The 17th Annual Tony Awards for excellence in theatrical performances for 1962 are awarded from the Hotel Americana Imperial Ballroom in New York City. The Master of Ceremonies is Abe Burrows and Robert Morse. Broadcast locally on WOR-TV Channel 9 in New York. WOR radio host Jean Shepherd opens and introduces the show. George Abbott wins the Best Direction of a 
Musical award for "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum."  

Produced by David Yarnell.

NOTE: This rare television audio air check broadcast was recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records, June 19, 2002 (Claim #5364), for the most money paid for a television soundtrack, sold to The American Theatre Wing, Inc., by Archival Television Audio, Inc., transacted on June 20, 2001.



 

NOTE: The first 42 minutes of the one hour broadcast. 
                                                                                                                                                                   

   KUP'S SHOW - 1962 - 1975 (Syndicated) 1975 - 1986 (PBS)
Chicago newspaper columnist Irv Kupcinet was first seen on local Chicago television and like David Susskind in New York (Open End), he hosted a talk show in 1958 that was open-ended.The program was trimmed to an hour when it went into national syndication in 1962. In 1975 the show was picked up by PBS and lasted for an additional 11 years. 

Guests include Judy Garland, Jean-Pierre Aumont, his wife Marisa Pavan, Irna Phillips, creator of the soap opera, As The World Turns, Jan Pierce, and Dr. Eric Bene author of the book "The Games People Play.."

Judy Garland, who states her future plans are to keep on singing, candidly discusses her feelings about today's music and her dislike of the Beatles, her feelings about The Wizard of Oz, her childhood which was not a normal one, and her daughter, Liza whom she feels has a better singing voice than Barbra Streisand whom she does not care for. Garland comments on her cult following, and the fact that every time she goes on stage she has a case of "stage freight." 

Jan Pierce tells Irv Kupcinet  that he is developing a Peace Corp for entertainers. Irna Phillip discusses why censorship in Radio was greater than today in television, and Dr. Eric Berne author of "The Games People Play," states how most people are not truthful with one another. 

NOTE: A rare TV Audio Air Check. Sound quality has been improved by archivist Phil Gries as much as possible increasing its audio listening clarity  which had slight issues when originally recorded in 1965.