor's daughter, Marilyn Cantor. Eddie Cantor wrote the script for the show, pre-empting The Jackie Gleason Show.
September 20, 1952-June 22, 1957; October 3, 1958-January 2 1959; February 3 1961-March 24, 1961; September 1962-September 12, 1970
After the 1954-1955 season (one hour live broadcasts), Jackie Gleason produced a series of 39 filmed half-hour episodes of "The Honeymooners" which was syndicated (1955-1956). For the following 1956-1957 season, the Jackie Gleason Show returned to a live one-hour variety format with a Honeymooners sketch included in many of its broadcasts. After this season, The Honeymooners sketches would not be revived until the 1966-1967 season of The Jackie Gleason Show.
Eddie Cantor is honored on his 65th birthday.
Cantor sings "Waiting For The Robert E. Lee."
Guests: Eddie Cantor, and Edward R.Murrow.
NBC October 2nd, 1954-March 10th, 1959
CBS October 11th, 1959-June 5th, 1960,
George Gobel hosted three different variety series. The first was a half-hour program October 1954 thru June 1957. The second also for NBC was an hour broadcast alternating with the Eddie Fisher Show, both starring and guesting on each others program each week (September 1957 thru March 1959).
Third series for Gobel had him appear on CBS TV from October 1959 thru June 1960 back with a half-hour format.
During his NBC run George Gobel would do an "Alice" skit, parodying his own real life domestic life with wife, Alice.
Jeff Donnell (1957-1958) and later Phyllis Avery (1958-1959) played the role of Alice.
Usually there would be a guest star and a skit or two following a down home spun stand-up monolgue at the beginning of the program by "lonesone" George Gobel.
Guest: Ray Bolger. Featured is a takeoff routine on NBC's Sunday afternoon documentary series, "Wide, Wide, World," and Edward R. Murrow's "Person To Person."
June 20, 1948 - May 30, 1971
ED SULLIVAN SHOW, THE, (TOAST OF THE TOWN)
Television's longest running variety series. Originally, titled, TOAST OF THE TOWN, the name of the series changed on September 18, 1955 to THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. Most remembered for introducing many stand-up comedians, and musical acts, including The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Beatles.
Most of the 1,087 broadcasts, encompassing 10,000 performers, have been archived. The major exceptions are the first half year of shows circa 1948 of which a few kinescope excerpts survive.
The ED SULLIVAN SHOW was a spectacular show-case that for twenty-three years entertained the American family. In its prime, more than thirty million viewers, young and old, tuned in at the same time to view popular culture.
Ed's guest is Fred Astaire.
September 30th, 1954-April 17th, 1958 (CBS)
Shower Of Stars was a once-a-month replacement series for CBS's popular Thursday night entry, "Climax," with host William Lundigan. A wide variety of shows took place including a variety of spectaculars and dramatic shows. The show was first hosted by William Lundigan who was later replaced by Jack Benny.
This episode stars Tallulah Bankhead, Ed Wynn, Jack Benny, and Bert Lahr.
June 20, 1948 - May 30, 1971
ED SULLIVAN SHOW, THE, (TOAST OF THE TOWN)
Television's longest running variety series. Originally, titled, TOAST OF THE TOWN, the name of the series changed on September 18, 1955 to THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. Most remembered for introducing many stand-up comedians, and musical acts, including The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Beatles.
Most of the 1,087 broadcasts, encompassing 10,000 performers, have been archived. The major exceptions are the first half year of shows circa 1948 of which a few kinescope excerpts survive.
The ED SULLIVAN SHOW was a spectacular show-case that for twenty-three years entertained the American family. In its prime, more than thirty million viewers, young and old, tuned in at the same time to view popular culture.
Guests: Author/singer Kay Thompson, and the comedy team of Smith and Dale.
November 27th, 1951-July 18th, 1957 (NBC)
October 20th, 1957- June 25th, 1962 (NBC)
From 1951 until 1957 Dinah Shore hosted a fifteen- minute musical show which was seen only once or twice a week before the NBC evening news. During the 1956-1957 TV Season, in addition to her 15-minute show, Dinah starred in a number of specials that were sponsored by Chevrolet broadcast on Sunday evenings.
The second series of television Specials was telecast as a one-hour variety show on Sunday Evenings, from 1957-1962.
Dinah's guest is Dean Martin.
September 20, 1952-June 22, 1957; October 3, 1958-January 2 1959; February 3 1961-March 24, 1961; September 1962-September 12, 1970
After the 1954-1955 season (one hour live broadcasts), Jackie Gleason produced a series of 39 filmed half-hour episodes of "The Honeymooners" which was syndicated (1955-1956). For the following 1956-1957 season, the Jackie Gleason Show returned to a live one-hour variety format with a Honeymooners sketch included in many of its broadcasts. After this season, The Honeymooners sketches would not be revived until the 1966-1967 season of The Jackie Gleason Show.
There is a "PEOPLE TO PEOPLE" skit with Jackie Gleason playing Reggie Van Gleason.
June 24, 1956-December 27, 1961.
The multi-talented Steve Allen- musician, composer, singer, comedian,author- was the star of this live weekly variety series that bore a strong resemblance to his informal, late-night Tonight! Show. Although the program had elements of music and serious aspects, comedy was far and away its major component. Steve had with him one of the most versatile and talented collections of improvisational comics ever assembled. Among the features that were used at one time or another on a semi-regular basis were: "Letters to the Editor," "The Allen Report to the Nation," "Mad-Libs," "Crazy Shots," "Where Are They Now," "The Question Man," "The Allen Bureau of Standards," and "The Allen All Stars." The most frequently used feature, and by far the most memorable was the "Man on the Street Interview." It was here that the comics on the show developed their best-remembered characters: Louis Nye as suave, smug Gordon Hathaway, Tom Poston as the man who can't remember his own name, Skitch Henderson as Sidney Ferguson, Don Knotts as the extremely nervous and fidgety Mr. Morrison, Pat Harrington as Italian golf pro Guido Panzini, and Bill Dana as shy Jose Jimenez.
Steve Allen's guests are Mickey Rooney and Joey Forman and The Muppets.
June 24, 1956-December 27, 1961.
The multi-talented Steve Allen- musician, composer, singer, comedian,author- was the star of this live weekly variety series that bore a strong resemblance to his informal, late-night Tonight! Show. Although the program had elements of music and serious aspects, comedy was far and away its major component. Steve had with him one of the most versatile and talented collections of improvisational comics ever assembled. Among the features that were used at one time or another on a semi-regular basis were: "Letters to the Editor," "The Allen Report to the Nation," "Mad-Libs," "Crazy Shots," "Where Are They Now," "The Question Man," "The Allen Bureau of Standards," and "The Allen All Stars." The most frequently used feature, and by far the most memorable was the "Man on the Street Interview." It was here that the comics on the show developed their best-remembered characters: Louis Nye as suave, smug Gordon Hathaway, Tom Poston as the man who can't remember his own name, Skitch Henderson as Sidney Ferguson, Don Knotts as the extremely nervous and fidgety Mr. Morrison, Pat Harrington as Italian golf pro Guido Panzini, and Bill Dana as shy Jose Jimenez.
Steve Allen's guests are the Will Mastin Trio with Sammy Davis Jr.
NBC October 2nd, 1954-March 10th, 1959
CBS October 11th, 1959-June 5th, 1960,
George Gobel hosted three different variety series. The first was a half-hour program October 1954 thru June 1957. The second also for NBC was an hour broadcast alternating with the Eddie Fisher Show, both starring and guesting on each others program each week (September 1957 thru March 1959).
Third series for Gobel had him appear on CBS TV from October 1959 thru June 1960 back with a half-hour format.
During his NBC run George Gobel would do an "Alice" skit, parodying his own real life domestic life with wife, Alice.
Jeff Donnell (1957-1958) and later Phyllis Avery (1958-1959) played the role of Alice.
Usually there would be a guest star and a skit or two following a down home spun stand-up monolgue at the beginning of the program by "lonesone" George Gobel.
Guest: Gene Autry's sidekick Pat Buttram performs a Western skit with George Gobel.
Kate Smith Stars in a live one-hour, one-time only Variety Show, celebrating her 25th anniversary as an entertainer.
Among her guests are Boris Karloff, Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, and Ed Wynn.
June 24, 1956-December 27, 1961.
The multi-talented Steve Allen- musician, composer, singer, comedian,author- was the star of this live weekly variety series that bore a strong resemblance to his informal, late-night Tonight! Show. Although the program had elements of music and serious aspects, comedy was far and away its major component. Steve had with him one of the most versatile and talented collections of improvisational comics ever assembled. Among the features that were used at one time or another on a semi-regular basis were: "Letters to the Editor," "The Allen Report to the Nation," "Mad-Libs," "Crazy Shots," "Where Are They Now," "The Question Man," "The Allen Bureau of Standards," and "The Allen All Stars." The most frequently used feature, and by far the most memorable was the "Man on the Street Interview." It was here that the comics on the show developed their best-remembered characters: Louis Nye as suave, smug Gordon Hathaway, Tom Poston as the man who can't remember his own name, Skitch Henderson as Sidney Ferguson, Don Knotts as the extremely nervous and fidgety Mr. Morrison, Pat Harrington as Italian golf pro Guido Panzini, and Bill Dana as shy Jose Jimenez.
Guest: Don Adams. A baseball routine about umpires is performed.
September 20, 1952-June 22, 1957; October 3, 1958-January 2 1959; February 3 1961-March 24, 1961; September 1962-September 12, 1970
After the 1954-1955 season (one hour live broadcasts), Jackie Gleason produced a series of 39 filmed half-hour episodes of "The Honeymooners" which was syndicated (1955-1956). For the following 1956-1957 season, the Jackie Gleason Show returned to a live one-hour variety format with a Honeymooners sketch included in many of its broadcasts. After this season, The Honeymooners sketches would not be revived until the 1966-1967 season of The Jackie Gleason Show.
A Reggie Van Gleason skit in which he appears on the television show "This Was Your Life."
September 12, 1955-June 12, 1963. In the fall of 1955 Perry Como returned to NBC where he hosted a weekly hour show. From 1955 to 1959 it was seen Saturday evenings and was titled "The Perry Como Show." From 1959 to 1963 it was seen Wednesday evenings and was titled "The Kraft Music Hall." Regulars included Frank Gallop and the Ray Charles Singers. After his final weekly June 12, 1963 broadcast Perry Como appeared in scores of specials, beginning October 3, 1963, airing on NBC, CBS & ABC, and concluding on December 6, 1986.
The closing moments of the Perry Como Show.
June 20, 1948 - May 30, 1971
ED SULLIVAN SHOW, THE, (TOAST OF THE TOWN)
Television's longest running variety series. Originally, titled, TOAST OF THE TOWN, the name of the series changed on September 18, 1955 to THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. Most remembered for introducing many stand-up comedians, and musical acts, including The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Beatles.
Most of the 1,087 broadcasts, encompassing 10,000 performers, have been archived. The major exceptions are the first half-year of shows circa 1948 of which a few kinescope excerpts survive.
The ED SULLIVAN SHOW was a spectacular show-case that for twenty-three years entertained the American family. In its prime, more than thirty million viewers, young and old, tuned in at the same time to view popular culture.
Sammy Davis Jr does an impression of Ed Sullivan, Walter Pidgeon enacts a scene from his current Broadway play and 10-year-old Robert Strom who recently won $192,000 on the $64,000 Question quiz show.
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