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: Peter Lorre. 


                                                  

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: Fred MacMurray.

Final show of the 1954-55 season. 

                                                  

           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 Most of the 1,087 broadcasts, encompassing 10,000 performers, have been archived.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: Pearl Bailey, Bob Hope, Seven Little Foys.                                  

           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: Bob Hope in a standup comedy routine, Smith and Dale.               

           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.   

Guest: Impersonator Will Jordan performs a comic routine: "The Life Of Ed Sullivan, from birth to high school."           

A special filmed at Universal International revolving around the soon to be released feature "The Benny Goodman Story" Starring Steve Allen. Other UI stars upcoming films are previewed via clips and introductions, included in this broadcast, are solid entertainment and comedy segments, a dramatic sequence from the studio's upcoming "Bright Victory," reenacted live with Rex Reason, Grant Williams and in his television debut, Clint Eastwood.             

           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.   

Host: Ed Sullivan                                                     

July 9th, 1955- September 24th, 1955 (NBC)

Half-hour summer replacement series for the George Gobel Show. This program served as a showcase for new talent. Hosted by Ransom Sherman, and featuring  young comedian, Jonathan Winters, and the Double Daters. Also featured Stephanie Antie, Kay O'Grady, Tommy Knox, and Ted Canterbury. 

Highlights: 

Ransom Sherman sings "Do It Yourself." 3 minutes
Jonathan Winters tells the story of Davy Crockett. 3 minutes
Jonathan Winters: "Pet Shop." 3 minutes
Ransom Sherman and Jonathan Winters: Ransom: "The Spectacular Magician." 3 minutes.

Series Premiere. 

July 9th, 1955- September 24th, 1955 (NBC)

Half-hour summer replacement series for the George Gobel Show. This program served as a showcase for new talent. Hosted by Ransom Sherman, and featuring  young comedian, Jonathan Winters, and the Double Daters. Also featured Stephanie Antie, Kay O'Grady, Tommy Knox, and Ted Canterbury. 

Highlights: 

Ransom Sherman in a "Build Own Barbeque" routine
Jonathan Winters in a "Service Station Attendent" skit
Ransom Sherman and Jonathan Winters in a sportscaster interviewer routine, "Baseball Pitcher." 

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: Fred MacMurray. 

First show of season. 



                                                  

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.

Guests: Frankie Laine, Marilyn Maxwell, Gracie Allen. Frankie and Marilyn sing a duet, " Love In Blume." 
Gracie Allen does a comedy skit with Jack Benny. Jack does a skit entitled, "The Sportsman."         
William Lundigan does a commercial for Chrysler Corporation.

           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.   

Guest: Senor Wences                

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: Xylophone comedian Roger Ray.                             

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.

Guest: Morey Amsterdam does a standup comedy routine. 

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: Arthur Treacher does a comedy skit with George. 



                                                  

           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.   

Guest: Comedian Myron Cohen does a 12-minute standup comedy routine.             

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.

The Andrew Sisters sing a medley of songs.                       

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 sings "Old Southern Custom" and "When My Sugar Walks Down The Street."                                                                        

September 27th, 1954- January 25th, 1957 (NBC)

Starring Steve Allen. 

The following are excerpts from Steve Allen Tonight Shows of March 6th, 7, 8, 9, 12, 1956

Highlights: 

Orchestra plays "Mambo The Most." 

Steve Lawrence and Doc Severinsen "Young Man With a Horn" 

Eydie Gorme sings "Too Close For Comfort"

Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme sing "A Fine Romance"

Joe Bushkin plays on piano "Hallelujah" from his album "Midnight Rhapsody"

Bushkin also plays "September Song"

"The Mouth Mansfield Blues" Skitch Henderson and Orchestra 

Pat Kirby sings "Young Love"

Andy Williams sings "Caprice in May" 

Meg Miles sings "13 Men and Only One Gal in Town" and "Can't Help Loving Dat Man" on program of March 7th, 1956. 

Andy Williams sings "I'll Never Smile Again" 

Blues and jazz saxophonist Sam "The Man" Taylor plays "Harlem Nocturne" and "Cloud Burst"

March 6th, 1956- Woody Herman and his Orchestra play "The Square Circle "

Steve Allen and Woody Herman talk about drummer Will Bradley Jr.
and Bill Harris, Jr.

Victor Feldman playing vibes

Woody Herman sings "Stars Fell On Alabama" 




                                                                                      

Presented on "FORD STAR JUBILEE." September 24, 1955-November 3, 1956. Broadcast entirely in color and sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, this series was a lavish presentation of  monthly specials. The Judy Garland variety special  launched the series to a rousing start on September 24, 1955.    Based on a 1937 Broadway drama by Maxwell Anderson about the ghost of a 16th century Dutch girl, who aids a man struggling to keep his mountain from a group of people who are seeking to purchase it. At the end of the broadcast, the announcer states to viewers that the music from this production is available in stores on Decca Records.    

Duplicate of 5987.                      

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: English film actor Richard Greene.



                                                  

   Steve Allen pays tribute to music song writer & composer Burton Lane. Regulars on the show sing many of his songs. Burton relates to Steve's various interesting facts about his life including how he came to become a composer.          

 September 27, 1954 - January 25, 1957

Steve Allen pays tribute to composer, Burton Lane, who discusses with Steve his early life and career. Lane sings a melody of his most famous songs. 

Other highlights:

Steve sings "It Means The Lady's In Love With You."
Eydie Gorme sings "There's A Great Day Coming, Manaia."
Eydie and Andy Williams sing "How About You."
Andy sings "You're Breaking My Heart."
 
The first host of THE TONIGHT SHOW, which was then titled TONIGHT!, Steve Allen began his broadcast career as a disc jockey. On July 27, 1953 Steve Allen began hosting a local show over WRCA-TV which ran from 11:20 P.M. to Midnight , Mondays through Fridays, sponsored by Knickerbocker Beer, developed by station executive Ted Cott to lure a potential sponsor, Rupert Breweries, away from a late-night show on New York's Channel 7 (TALK OF THE TOWN), hosted by Louis Nye, who would later be featured on Steve Allen's Sunday Night Variety Show.  

After a successful fourteen-month local run, THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW became a network show. Beginning September 27, 1954, the show retitled TONIGHT!, and expanded to 105 minutes from 40 minutes. 
 
NOTE: Sound of this Television Audio Air Check is PRISTINE. A rare return to an early TONIGHT! STARRING STEVE ALLEN broadcast when Late Night Television was so informal and relaxed with open ended time dedicated to a person, topic, music, or just impromptu  comedy.  
The basic format of The Tonight! Show was established during Allen's tenure: an opening monologue, a segment involving the studio audience (through interviews or games such as "Stump the Band"), and a simple set (a desk and chair for the host, a couch for the guests), all trademarks of the Allen era. Allen inaugurated the out-of-town broadcast (the first one was done from Miami), the one guest show (Carl Sandburg was the first solo guest), and the one topic show (entire programs devoted to such subjects as narcotics, civil rights, and black music). Allen also established the practice of paying his guests only "scale," the minimum fee required by union-network contract (this practice led to a highly publicized  feud between Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan and later between Jack Paar and Ed Sullivan, as Sullivan paid top dollar for his guests). Though Allen's Tonight! show closely resembled the shows of his successors, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, it was more a musical show; Allen himself was an accomplished musician and composer (he wrote his theme, "This Could Be The Start of Something Big"), and he employed a nucleus of musical regulars on his show. In addition to announcer – sidekick Gene Rayburn, the show featured singers Steve Lawrence (who was only seventeen when he began singing on Allen's local show), Eydie Gormé (who subsequently married Steve Lawrence), Andy Williams (who later hosted several series of his own), and Pat Marshall (who was succeeded by Pat Kirby).  Skitch Henderson led the Orchestra.                                                                                           

 September 27, 1954 - January 25, 1957

Steve Allen pays tribute to composer, Burton Lane, who discusses with Steve his early life and career. Lane sings a melody of his most famous songs. 

Other highlights:

Steve sings "It Means The Lady's In Love With You."
Eydie Gorme sings "There's A Great Day Coming, Manaia."
Eydie and Andy Williams sing "How About You."
Andy sings "You're Breaking My Heart."
 
The first host of THE TONIGHT SHOW, which was then titled TONIGHT!, Steve Allen began his broadcast career as a disc jockey. On July 27, 1953 Steve Allen began hosting a local show over WRCA-TV which ran from 11:20 P.M. to Midnight , Mondays through Fridays, sponsored by Knickerbocker Beer, developed by station executive Ted Cott to lure a potential sponsor, Rupert Breweries, away from a late-night show on New York's Channel 7 (TALK OF THE TOWN), hosted by Louis Nye, who would later be featured on Steve Allen's Sunday Night Variety Show.  

After a successful fourteen-month local run, THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW became a network show. Beginning September 27, 1954, the show retitled TONIGHT!, and expanded to 105 minutes from 40 minutes. 
 
NOTE: Sound of this Television Audio Air Check is PRISTINE. A rare return to an early TONIGHT! STARRING STEVE ALLEN broadcast when Late Night Television was so informal and relaxed with open ended time dedicated to a person, topic, music, or just impromptu  comedy.  
The basic format of The Tonight! Show was established during Allen's tenure: an opening monologue, a segment involving the studio audience (through interviews or games such as "Stump the Band"), and a simple set (a desk and chair for the host, a couch for the guests), all trademarks of the Allen era. Allen inaugurated the out-of-town broadcast (the first one was done from Miami), the one guest show (Carl Sandburg was the first solo guest), and the one topic show (entire programs devoted to such subjects as narcotics, civil rights, and black music). Allen also established the practice of paying his guests only "scale," the minimum fee required by union-network contract (this practice led to a highly publicized  feud between Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan and later between Jack Paar and Ed Sullivan, as Sullivan paid top dollar for his guests). Though Allen's Tonight! show closely resembled the shows of his successors, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, it was more a musical show; Allen himself was an accomplished musician and composer (he wrote his theme, "This Could Be The Start of Something Big"), and he employed a nucleus of musical regulars on his show. In addition to announcer – sidekick Gene Rayburn, the show featured singers Steve Lawrence (who was only seventeen when he began singing on Allen's local show), Eydie Gormé (who subsequently married Steve Lawrence), Andy Williams (who later hosted several series of his own), and Pat Marshall (who was succeeded by Pat Kirby).  Skitch Henderson led the Orchestra.          

Duplicate of 6967C.                                                                                              

 September 27, 1954 - January 25, 1957

This broadcasts is joined in progress at 12:30am April 7, 1956.
Highlights:

Andy Williams and Pat Kirby sing "There Will Never Be Another You, " and "I Thought About You."

Steve plays piano.

Eydie Gorme sings, "And The Angels Sing."

Steve Allen introduces Oscar Peterson on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar and Ray Brown on Bass. Two numbers by the Oscar Peterson Trio are performed, "Will You Still Be Mine?" and "How About You."

Steve mentions new album by the trio, and that after winding up their act currently at Basin Street, they will be in Philadelphia performing at The Blue Note. 

Steve, who praises Oscar, briefly chats with him about current and future  engagements by the Oscar Peterson Trio (9 minute segment). 
Gene Rayburn signs off with a station break.  

NOTE: One of the very first television appearances by Oscar Peterson, 30 years old at the time, and  of the Oscar Peterson Trio performing together on network TV. 

The first host of THE TONIGHT SHOW, which was then titled TONIGHT!, Steve Allen, began his broadcast career as a disc jockey. On July 27, 1953 Steve Allen began hosting a local show over WRCA-TV which ran from 11:20 P.M. to Midnight , Mondays through Fridays, sponsored by Knickerbocker Beer, developed by station executive Ted Cott to lure a potential sponsor, Rupert Breweries, away from a late-night show on New York's Channel 7 (TALK OF THE TOWN), hosted by Louis Nye, who would later be featured on Steve Allen's Sunday Night Variety Show.  

After a successful fourteen-month local run, THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW became a network show. Beginning September 27, 1954, the show retitled TONIGHT!, and expanded to 105 minutes from 40 minutes. 
 
NOTE: Sound of this Television Audio Air Check is PRISTINE. A rare return to an early TONIGHT! STARRING STEVE ALLEN broadcast when Late Night Television was so informal and relaxed with open ended time dedicated to a person, topic, music, or just impromptu  comedy.  
The basic format of The Tonight! Show was established during Allen's tenure: an opening monologue, a segment involving the studio audience (through interviews or games such as "Stump the Band"), and a simple set (a desk and chair for the host, a couch for the guests), all trademarks of the Allen era. Allen inaugurated the out-of-town broadcast (the first one was done from Miami), the one guest show (Carl Sandburg was the first solo guest), and the one topic show (entire programs devoted to such subjects as narcotics, civil rights, and black music). Allen also established the practice of paying his guests only "scale," the minimum fee required by union-network contract (this practice led to a highly publicized  feud between Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan and later between Jack Paar and Ed Sullivan, as Sullivan paid top dollar for his guests). Though Allen's Tonight! show closely resembled the shows of his successors, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, it was more a musical show; Allen himself was an accomplished musician and composer (he wrote his theme, "This Could Be The Start of Something Big"), and he employed a nucleus of musical regulars on his show. In addition to announcer – sidekick Gene Rayburn, the show featured singers Steve Lawrence (who was only seventeen when he began singing on Allen's local show), Eydie Gormé (who subsequently married Steve Lawrence), Andy Williams (who later hosted several series of his own), and Pat Marshall (who was succeeded by Pat Kirby).  Skitch Henderson led the Orchestra.                                                                                                                                               

 September 27, 1954 - January 25, 1957

This broadcasts is joined in progress at 12:30am April 7, 1956.
Highlights:

Andy Williams and Pat Kirby sing "There Will Never Be Another You, " and "I Thought About You."

Steve plays piano.

Eydie Gorme sings, "And The Angels Sing."

Steve Allen introduces Oscar Peterson on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar and Ray Brown on Bass. Two numbers by the Oscar Peterson Trio are performed, "Will You Still Be Mine?" and "How About You."

Steve mentions new album by the trio, and that after winding up their act currently at Basin Street, they will be in Philadelphia performing at The Blue Note. 

Steve, who praises Oscar, briefly chats with him about current and future  engagements by the Oscar Peterson Trio (9 minute segment). 
Gene Rayburn signs off with a station break.  

NOTE: One of the very first television appearances by Oscar Peterson, 30 years old at the time, and  of the Oscar Peterson Trio performing together on network TV. 

The first host of THE TONIGHT SHOW, which was then titled TONIGHT!, Steve Allen, began his broadcast career as a disc jockey. On July 27, 1953 Steve Allen began hosting a local show over WRCA-TV which ran from 11:20 P.M. to Midnight , Mondays through Fridays, sponsored by Knickerbocker Beer, developed by station executive Ted Cott to lure a potential sponsor, Rupert Breweries, away from a late-night show on New York's Channel 7 (TALK OF THE TOWN), hosted by Louis Nye, who would later be featured on Steve Allen's Sunday Night Variety Show.  

After a successful fourteen-month local run, THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW became a network show. Beginning September 27, 1954, the show retitled TONIGHT!, and expanded to 105 minutes from 40 minutes. 
 
NOTE: Sound of this Television Audio Air Check is PRISTINE. A rare return to an early TONIGHT! STARRING STEVE ALLEN broadcast when Late Night Television was so informal and relaxed with open ended time dedicated to a person, topic, music, or just impromptu  comedy.  
The basic format of The Tonight! Show was established during Allen's tenure: an opening monologue, a segment involving the studio audience (through interviews or games such as "Stump the Band"), and a simple set (a desk and chair for the host, a couch for the guests), all trademarks of the Allen era. Allen inaugurated the out-of-town broadcast (the first one was done from Miami), the one guest show (Carl Sandburg was the first solo guest), and the one topic show (entire programs devoted to such subjects as narcotics, civil rights, and black music). Allen also established the practice of paying his guests only "scale," the minimum fee required by union-network contract (this practice led to a highly publicized  feud between Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan and later between Jack Paar and Ed Sullivan, as Sullivan paid top dollar for his guests). Though Allen's Tonight! show closely resembled the shows of his successors, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, it was more a musical show; Allen himself was an accomplished musician and composer (he wrote his theme, "This Could Be The Start of Something Big"), and he employed a nucleus of musical regulars on his show. In addition to announcer – sidekick Gene Rayburn, the show featured singers Steve Lawrence (who was only seventeen when he began singing on Allen's local show), Eydie Gormé (who subsequently married Steve Lawrence), Andy Williams (who later hosted several series of his own), and Pat Marshall (who was succeeded by Pat Kirby).  Skitch Henderson led the Orchestra.    

Duplicate of 6967E.                                                                                                                                                         

October 2nd, 1954-June 23rd, 1956- (NBC)

Half-hour variety show starring Jimmy Durante. Joining Jimmy were his former vaudeville partner Eddie Jackson, pianist Jules Buffano, and drummer Jack Roth. The show was set at the Club Durant and also featured the Durante Girls. 

Guest: Ernest Borgnine.   

NBC October 2nd, 1954-March 10th, 1959
CBS October 11th, 1959-June 5th, 1960, 

Regulars: Harry Von Zell, Anita Bryant, Joe Flynn, The Modernaires

Guest: Dinah Shore in a cameo appearance.
                                     

Judy Garland stars in this TV special.

Guest: Jazz pianist Joe Bushkin.

No commercials.                        

December 24, 1948 - June 4, 1950 NBC TV
October 2, 1950 - June 24, 1955 CBS TV
September 12, 1955 - June 1959 NBC TV 
Sept. 1959 - June 12, 1963. NBC TV (KRAFT MUSIC HALL)


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. 

Perry's guest is comedian George Gobel.                                                

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. 

Guests: George Gobel, Dorothy Stay.                                      

           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: The comedy team of Smith and Dale.                    

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.    

Honeymooners. End of show only.                                                      

Commercials included in this TV Audio Air Check are, Jergens Woodbury beauty bar, Crosley and Bandix Home Appliances, Crosley radio and Television, and Viceroy Cigarettes.



 Premiere broadcast.



 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.             

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: Fred MacMurray, Peggy King. 

Live commercials including George Gobel for Pet Milk 

Art Gilmore, announcer. 

This is the 30th and final show of the season. 



                                                  

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: Andy Griffith chats with Steve about upcoming movie "A Face In The Crowd," which begins filming in August with Elia Kazan. 
Griffith also does a monologue.                     

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 Four Lads, sing, "Standing On The Corner."                                     

 September 27, 1954 - January 25, 1957

The first host of THE TONIGHT SHOW, which was then titled TONIGHT!, Steve Allen began his broadcast career as a disc jockey. On July 27, 1953 Steve Allen began hosting a local show over WRCA-TV which ran from 11:20 P.M. to Midnight , Mondays through Fridays, sponsored by Knickerbocker Beer, developed by station executive Ted Cott to lure a potential sponsor, Rupert Breweries, away from a late-night show on New York's Channel 7 (TALK OF THE TOWN), hosted by Louis Nye, who would later be featured on Steve Allen's Sunday Night Variety Show.  

After a successful fourteen-month local run, THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW became a network show. Beginning September 27, 1954, the show retitled TONIGHT!, and expanded to 105 minutes from 40 minutes. 
 
NOTE: Sound of this Television Audio Air Check is PRISTINE. A rare return to an early TONIGHT! STARRING STEVE ALLEN broadcast when Late Night Television was so informal and relaxed with open ended time dedicated to a person, topic, music, or just impromptu  comedy.  
The basic format of The Tonight! Show was established during Allen's tenure: an opening monologue, a segment involving the studio audience (through interviews or games such as "Stump the Band"), and a simple set (a desk and chair for the host, a couch for the guests), all trademarks of the Allen era. Allen inaugurated the out-of-town broadcast (the first one was done from Miami), the one guest show (Carl Sandburg was the first solo guest), and the one topic show (entire programs devoted to such subjects as narcotics, civil rights, and black music). Allen also established the practice of paying his guests only "scale," the minimum fee required by union-network contract (this practice led to a highly publicized  feud between Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan and later between Jack Paar and Ed Sullivan, as Sullivan paid top dollar for his guests). Though Allen's Tonight! show closely resembled the shows of his successors, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, it was more a musical show; Allen himself was an accomplished musician and composer (he wrote his theme, "This Could Be The Start of Something Big"), and he employed a nucleus of musical regulars on his show. In addition to announcer – sidekick Gene Rayburn, the show featured singers Steve Lawrence (who was only seventeen when he began singing on Allen's local show), Eydie Gormé (who subsequently married Steve Lawrence), Andy Williams (who later hosted several series of his own), and Pat Marshall (who was succeeded by Pat Kirby).  Skitch Henderson led the Orchestra.                                                                                                        

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.    

Dixieland jazz music.                                             

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: Smith and Dale, Steve Lawrence.
Satire on early radio announcers.                                          

           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.   

From Hollywood, Guest host, actor Charles Laughton introduces Elvis Presley.                             

The guest is Yankee outfielder Enos (Country) Slaughter who is participating in the current 1956 World Series vs. the Brooklyn Dodgers.                                     

The guest is Yankee outfielder Enos (Country) Slaughter who is participating in the current 1956 World Series vs. the Brooklyn Dodgers.                        

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: Abbott and Costello perform their "Who's On First?" routine.                              

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 Pays Tribute To James Dean On The First Anniversary Of His Death.                                    

September 20, 1952-June 22, 1957; October 3, 1958-January 2 1959; February 3 1961-March 24, 1961; September 1962-September 12, 1970

Jackie's guest is comedian Henny Youngman. Also included is a Honeymooners sketch with Art Carney and Audrey Meadows.

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.                                                     

Ed Sullivan's guest is Elvis Presley.