Series of television specials presented by the Rexall Pharmaceutical Company for NBC television. The conclusion of "The Merry Widow" starring Patrice Munsel. Part 2 of 2. 

          Folk operettas by Ira Gershwin played by Skitch Henderson and company.     

June 25th, 1955- September 24th, 1955 

Paul Whiteman hosted this summer series. He presents different big name bands each week. 

On this episode, The Percy Faith orchestra. 

Series of television specials presented by the Rexall Pharmaceutical Company for NBC television. 

"Naughty Marietta" starring Alfred Drake. Music by Victor Herbert.

October 7th, 1950-June 7th, 1958 (NBC)
October 10th, 1958-April 24th, 1959 (CBS) 
August 2nd, 1974-August 30th, 1974- (CBS)

A musical show where the top songs of the week were performed by the series regulars. Among the show's regulars included Dorothy Collins, Russell Arms, Snooky Lanson, Eileen Wilson, Sue Bennett, and June Valli. Gisele McKenzie joined the group in 1953, replacing June Valli. During the show's final season on NBC in 1957, four new regulars were brought in; Tommy Leonetti, Jill Corey, Virginia Gibson and Alan Copeland who sang with the musical group The Modernaires on bandleader Bob Crosby's daytime show, "Bob Crosby and The Bobcats" on CBS. In 1958 when the show went over to CBS, Dorothy Collins was brought back and co-starred with Johnny Desmond for one season, but the show failed to regain the popularity it once had on NBC. The show left the air in April 1959. The 1974 CBS revival also failed to gain popularity.

All Top Ten Hits.

                                                                                         

The big musical production is a jazz version of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operetta "HMS Pinafore" 

Highlights:
"Blue, Blue, Blue"- Chorus
"Buttercup Baby"- Pat Carroll 
"Give Three Cheers"- Danny Scholl
"Ah,Well-A Day"- Bill Hayes 
"Admiral's Boogie"- Jack Russell
"De Queen's Navee Mambo"- Jack Russell 
"Ring The Merry Bells"- Jack Russell, Danny Scholl, Kitty Kallen
"Carefully"- Bill Hayes, Kitty Kallen, Danny Scholl, Pat Carroll 
"All That Glitters"- Pat Carroll 
"Say It Ain't So"- Pat Carroll
"Cool New Captain Of Pinafore"- Ensemble 

Note: Final 25 minutes of broadcast.

October 7th, 1950-June 7th, 1958 (NBC)
October 10th, 1958-April 24th, 1959 (CBS) 
August 2nd, 1974-August 30th, 1974- (CBS)

A musical show where the top songs of the week were performed by the series regulars. Among the show's regulars included Dorothy Collins, Russell Arms, Snooky Lanson, Eileen Wilson, Sue Bennett, and June Valli. Gisele McKenzie joined the group in 1953, replacing June Valli. During the show's final season on NBC in 1957, four new regulars were brought in; Tommy Leonetti, Jill Corey, Virginia Gibson and Alan Copeland who sang with the musical group The Modernaires on bandleader Bob Crosby's daytime show, "Bob Crosby and The Bobcats" on CBS. In 1958 when the show went over to CBS, Dorothy Collins was brought back and co-starred with Johnny Desmond for one season, but the show failed to regain the popularity it once had on NBC. The show left the air in April 1959. The 1974 CBS revival also failed to gain popularity.

All Top Ten Hits.

                                                                                         

Series of television specials presented by the Rexall Pharmaceutical Company for NBC television. 

"Desert Song" starring Nelson Eddy 

A tribute to the 15th anniversary of the Bell Telephone Hour radio program which began on the NBC radio network April 29th, 1940 and was heard until June 30th, 1958, moving to television on January 12th, 1959.

Donald Voorhees conducts the Bell Telephone Orchestra. 

Series of television specials presented by the Rexall Pharmaceutical Company for NBC television. 

"Chocolate Soldier" starring Rise Stevens.

July 12th, 1955-September 13th, 1955 (CBS)

Live, half-hour musical/variety series, featuring the sounds of Stan Kenton and his band. 

Series premiere: Guests: Lena Horne, arranger/composer Vicente Gomez, Frankie Laine. 

June 25th, 1955- September 24th, 1955 

Paul Whiteman hosted this summer series. He presents different big name bands each week. This series is a summer replacement show for The Jackie Gleason Show. Presented are four different big bands each week. 

On this episode, Jazz drummer Louis Bellson and his band are featured. 

June 25th, 1955- September 24th, 1955 

Paul Whiteman hosted this summer series. He presents different big name bands each week. This series is a summer replacement show for The Jackie Gleason Show. Presented are four different big bands each week. 

Guests: Buddy Morrow, Mitch Miller 

June 25th, 1955- September 24th, 1955 

Paul Whiteman hosted this summer series. He presents different big name bands each week. This series is a summer replacement show for The Jackie Gleason Show. Presented are four different big bands each week. 

Guests: Ray Anthony and his band. 

July 12th, 1955-September 13th, 1955 (CBS)

Live, half-hour musical/variety series, featuring the sounds of Stan Kenton and his band. 

Guests: Calvin Jackson, Cab Calloway, Peggy King. 

Ralph Flanagan was a big band leader and musical composer. He composed and arranged for such big band leaders as Sammy Kaye, Charlie Barnet, and Alvino Rey.His instrument of expertise was the piano. His 1950s radio show was heard on the Mutual Radio network.

Dixieland music. Guests: La Playa Sextet. 

 

June 25th, 1955- September 24th, 1955 

Paul Whiteman hosted this summer series. He presents different big name bands each week. This series is a summer replacement show for The Jackie Gleason Show. Presented are four different big bands each week. 

Guest: Drummer Gene Krupa. 

July 12th, 1955-September 13th, 1955 (CBS)

Live, half-hour musical/variety series, featuring the sounds of Stan Kenton and his band. 

Guests: Rock 'N' Roll performer Lillian Briggs, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Burl Ives, vocalist Geri Southern. 

June 25th, 1955- September 24th, 1955 

Paul Whiteman hosted this summer series. He presents different big name bands each week. 

October 18, 1954-June 24, 1957.
 Presented on "PRODUCER'S SHOWCASE." Some of television's most notable single programs were presented on this highly acclaimed series, one of the most costly to be produced during the "Golden Age Of Television."



Frank Sinatra stars in this story of family life in the fictional town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire.             

Investigating what separates jazz music from all other forms of music. 

Guest: Leonard Berstein.            

July 3rd, 1954-September 18th, 1954 (CBS)
October 1st, 1955-September 22nd, 1956 (CBS)      

Musical variety series hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. 
Introduced as a one-hour show in 1954, it was a summer replacement for the Jackie Gleason Show. Gleason resurrected the show in the fall of 1955, trimming it to a half-hour, preceding his own show.  In 1956, comedian Jack Carter became the permanent emcee of the show, which saw both Elvis Presley and Bobby Darin make their national TV debuts.   

Guest: Frank Fontaine, who sings "When You're Smiling" and performs a skit based on the character John L.C. Savonne. The Savonne character preceeded Fontaine's "Crazy Guggenheim" character in the "Joe The Bartender" skits he performed on The Jackie Gleason Show. 

Series of television specials presented by the Rexall Pharmaceutical Company for NBC television. 

"The Great Waltz" starring Patrice Munsel. 

November 9th, 1952-April April 16th, 1961. (NBC). 

Hosted by Alistair Cooke, this series presented everything from dramas to musicals to documentaries. SEARCH PROGRAM TITLE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS.

Leonard Bernstein: The art of conducting an orchestra. The importance of the conductor.    

Host: Alistair Cooke. 

Series of television specials presented by the Rexall Pharmaceutical Company for NBC television. 

"Babes In Toyland" Version 2 starring Barbara Cook. 

Featuring Thad Jones and Pepper Adams.      

NBC radio. 

September 5, 1949-June 7, 1954 (NBC); June 14, 1954-June 16, 1963 (ABC). This was the final broadcast of the season. "Voice of Firestone," which began on radio in 1928, was a Monday-night perennial for more than two decades before coming to television in 1949; for the next five years it was simulcast on NBC radio and television, until a dispute between the sponsor and the network over the Monday time slot led Firestone to shift the program to ABC. The half-hour musical series presented all kinds of music, but emphasized classical and semiclassical selections. Each week a guest celebrity was featured, and for many years the principal guests came from the Metropolitan Opera Company. The Firestone Orchestra was conducted by Howard Barlow, and the show was hosted by John Daly during its years on ABC; Hugh James was the announcer. "Voice of Firestone" was seen as a series of specials from 1959 until 1962; it returned as a weekly series in the fall of 1962 for a final season (September 30, 1962-June 16, 1963).  

Theme: "Springtime USA" Guest: Helen Hayes. 

     

Series of monthly specials featuring musical and comedy revues.
Story centers around the hard-working women of the garment industry. Garment workers boss portrayed by Bert Lahr with Tony Randall as program host and salesman in the presentation. Only the musical numbers are heard in this 45-minute special.

Musical Highlights:

"Make A Miracle"- Janet Blair
Working Woman's Fantasy- Helen Gallagher
"Breakfast In Bed"- Tammy Grimes
"Ten Cents A Dance"- Connie Russell
"Poor Young Girl"- Bert Lahr
"Ladies Who Sing With A Band"- Female cast members. Fats Waller rendition. 

This program was telecast in color.

Announcer: Don Pardo. 


                                     

July 2, 1955-September 4, 1971; 1971-1982 (Syndicated). "The Lawrence Welk Show" presented middle-of-the-road music for almost three decades. Numbers were performed by the members of Welk's television family. That large group included the Lennon Sisters (Dianne, Peggy, Kathy and Janet), Alice Lon, Norma Zimmer, Tanya Falan, Arthur Duncan, Joe Feeney, Guy Hovis, Jim Roberts, Ralna English, Larry Hooper, Jerry Burke and former Mouseketeer Bobby Burgess.             

      Stage Show with Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. Guest headliners are all musical. Singer Dick Haymes, song stylist, Roberta Sherwood, in a return engagement, and the Hines Brothers...all perform to music by the Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Brothers orchestra.       

September 12th,1954-June 6th, 1956.

Series of monthly specials presented on Saturday and Sunday evenings by "Your Show Of Shows" producer Max Liebman. 

Selections:

Vocal: 

"S Wonderful"- Girl Quartet 
"Soon"- Alfred Drake
"Nice Work"- Toni Arden
"Can't Take That Away"- Tony Bennett 
"Embraceable You"- Ethel Merman 
"Bidin My Time"-Trio
"Mine, "Foggy Day"- Alfred Drake
"I've Got A Crush On You"- Toni Arden
"But Not For Me"- Ethel Merman
"Swanee"- Quintet
"Do, Do, Do"- Toni Arden
"Our Love Is Here To Stay"- Tony Bennett 
"I Got Rhythm"- Ethel Merman 
"Wintergreen For President- Ensemble 

Dance:

"Love Is Sweeping The Country" - Harrison, Muller Tap
"Slap That Bass"- Dance Team
"My One And Only"- Peter Conlow
"Half-Of-It- Dearie Blues"- Muller
"Someone To Watch Over Me"- Team
"Looking For A Boy"- Peter Conlow 
"Sam And Delilah"- Bob Hamilton Trio
"By Strauss"- Dance Ensemble 
"Sweet And Lowdown"- Ballerinas Diana
Adams,  Tanaquil leClercq, Patricia Wilde
"Clap Yo Hands"- Ensemble 

Instrumental:

"American In Paris"- (Excerpts)- Orchestra 
"Liza"- Robert Maxwell, Harp
"Who Cares?"- Art Van Damme Quintet
"Somebody Loves Me"- First Piano Quartet 
"Let's Call The Whole Thing Off"- Orchestra 
"Love Walked In"- Robert Maxwell
"They All Laughed"- Art Van Damme Quintet 
"Fascinatin Rhythm"- Piano Concerto
"Man I Love"- Richard Hayman, Harmonica 
"Lady Be Good"- Art Van Damme Quintet 
"Strike Up The Band"- Orchestra
"Rhapsody In Blue"- Eugene List, Piano 

"Porgy And Bess":
Soloists: Cab Calloway, Lawrence Winters, Camilla Williams. 

Series of television specials presented by the Rexall Pharmaceutical Company for NBC television. 

"The Music Of George Gershwin" with Alfred Drake. 

            October 18, 1954-May 27, 1957. 
Live ninety minute productions aired every fourth week. The range of material was vast, from dramas to musicals.

Presented on "PRODUCER'S SHOWCASE." A romantic musical comedy about feminist and abolitionist Dolly Bloomer. This was the only adaptation of the 1944 Broadway hit to be presented on television. A proposed film version in the late 40's and early 50's never materialized due to the blacklist. Partial open, no end credits.                          

Presented on "FORD STAR JUBILEE." An original 90 minute special. An American Army Major serving in the Italian village of Adano, falls in love with a local girl and helps to retrieve the town bell, taken by the Germans. Only a dialog preface and the musical numbers exist on this audio air check.             

July 2, 1955-September 4, 1971; 1971-1982 (Syndicated). "The Lawrence Welk Show" presented middle-of-the-road music for almost three decades. Numbers were performed by the members of Welk's television family. That large group included the Lennon Sisters (Dianne, Peggy, Kathy and Janet), Alice Lon, Norma Zimmer, Tanya Falan, Arthur Duncan, Joe Feeney, Guy Hovis, Jim Roberts, Ralna English, Larry Hooper, Jerry Burke and former Mouseketeer Bobby Burgess.  



      

July 2, 1955-September 4, 1971; 1971-1982 (Syndicated). "The Lawrence Welk Show" presented middle-of-the-road music for almost three decades. Numbers were performed by the members of Welk's television family. That large group included the Lennon Sisters (Dianne, Peggy, Kathy and Janet), Alice Lon, Norma Zimmer, Tanya Falan, Arthur Duncan, Joe Feeney, Guy Hovis, Jim Roberts, Ralna English, Larry Hooper, Jerry Burke and former Mouseketeer Bobby Burgess.  



      

July 3rd, 1954-September 18th, 1954 (CBS)
October 1st, 1955-September 22nd, 1956 (CBS)      

Musical variety series hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. 
Introduced as a one-hour show in 1954, it was a summer replacement for the Jackie Gleason Show. Gleason resurrected the show in the fall of 1955, trimming it to a half-hour, preceding his own show.  In 1956, comedian Jack Carter became the permanent emcee of the show, which saw both Elvis Presley and Bobby Darin make their national TV debuts.   

Guest: Comedian Wally Brown.                  

July 2, 1955-September 4, 1971; 1971-1982 (Syndicated). "The Lawrence Welk Show" presented middle-of-the-road music for almost three decades. Numbers were performed by the members of Welk's television family. That large group included the Lennon Sisters (Dianne, Peggy, Kathy and Janet), Alice Lon, Norma Zimmer, Tanya Falan, Arthur Duncan, Joe Feeney, Guy Hovis, Jim Roberts, Ralna English, Larry Hooper, Jerry Burke and former Mouseketeer Bobby Burgess.   

      

July 7th, 1956- September 1st, 1956 (CBS) 

Saturday night half-hour musical variety series hosted by bandleader Russ Morgan and featured singer Helen O'Connell.

Helen O'Connell sings "How Little We Know." 

July 2, 1955-September 4, 1971; 1971-1982 (Syndicated). "The Lawrence Welk Show" presented middle-of-the-road music for almost three decades. Numbers were performed by the members of Welk's television family. That large group included the Lennon Sisters (Dianne, Peggy, Kathy and Janet), Alice Lon, Norma Zimmer, Tanya Falan, Arthur Duncan, Joe Feeney, Guy Hovis, Jim Roberts, Ralna English, Larry Hooper, Jerry Burke and former Mouseketeer Bobby Burgess.   

      

A bachelor account executive with an advertising agency,thinks he has the perfect set-up with three girlfriends. But his secretary Marion is devoted to him and will do anything for him. Music and lyrics by Steve Allen. Program begins with Allen's signature song, "This Could Be The Start Of Something Big." Directed by Joseph Cates.                                                                           

Presented on "SUNDAY SPECTACULAR." A 37 year old advertising executive cannot decide whom to choose between the three women he is dating. Score by Steve Allen and Ervin Drake. Steve Allen wrote what became his trademark theme song for this musical comedy, "This Could Be The Start Of Something Big."             

July 7th, 1956- September 1st, 1956 (CBS) 

Saturday night half-hour musical variety series hosted by bandleader Russ Morgan and featured singer Helen O'Connell.

Guest: Guy Mitchell.