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4768 records found for 4
1961-07-12, WNBC, 12 min.
Dean Miller interviews Bob Barker who discusses his family, marriage to Dorothy Jo...their decision one day on the beach in Florida to purchase a camper and move to California where Bob could further his career in radio and television. Bob talks about his lucky break in 1956 meeting Ralph Edwards and being given an opportunity to host the daytime version of Truth of Consequences. Dorothy Jo joins in on the conversation and talks about her love of animals and her current occupation breeding basset hounds. She also looks back to the day when she and Bob were married in 1945,
1961-07-14, NBC, 24 min.
July 14, 1961-September 22, 1961. Pilot TV shows for potential series. Eleven half-hour series. Benny Goodman, "The King of Swing," is seen with his band at a dance session taped at Disneyland. Joining in are the Yachtsmen vocal quartet and a Dixieland group and a swing quintet, made up of members of the band. On this broadcast, "Let's Dance," "Ridin' High," 'Stealin' Apples," "Roll 'em," "You Turned the Tables on Me," and "That's A-Plenty."
1961-07-21, WNBC, 10 min.
- Peter Lorre
- Helen O'Connell
- Pauline Fredericks
- Humphrey Bogart
- Joe E. Lewis
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Burl Ives
- Sidney Bernstein
September 26, 1960 - December 28, 1962 Helen O'Connell interviews Peter Lorre on location at his Beverly Hills home. Helen remarks that Peter's home reminds her of an old English pub. Peter remarks that he does not scare easily and does not go into such character unless being paid to do so. Topics discussed include why Lorre does not like to do interviews. He says "its against his grain." He remarks that his father was very strict and always told Peter it was not polite to talk about oneself. Peter remarks and shows off what he can do with his ears (wiggle them) and how it cost him two jobs in his young life...once working in bank and once on stage. Peter remembers running away from home to become an actor...first time on stage in Germany as an extra, inventing the word "Kreep," and why acting is no job for a grown up man. However, he does state that is is very proud of his profession which he cannot live without. Peter gives his opinion comparing the actor of decades ago with the contemporary actor of today and the studio's approach of creating publicity for actors. A retrospect by Lorre when he first came to Hollywood and would never go to parties which he considers a bore. His friendship with Humphrey Bogart and the few friends he hangs out with today including Burl Ives and Joe E. Lewis. After a one minute interruption for n NBC Bulletin, Lorre tells Helen O'Connell how Sidney Bernstein introduced him to Alfred Hitchcock who would love to tell stories and Lorre would automatically laugh at then in the right places, putting him in contention to act in Hitchcock's first talking picture, The Man Who Knew Too Much and Lorre's first English movie success. NOTE: There is a brief Pauline Fredericks NBC bulletin from the United Nations, related to conflict between Tunisia and France, interrupting the program for one minute. Here's Hollywood (568 broadcasts) aired as a half-hour interview program, weekday afternoons on NBC at 4:30pm. On October 2, 1961 the show was reduced five minutes giving way to a live news broadcast with Sander Vanocur which aired at 4:55pm. Here's Hollywood was the leading daytime show for two years. It was the first TV broadcast of its kind, using two mobile vans equipped with 2" video tape equipment which traveled to the homes of celebrities...two locations each day, one star in the morning and one in the afternoon. Most of the interviews aired were ten minutes in length. Two different interviews comprised the full length of the half hour program. Occasionally, one subject would be interviewed for the complete program. Occasionally programs were produced outside of the United States...Hawaii, Germany, France. Five color broadcasts were attempted and then the concept abandoned, due to the complexity of 2" quadruplex video tape at the time. Dean Miller conducted interviews from September 26, 1960 to September 29, 1961. He was replaced by Jack Linkletter who conducted interviews from October 2, 1961 to December 28, 1962. Joanne Jordan conducted interviews from September 26, 1960 to June 9, 1961. She was replaced by Helen O'Connell who conducted interviews from June 13, 1961 to December 28, 1962. Note: Only a handful of the 1,100 different interviews survive. Most were erased, discarded, misplaced. NBC Archives have only two surviving kinescopes, one with Joe E. Brown (12-2-61), and one with Linda Darnell (12-4-61). UCLA Film & TV Archive has 46 different subject interview kinescopes on separate negative film and separate optical film. Archival Television Audio has 82 broadcasts on audio tape, originally recorded by Phil Gries at the time the broadcasts first aired. Most of them are complete interviews. These television Audio Air Checks represent the greatest number of known surviving HERE'S HOLLYWOOD broadcast episodes. UCLA FILM & Television Archives retains, in their vaults, the greatest number of individual original HERE'S HOLLYWOOD separate 16mm Kinescopes and coinciding separate optical and magnetic sound tracks, representing approximately four dozen shows. Almost ALL of these broadcasts remain in analog form, and not view-able as composite video and audio.
1961-07-24, NBC, min.
July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times, and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960. Jonathan Winters is the guest host. Opening only.
#108: THIS IS YOUR LIFE
Order1961-07-30, WNBC, 26 min.
- William Wellman
- Robert Stack
- Ralph Edwards
- Joe Pasternak
- Bob Warren
- Mrs. Eliot Ness
- Elisabeth Lee Ness
- Rosemarie Stack
- Jack Langford Stack Jr.
October 1, 1952 - September 10, 1961 (NBC TV). January 21, 1971 - May 7, 1973 (Syndicated - 56 episodes). Ralph Edward's surprises Robert Stack. A video tape re-broadcast, televised originally November 27, 1960. Those who surprise Robert are his mother, brother, James, and wife, Rosemarie, children, Robert and Elizabeth Stack and producer Joe Pasternak who discovered Robert Stack, and director of Stack's favorite film, "The High and the Mighty," William Wellman. Mrs. Eliot Ness (Elisabeth Lee) is also on hand to compliment Stack on his true portrayal of her husband in the hit ABC TV series "The Untouchables," which premiered on ABC television as a two part pilot, April 20, and April 27, 1959. THIS IS YOUR LIFE was hosted by Ralph Edwards. It was a sentimental human interest show which he began on radio in 1948. Each week a special guest was lured to the studio by a ruse and then surprised as Edward's announced, "This is your Life!" Long lost friends and relatives materialized during the ensuing half hour to relive long-forgotten incidents going back to early childhood. The programs were broadcast LIVE and reverted to Video Tape at the start of the 1959-1960 season, at which time most of the telecasts were pre-recorded. Bob Warren announcer. The surprised guest received a 16mm film of the program and a Bell & Howell projector.
1961-08-09, NBC, 00 min.
A wild "study in depth" of the vulnerable American Married Man. Dupe Of Number 114.
#115: HERE'S HOLLYWOOD
Order1961-08-10, WNBC, 12 min.
September 26, 1960 - December 28, 1962 Dean Miller interviews Buster Keaton in his home in Woodland Hills, California where he has lived the past almost six years with his wife Eleanor and dog Elmer. Keaton explains how Paramount bought this house when they made the Buster Keaton Story with Donald O'Connor in 1955. Buster describes his toy trains and other mechanical "toys" he has always had a fascination for. He describes to Dean Miller a modernized Chicken Coop he has made. Keaton's love for everything mechanical helped him master many of his stunts used in his films. Buster Keaton talks about his relationship with Ed Wynn and how they met in 1905 at the Temple theater in Detroit. He mentions that today's non-stunt-oriented comedy will return. "Comedy comes and goes in cycles." Buster Keaton remembers when he began to be a member in his father's vaudeville act, his father throwing him around at every opportunity and how Buster would get even with his dad, having props fall on him. All physical comedy in those days and little related to sentimental. Keaton tell Miller how Harry Houdini tagged him with the name "Buster" after he fell down a flight of stairs. He shows Dean a picture of himself dating back to 1899 when he began performing. He states that he loved every day because every day was different. Keaton describes how his mother would school teach him and his sisters. How he attended only one day of formal school in his life after he was kicked out for misbehaving. Concluding the interview Buster Keaton remembers coming to Hollywood in 1917 and the wildest stunt he ever performed. The plot required for Keaton to be depressed after losing his girl to Bull Montana. Buster then jumps from a high board on top of a swimming pool, only to miss the pool entirely. NOTE: This rare ("lost") television audio air check was personally recorded off the air on Phil Gries' 1949 16"Andrea Television set when is was originally broadcast, August 10, 1961. The audio track was donated to the Museum of Television & Radio in 1996 (now known as The Paley Center for Media) just prior to the major retrospective the museum was offering to the public from September 6 thru December 8, 1996, entitled THE RETURN OF THE MAN IN THE PORKPIE HAT: BUSTER KEATON ON TELEVISION. Screened during this Buster Keaton retrospective were 42 individual clips that had been archived of Buster Keaton appearances on television, except for his HERE'S HOLLWOOD appearance which was not archived by NBC television. At the time, Phil Gries received the following letter dated September 19, 1996, from Allen Glover, curator and researcher at the museum. Dear Phil, Please find enclosed your audio air check of HERE'S HOLLYWOOD with Buster Keaton. We have made a digital master of the interview and it will now become part of the Museum's collection. Without your lifelong dedication to the practice of recording and preserving television audio tracks, we would surely have lost a vital part of Buster Keaton's legacy. The Museum is indebted to collectors such as yourself and your work and devotion to broadcast history are greatly appreciated and admired." HISTORY OF HERE'S HOLLYWOOD television series, produced on 2" Quad Video tape broadcast daytime on NBC TV (1960-1962). Here's Hollywood (568 broadcasts) aired as a half-hour interview program, weekday afternoons on NBC at 4:30pm. On October 2, 1961, the show was reduced five minutes giving way to a live news broadcast with Sander Vanocur which aired at 4:55pm. Here's Hollywood was the leading daytime show for two years. It was the first TV broadcast of its kind, using two mobile vans equipped with 2" video tape equipment which traveled to the homes of celebrities...two locations each day, one star in the morning and one in the afternoon. Most of the interviews aired were ten minutes in length. Two different interviews comprised the full length of the half hour program. Occasionally, one subject would be interviewed for the complete program. Occasionally programs were produced outside of the United States...Hawaii, Germany, France. Five color broadcasts were attempted and then the concept abandoned, due to the complexity of 2" quadruplex video tape at the time. Dean Miller conducted interviews from September 26, 1960, to September 29, 1961. He was replaced by Jack Linkletter who conducted interviews from October 2, 1961, to December 28, 1962. Joanne Jordan conducted interviews from September 26, 1960, to June 9, 1961. She was replaced by Helen O'Connell who conducted interviews from June 13, 1961, to December 28, 1962. Note: Only a handful of the 1,100 different interviews survive. Most were erased, discarded, misplaced. NBC Archives have only two surviving kinescopes, one with Joe E. Brown (12-2-61), and one with Linda Darnell (12-4-61). UCLA Film & TV Archive has 46 different subject interview kinescopes on separate negative film and separate optical film. Archival Television Audio has 82 broadcasts on audio tape, originally recorded by Phil Gries at the time the broadcasts first aired. Most of them are complete interviews. These television Audio Air Checks represent the greatest number of known surviving HERE'S HOLLYWOOD broadcast episodes. UCLA FILM & Television Archives retains, in their vaults, the greatest number of individual original HERE'S HOLLYWOOD separate 16mm Kinescopes and coinciding separate optical and magnetic soundtracks, representing approximately four dozen shows. Almost ALL these broadcasts remain in analog form, separate negative picture and separate negative soundtrack, and not view-able as composite video and audio.
#6328: AMOS 'N' ANDY: FUR COAT
Order1961-09-06, CBS, 30 min.
January 12, 1926-November 25, 1960 (radio); June 28, 1951-June 11, 1953 (television). "Amos 'n' Andy," one of the most popular and long-running radio programs of all time, was brought to television in the summer of 1951 by Freeman Gosden & Charles Correll. When the show was cancelled, 65 episodes had been produced. An additional 13 episodes were then filmed to be added to the syndicated re-run package. These 13 episodes first aired on CBS television beginning on January 4, 1955. Note: "Amos 'n' Andy" used three 35mm cameras to film each episode prior to "I Love Lucy," most often given credit for first using this TV revolutionary three camera approach. "I Love Lucy" premiered on October 15, 1951. Today, 72 of the 78 "Amos 'n' Andy" episodes are available & sold on DVD. However, six episodes remain mysteriously absent. Archival Television Audio recorded two of these missing episodes off the air in 1961 - "Restitution" and "Fur Coat."
Kingfish sells Sapphire's fur coat.1961-09-10, WNEW, 62 min.
The premiere of OPEN END WITH DAVID SUSSKIND on WNEW TV, now reduced to a two hour weekly Sunday night broadcast time slot from the original open ended time concept as presented since 1958 on WNTA TV. On this Premiere show the discussion revolves around the RAT PACK, originally devised by Humphrey Bogart and now comprised of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. On the panel discussing this topic with great candor are Jackie Gleason, Ernie Kovacs, Toots Shore, Joe E. Lewis, Marya Mannes, Dick Gehman and Lenore Lemmon, former girlfriend of George Reeves (Superman on TV) at the time of his death in 1959. NOTE: This Archival TV Audio Air Check began recording when this program was in progress. It contains the entire first 62 minutes of the broadcast with the exception of the original introduction of guests by moderator David Susskind. HISTORY OF THE SERIES: Originally scheduled to premiere on October 7, but delayed one week. October 14, 1958 - August 13, 1961 OPEN END with David Susskind: (WNTA Channel 13 Television) September 10, 1961-May 5, 1963 OPEN END with David Susskind (WNEW Channel 5 Television) June 9, 1963 last show of the season broadcast on WPIX TV. October 13, 1963-September 18, 1966 OPEN END with David Susskind (WPIX Channel 11 Television) October 2, 1966-September, 1986 DAVID SUSSKIND SHOW (SYNDICATED, PBS, and COMMERCIAL STATIONS, including WNEW, New York). After an association of nearly three decades with Channel 5 in New York, the former WNEW-TV, later changed to WNYW-TV, David Susskind stopped producing the program in September 1986 because of its late-night time slot, from 1:30 to 3:30 A.M. Sunday nights. His audience like his iconic talk show dwindled not only in its following but in the ratings. Susskind knew when to quit. His last David Susskind Show aired only five months from the time of his death. Open End with David Susskind was a break through talk show which literally had no time limit. The premiere broadcast reviewed in Variety stated: "In the blueprint stage, OPEN END was initiated on WNTA-TV on Tuesday October 14th the same night 'The World of Suzie Wong' premiered on Broadway. When the show is going slowly, then Susskind has the right to end it as soon as he likes; when it's going well , he can stretch it the night through since "OPEN END" is the last scheduled WNTA program of the night." The show ended when host, moderator David Susskind, felt all conversation points were discussed. Some of these marathon telecasts lasted over four hours! Jean Kennedy was the producer during the 28 year run of the series. The series premiered and aired on WNTA Channel 13 in New York for three years, an independent broadcast station, before it would become a Public Broadcast Station in 1962. A myriad of talk show guests, famous, infamous and unknown, found a forum on OPEN END. Subjects varied focusing on usually one topic...show business, politics, the economy, sex, education, crime, etc. Typically, many guests would discuss a subject sitting around a large table with David Susskind moderating, leading his guests with baited questions. On occasion a solo guest would highlight the show. For the first three years, of its 28 year existence as a regular series, WNTA TV was home to OPEN END which originally began its broadcasts on Tuesday nights, switching on January 18, 1959 to Sunday nights...a future Sunday evening time slot of the week where it would remain until 1986, for the rest of its run. After broadcasting with a two hour truncated format on WNEW form September 10, 1961 to May 5, 1963 a falling out and rift occurred between Susskind and WNEW management centered on WNEW's reluctance to air discussions regarding race relations in America. WPIX reacted with interest in bringing OPEN END to their flagship New York channel. For the last OPEN END show of the 1962-1963 season WPIX TOOK LAST MINUTE EMERGENCY MEASURES TO CLEAR TWO HOURS ON SUNDAY NIGHT June 9, 1963, featuring solo guest Dr. Martin Luther KIng, pre-empting regular scheduled programming (6:30-8:30 pm). Open End was later cut by WPIX to one hour time slot. David Susskind not satisfied with the shortened format reconnected with WNEW where he returned to a two hour format with a changed program name. THE DAVID SUSSKIND SHOW had its return premiere on WNEW TV October 2, 1966. The David Susskind Show also found syndication across the country and each market would run the program at different times at their own discretion. Most all of the telecasts were recorded on video tape, 2" quadruplex. Most shows were kept for a year or two like THE MOVIE MAKERS broadcast which was re-run on August 6, 1961 almost a year after it was first telecast on October 2, 1960. By this time the show was no longer without a time limit. It ran for a finite three hours long. Thus the re-run of the MOVIE MAKERS had some footage deleted from its original run which aired for over three and half hours, including commercials. The re-run of "THE MOVIE MAKERS" was the next to last broadcast telecast on WNTA channel 13. On September 10, 1961 the show moved to WNEW Channel 5 METROMEDIA in New York. Sadly, most all of OPEN END broadcasts (1958-1966), later re titled THE DAVID SUSSKIND SHOW (1966-1986), were wiped erased, destroyed, discarded...whereabouts unknown, representing most shows produced and telecast during the late 1950's, 1960's and early 1970's. Only a handful of OPEN END / DAVID SUSSKIND shows are known to survive from 1958 thru 1969. Hundreds of programs survive representing the middle 1970's thru 1986. Open End with David Susskind was a unique break through talk with no time limit, rare during any time in television broadcast history, and never to be replicated in the future of television broadcasting after 1960. On occasion only one guest would be profiled. Mostly shows were comprised of many individuals discussing one topic which included race relations, the draft, organized crime, the Hollywood scene, the politics of the times, sex-change operations, divorce, clairvoyants, psychoanalysis, prostitution, etc. Sadly, most all of OPEN END broadcasts, later re titled THE DAVID SUSSKIND SHOW, commencing with the Oct. 2, 1966 broadcast, were wiped (erased), destroyed, discarded...whereabouts unknown, representing most shows produced and telecast during the late 1950's, 1960's and early 1970's. Hundreds of broadcasts circa mid 1970's - 1986 have been archived and are extant. David Susskind interviews Arthur Godfrey on the status of television. Godfrey comments on the present state of television and its future. He believes that at one time he had 40% of the TV audience when he was number one. Importance of selling a sponsor. Susskind believes that the public should be more pro active and demand what content they would prefer to view on TV. Arthur Godfrey states how much he has enjoyed doing the show. It has given him time to think in a studio talk show atmosphere. NOTE: This March 15, 1959 show is the second oldest known program, surviving in any broadcast form, to be extant. The video tape of this original broadcast would be used again for a repeat TV broadcast on Sunday, September 20, 1959. Then it would be erased. The oldest surviving archived remnant is a December 23,1958 kinescope 20 minute segment of a broadcast titled "Method or Madness?" The topic, "method acting" with guests Michael Benthal, Ben Gazarra, Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Lawrence Harvey, Jule Styne , and Patricia Neal
#4539: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-09-28, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. This was the first broadcast of the season. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.1961-10-01, WPIX, 20 min.
Roger Maris breaks Babe Ruth's home run record. Phil Rizzuto, Red Barber and Mel Allen call the play-by-play of the four Maris at bats. Rizzuto (1st inning), Barber (4th inning, announcing Maris' 61st home run), Allen (6th and 8th inning). Mel Allen, in the WPIX TV booth, interviews Sal Durante, the 19 year old truck driver who caught Roger Maris' historic home run ball. Also, Bob Sheppard's poem about Maris and his record breaking 61 home runs is read by Mel Allen. Following the conclusion of the game we hear THE RED BARBER SHOW post-game show. Maris guests and reviews, via video tape replay, his historic home run, with Red Barber. NY Yankee Manager Ralph Houk and NY Yankee pitching coach, Johnny Sain also comment. NOTE: This television audio air check was audio tape recorded, direct line, off the air at the time of the broadcast, by Phil Gries, founder and owner of Archival Television Audio, Inc. It is the only known recording of Roger Maris' four at bats as aired on this WPIX Channel 11 television broadcast. A recording of this air check was given to Andy Strasberg who contacted me, while researching material for a book he was writing. He mentioned that for over fifty years searching for his holy grail broadcast of Roger Maris appearing on Red Barber's NY Yankee Post Game Show had alluded him. In his finished book "MY 1961," published by August Publications in 2021, the transcript of this peerless audio is greatly quoted verbatim by author Andy Strasberg on pages 257 through 270.
1961-10-04, NBC, 58 min.
- Don Adams
- Roger Maris
- Kaye Ballard
- Buddy Hackett
- Paul Lynde
- Perry Como
- Mickey Mantle
- Mitchell Ayres Orchestra
- Frank Gallop
- Jack Duffy
- Sandy Stewart
- Fran Jeffries
December 24th, 1948- June 4th, 1950 (NBC) October 2nd, 1950-June 24th 1955 (CBS) September 17th 1955- June 12th, 1963 (NBC) In 1944, the year his first record was released, Perry Como appeared on radio in The Chesterfield Supper Club; when that show came to television late in 1948, Como came with it, and has remained on television for more than four decades. The Chesterfield Supper Club, which also featured The Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and the Fontane Sisters, was originally seen on Friday nights but soon shifted to a half-hour slot on Sundays, opposite Ed Sullivan's "Toast Of The Town." In the fall of 1950, Como shifted to CBS where he hosted his own show for the next five seasons; the fifteen-minute program was seen Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, following the network news. Also featured were the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and The Fontane Sisters, together with announcer Frank Gallop. In the fall of 1955 Como returned to NBC, where he hosted a weekly hour show for the next eight years; from 1955 to 1959 it was seen Saturdays and was titled The Perry Como Show. From 1959 to 1963 it was seen on Wednesdays and was titled The Kraft Music Hall. The Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and Frank Gallop were again featured, along with The Ray Charles Singers and The Louis DaPron Dancers (later, The Peter Gennaro Dancers). The Como Music Hall Players included Don Adams, Paul Lynde, Kaye Ballard, Jack Duffy, and Sandy Stewart. Show of 10-4-61. Guests: Fran Jeffries, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Buddy Hackett. Commercials included. Announcer Frank Gallop.
#4540: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-10-05, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.#3631: LAWRENCE WELK SHOW, THE
Order1961-10-07, WABC, 52 min.
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.1961-10-08, WNBC, 54 min.
- Jack Benny
- Joe E. Brown
- Harry S. Truman
- Dick Powell
- Debbie Reynolds
- Danny Kaye
- Frances Langford
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Marilyn Monroe
- Bing Crosby
- Merle Oberon
- Irving Berlin
Many stars from Hollywood give tribute to the USO units who since 1942 have entertained troops overseas. They include Dick Powell, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Benny, Debbie Reynolds, Danny Kaye, Merle Oberon, Frances Langford, Joe E. Brown, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Bing Crosby. Included with these celebrity anecdotes, celebrating this 20th USO anniversary, is a clip of Irving Berlin singing his own song: "Until the Fifth Army Comes Home."#4542: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-10-12, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.1961-10-12, NBC, min.
July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times, and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960. Jack discusses leaving the Tonight Show but states the show will continue with a new host. Guests: Molly Picon, and Buddy Hackett. Jose Melis plays "Autumn Rhapsody." Co-host Hugh Downs discusses his new paperback edition book, "Yours Truly Hugh Downs." Duplicate of #184C.
#3632: LAWRENCE WELK SHOW, THE
Order1961-10-14, WABC, 52 min.
July 2, 1955-September 4, 1971; 1971-1982 (Syndicated). This was the "Western Show" broadcast. "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.#4541: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-10-19, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.#3639: LAWRENCE WELK SHOW, THE
Order1961-10-21, WABC, 52 min.
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.#4543: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-10-26, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.#3640: LAWRENCE WELK SHOW, THE
Order1961-10-28, WABC, 52 min.
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.1961-10-30, NBC, min.
July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times, and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960. Guest: Nipsey Russell does stand-up comedy, talks with Jack, and demonstrates the twist and mashed potato dances.
#4544: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-11-02, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.1961-11-05, WNYC, 27 min.
- Charlie Ruggles
- Harold Lloyd
- Joel McCrea
- Bronco Billy Anderson
- Eddie Sutherland
- Joan Franklin
- Robert Franklin
- Frances Marion
- Myrna Loy
- Nita Naldi
- Leo Rosten
- Cecil B. DeMille
- Francis X. Bushman
- George K. Arthur
Program number 1 of 18 programs. Myrna Loy introduces this unique series. Francis X. Bushman hosts a fond and humorous recollection of the little town of Hollywood, California, in the days when comedies were made in the streets, actors rode to work on horseback and orange groves were everywhere. Recalling these pioneer days are Cecil B. DeMille, Harold Lloyd, Nita Naldi, Charlie Ruggles, George K. Arthur, screenwriter Frances Marion, director Eddie Sutherland and historian Leo Rosten. Most of the interviews were originally recorded in 1959 by producers Joan and Robert Franklin. NOTE: Robert C. Franklin (1920-1980), inspired by a 1958 newspaper story he read about Columbia University's POPULAR ARTS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, approached Dr. Louis Starr, then director of the oral-history collection, with a proposal to interview and tape record, on to 1/4" reel to reel audio tapes, movie people as they passed through New York. The objective would be to document, through personal recollections, the era of the silent era in films, the impact of sound, the triumphs and inequities of the major studios, and life in the glittering film capital...a firsthand account revelation of how silent movies were actually made. Robert and his wife, Joan Franklin went on to record 200 reels of audio tape, recording celebrities mostly in New York City hotel rooms in 1958 and 1959. Transcripts of interviews were made available at the time to students and researchers. In 1961 excerpts/highlights from these audio tapes were edited into a 16 part radio series titled, MEMOIRS OF THE MOVIES. Myrna Loy provided a standard opening. A different celebrity host/hostess was employed to introduce each episode. All of the 90 celebrities interviewed have since passed away with the exception of Joanne Woodward. Two additional episodes were later produced, "Style of the 70's," and "Rush To Reality," both hosted by Ben Gazzara and added, subsequently, to re-issues of the series which were syndicated in the 1960's and 1970's airing in New York (WINS), Boston (WBZ), Philadelphia (KYW), Baltimore (WJZ), Fort Wayne (WOWO), Chicago (WIND), San Francisco (KPIX), and Los Angeles (KFWB). The original 200 unedited reels of 1/4" audio tape interviews recorded by Joan and Robert Franklin are no longer known to exist. However, audio cassette transfers from these original tapes were donated by Joan Franklin many decades ago to Columbia University's Oral History Research Office where they exist today. Confirmed during a 2009 phone conversation with Mary Marshal Clark, archivist at Columbia at that time, who stated that the first on file communication from Robert Franklin to Columbia University related to his proposal to do an oral history audio recorded project is dated, July 31, 1958.
1961-11-08, NBC, 58 min.
- Kaye Ballard
- Paul Lynde
- Perry Como
- Shirley Booth
- Mitchell Ayres Orchestra
- Frank Gallop
- Jack Duffy
- Sandy Stewart
- Gloria DeHaven
December 24th, 1948- June 4th, 1950 (NBC) October 2nd, 1950-June 24th 1955 (CBS) September 17th 1955- June 12th, 1963 (NBC) In 1944, the year his first record was released, Perry Como appeared on radio in The Chesterfield Supper Club; when that show came to television late in 1948, Como came with it, and has remained on television for more than four decades. The Chesterfield Supper Club, which also featured The Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and the Fontane Sisters, was originally seen on Friday nights but soon shifted to a half-hour slot on Sundays, opposite Ed Sullivan's "Toast Of The Town." In the fall of 1950, Como shifted to CBS where he hosted his own show for the next five seasons; the fifteen-minute program was seen Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, following the network news. Also featured were the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and The Fontane Sisters, together with announcer Frank Gallop. In the fall of 1955 Como returned to NBC, where he hosted a weekly hour show for the next eight years; from 1955 to 1959 it was seen Saturdays and was titled The Perry Como Show. From 1959 to 1963 it was seen on Wednesdays and was titled The Kraft Music Hall. The Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and Frank Gallop were again featured, along with The Ray Charles Singers and The Louis DaPron Dancers (later, The Peter Gennaro Dancers). The Como Music Hall Players included Don Adams, Paul Lynde, Kaye Ballard, Jack Duffy, and Sandy Stewart. Show of 11-8-61. Guests: Actress Shirley Booth, Singer, Actress Gloria DeHaven. Salute To Missouri. Commercials included. Announcer Frank Gallop.
#4546: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-11-09, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. This was "The Prop Show" broadcast. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.1961-11-12, WNYC, 27 min.
- Bronco Billy Anderson
- Johnny Mack Brown
- Joan Franklin
- Robert Franklin
- King Vidor
- Myrna Loy
- Cecil B. DeMille
- Adolph Zukor
- Albert Hackett
- Jack Shaindlin
- Don Malkames
Program number 2 of 18 programs. Myrna Loy introduces this unique series. Johnny Mack Brown, as host, wistfully recalls the old nickelodeon theatre, the music, hand-cranked cameras and projectors and the "early" features that inspired producers to pioneer towards a great entertainment industry. Guests Cecil B. DeMille, King Vidor, Adolph Zucker, Bronco Billy Anderson, screenwriter Albert Hackett, pianist Jack Shaindlin and cameraman Don Malkames also recollect their earliest movie adventures. NOTE: Robert C. Franklin (1920-1980), inspired by a 1958 newspaper story he read about Columbia University's POPULAR ARTS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, approached Dr. Louis Starr, then director of the oral-history collection, with a proposal to interview and tape record, on to 1/4" reel to reel audio tapes, movie people as they passed through New York. The objective would be to document, through personal recollections, the era of the silent era in films, the impact of sound, the triumphs and inequities of the major studios, and life in the glittering film capital...a firsthand account revelation of how silent movies were actually made. Robert and his wife, Joan Franklin went on to record 200 reels of audio tape, recording celebrities mostly in New York City hotel rooms in 1958 and 1959. Transcripts of interviews were made available at the time to students and researchers. In 1961 excerpts/highlights from these audio tapes were edited into a 16 part radio series titled, MEMOIRS OF THE MOVIES. Myrna Loy provided a standard opening. A different celebrity host/hostess was employed to introduce each episode. All of the 90 celebrities interviewed have since passed away with the exception of Joanne Woodward. Two additional episodes were later produced, "Style of the 70's," and "Rush To Reality," both hosted by Ben Gazzara and added, subsequently, to re-issues of the series which were syndicated in the 1960's and 1970's airing in New York (WINS), Boston (WBZ), Philadelphia (KYW), Baltimore (WJZ), Fort Wayne (WOWO), Chicago (WIND), San Francisco (KPIX), and Los Angeles (KFWB). The original 200 unedited reels of 1/4" audio tape interviews recorded by Joan and Robert Franklin are no longer known to exist. However, audio cassette transfers from these original tapes were donated by Joan Franklin many decades ago to Columbia University's Oral History Research Office where they exist today. Confirmed during a 2009 phone conversation with Mary Marshal Clark, archivist at Columbia at that time, who stated that the first on file communication from Robert Franklin to Columbia University related to his proposal to do an oral history audio recorded project is dated, July 31, 1958.
1961-11-14, NBC, 27 min.
July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. (NBC). Red Skelton made four appearances on the Jack Paar Tonight Show: December 2nd, 1959 November 16th,1960 July 10th, 1961 November 14th, 1961- Final of four appearances. Red Skelton (nine minute segment) reminiscences about his early career. Also, Alexander King. Combined with the next evening's Jack Paar Tonight Show (Nov 15, 1961), with Ed Reimers substituting for Hugh Downs, Paar editorializes and criticises the LA Times and an article written about him by journalist Mark Harris. Zsa Zsa Gabor guests and we hear Phyllis Diller do a stand-up routine. For four years and eight months, Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times, and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, news bulletin on the "Explorer I" satellite, launched today.
#4545: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-11-16, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. This was the "Salute To American Cities" broadcast. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.1961-11-17, NBC, 30 min.
July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. Joined in progress. Joey Bishop in conversation with Jack Paar, who then introduces Sammy Davis Jr. (only appearance he did with Paar on The Tonight Show). Davis Jr. discusses his latest film Sergeant's Three which Bishop also appears (last "Rat Pack" film all would be appearing together). Sammy sings a melody of songs. Hemione Gingold chats with Jack Paar, followed by a rare appearance of fast draw artist, Arvo Ojala who is famous for being not only a quick gun draw artist teacher to Hollywood actors, but the man whom character Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke outdraws each opening episode. Avro made only $100 for that one quick day's work but has received tens of thousands of dollars since, in royalties, every time a Gunsmoke episode is aired. *FOR THE RECORD, as archivists are aware, most of THE JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW SERIES which were broadcast on NBC TV from July 29, 1957 thru March 30, 1962 (A final BEST OF PAAR rerun originally televised November 21, 1961...guest Jack Benny)were ERASED, DESTROYED OR WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN. 2" Quadruplex Video Tape was expensive ($600 for a new brand name one hour reel), weighting 13 pounds, requiring great storage space. Video Tape could easily be erased and was used for new program recordings...retained briefly for a re-run and then erased or discarded. Legend has it that even Jack Paar himself hired a junk man to come to his home garage and paid to have JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW recordings discarded (reels of kinescopes and video tapes) that were now cluttering up his space. During this era in television history archiving television programming was not a primary concern or vision, and considered an arcane pursuit. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS retains in their archive only 4 program excerpts accounting for only one hour or material of JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOWS (November 14, 1958, December 23, 1959, October 19, 1959, and one 33&1/3rd audio disc promotional from 1957 presenting Jack Paar the new host of the TONIGHT SHOW. THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA retains in their archive only 7 program excerpts accounting for only four and a quarter hours of material (July 29, 1957, November 1, 1957, November 7, 1958, November 10, 1958, November 14, 1958, July 22, 1959, December 21, 1959). UCLA FILM & TV ARCHIVE retains in their archive only 8 program excerpts accounting for only seven hours of material (August 12, 1957, November 1, 1957, November 10, 1958, November 11, 1958, November 14, 1958, July 22, 1959, December 21, 1959). For 65 years Phil Gries, creator and owner of ARCHIVAL TLEVISION AUDIO, Inc. has continued to be a passionate television audio archive collector. TRULY UNIQUE TODAY AS AN INDEPENDENT TV AUDIO ARCHIVE. Currently, in 2024, to date, ATA has collated and archived over 22,000 TV Audio Air Checks representing 20,000 hours of sound...tens of thousands of broadcasts which represent the ONLY SURVIVING BROADCAST RECORD OF A SPECIFIC TELEVISION SHOW (1946-1982). ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. retains over 149 complete and excerpt JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW air checks (over 100 hours COMP ARED TO ONLY 13 HOURS RETAINED AIR CHECKS FROM THE COMBINED THREE MAJOR ARCHIVES, UCLA, PALEY, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS), including the complete Jack Paar's first anniversary telecast which was broadcast live from Havana Cuba (June 28, 1958). These originally recorded off the air pristine sound direct line 1/4" reel to reel audio tracks, recorded at the time of the original broadcasts, represent the only broadcast record of a "lost" visual telecast. ATA is the largest single repository (one collection), in the United Sates of Jack Paar Tonight Shows recordings. The combined archives of The Library of Congress, Paley Center for Media, and UCLA Film & Television only retain a composite total of 13 hours of representative JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts excerpts...none complete. For over 65 years Phil Gries, creator and owner of ARCHIVAL TLEVISION AUDIO, Inc. has continued to be a passionate television audio archive collector. TRULY UNIQUE TODAY AS AN INDEPENDENT TV AUDIO ARCHIVE. Currently, in 2024, to date, ATA has collated and archived over 22,000 TV Audio Air Checks representing 20,000 hours of sound...tens of thousands of broadcasts which represent the ONLY SURVIVING BROAADCAST RECORD OF A SPECIFIC TELEVISION SHOW (1946-1982). ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. retains over 70 complete and excerpt JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW air checks (34 hours), including the complete Jack Paar's first anniversary telecast which was broadcast live from Havana Cuba (June 28, 1958). These originally recorded off the air pristine sound direct line 1/4" reel to reel audio tracks, recorded at the time of the original broadcasts, represent the only broadcast record of a "lost" visual telecast. ATA is the largest single repository (one collection), in the United Sates of Jack Paar Tonight Shows recordings. The combined archives of The Library of Congress, Paley Center for Media, and UCLA Film & Television only retain a composite total of 13 hours of representative JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts excerpts...none complete. For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the TONIGHT SHOW with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melis, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conreid, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Jonathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host. There were 20 different substitute hosts for Paar over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times and Johnny Carson 15 times. All together there were 243 broadcasts which had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first video-taped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. The final LIVE broadcast aired on July 3, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10,1959. Beginning July 20, 1959 Jack Paar began taking off Monday nights & guest hosts would substitute for him (approximately on alternate Mondays). The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960. Theme music, "Everything is Coming Up Roses" was first used beginning in the Fall of 1959. Location broadcast telecasts of the program telecast away from the Hudson Theater in New York City occurred 14 times during this series run. Jan. 13-17, 1958 Miami Beach, Florida July 28, 1958 Havana, Cuba Nov. 3-21, 1958 Hollywood, California March 2-20, 1959 Hollywood, California Nov. 10-12, 1959 Nassau, Bahamas (Video Tape) Nov. 30- Dec. 10, 1959 Hollywood, California March 28-April 1, 1960 London, England (Video Tape) Nov.9-11, 1960 Hawaii (Video Tape) - b&w Nov.14-24, 1960 Hollywood, California March 21-24, 1961 London, England (Video Tape) Sept. 12-14, 1961 West Berlin (Video Tape) Nov. 14-17, 1961 Hollywood, California (Tape) Nov. 21-24, 1961 Hollywood, California (Tape) March 13-16, 1962 London, England (Video Tape) OBSERVATION: Listening to the few extant audio air check COMPLETE JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, as originally televised, AND RECORDED DIRECT LINE RESULTING IN PRISTINE PLAYBACK SOUND, retains the essence and specialty which Jack Paar was able to convey as host of his late night talk show. He set the standard for how the TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JACK PAAR format evolved, including introducing the standard monologue at the beginning of every show, which continues to evolve to this day...however, sans the whit, charm, warmth, ease, unpredictability, vulnerability, pace and controversy which Paar brought to TV audiences at night. Jack Paar was stellar, and he is sorely missed by most Baby Boomers who remember watching him in real time. Mostly forgotten by todays' younger audiences Jack Paar needs to be re-evaluated at length to place him royally as one of the most, if not the most, important LATE NIGHT HOSTS IN THE HISTORY OF LATE NIGHT TELEVISION. Interestingly, current documentaries examining the history of Late Night television, including the current CNN 6 hours retrospective on the subject THE STORY OF LATE NIGHT (2021), relegates only 15 minutes of screen time to Jack Paar's contributions as one of many late night hosts.
1961-11-22, NBC, 15 min.
July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. JIP as Jack Benny follows the "Mystery Guest," the son of actor Robert Cummings, whom Jack reveals he is the Godfather. Benny relates a funny story of how he was compromised by a fatuous woman admirer he met in a bar who invited him up to her place for a drink and other misbehavior. Funny as only Benny can tell a story. He states that Paar stole that joke from him but did not know how to tell it properly. Other topics are discussed, including his relationship with George Burns. Final Jack Benny appearance on a Jack Paar Tonight Show, with the exception of an unannounced walk on celebrating his birthday, February 14, 1962. NOTE: This broadcast was rebroadcast on March 30, 1962, the final "Best of Paar" telecast which is archived in the ATA collection (see ATA#184). *FOR THE RECORD, as archivists are aware, most of THE JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW SERIES which were broadcast on NBC TV from July 29, 1957 thru March 30, 1962 (A final BEST OF PAAR rerun originally televised November 21, 1961...guest Jack Benny) were ERASED, DESTROYED OR WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN. 2" Quadruplex Video Tape was expensive ($400 for a one hour reel), weighting 26 pounds, requiring great storage space. Video Tape could easily be erased and was used for new program recordings...retained briefly for a re-run and then erased or discarded. Legend has it that even Jack Paar himself hired a junk man to come to his home garage and paid to have JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW recordings discarded (reels of kinescopes and video tapes) that were now cluttering up his space. During this era in television history archiving television programming was not a primary concern or vision, and considered an arcane pursuit. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS retains in their archive only 4 program excerpts accounting for only one hour or material of JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOWS (November 14, 1958, December 23, 1959, October 19, 1959, and one 33&1/3rd audio disc promotional from 1957 presenting Jack Paar the new host of the TONIGHT SHOW. THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA retains in their archive only 7 program excerpts accounting for only four and a quarter hours of material (July 29, 1957, November 1, 1957, November 7, 1958, November 10, 1958, November 14, 1958, July 22, 1959, December 21, 1959). UCLA FILM & TV ARCHIVE retains in their archive only 8 program excerpts accounting for only seven hours of material (August 12, 1957, November 1, 1957, November 10, 1958, November 11, 1958, November 14, 1958, July 22, 1959, December 21, 1959). For over 62 years Phil Gries, creator and owner of ARCHIVAL TLEVISION AUDIO, Inc. has continued to be a passionate television audio archive collector. TRULY UNIQUE TODAY AS AN INDEPENDENT TV AUDIO ARCHIVE. Currently, in 2021, to date, ATA has collated and archived over 20,000 TV Audio Air Checks representing 20,000 hours of sound...tens of thousands of broadcasts which represent the ONLY SURVIVING BROAADCAST RECORD OF A SPECIFIC TELEVISION SHOW (1946-1982). ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. retains over 70 complete and excerpt JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW air checks (34 hours), including the complete Jack Paar's first anniversary telecast which was broadcast live from Havana Cuba (June 28, 1958). These originally recorded off the air pristine sound direct line 1/4" reel to reel audio tracks, recorded at the time of the original broadcasts, represent the only broadcast record of a "lost" visual telecast. ATA is the largest single repository (one collection), in the United Sates of Jack Paar Tonight Shows recordings. The combined archives of The Library of Congress, Paley Center for Media, and UCLA Film & Television only retain a composite total of 13 hours of representative JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts excerpts...none complete. For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the TONIGHT SHOW with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melis, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conreid, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Jonathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host. There were 20 different substitute hosts for Paar over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times and Johnny Carson 15 times. All together there were 243 broadcasts which had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first video-taped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. The final LIVE broadcast aired on July 3, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10,1959. Beginning July 20, 1959 Jack Paar began taking off Monday nights & guest hosts would substitute for him (approximately on alternate Mondays). The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960. Theme music, "Everything is Coming Up Roses" was first used beginning in the Fall of 1959. Location broadcast telecasts of the program telecast away from the Hudson Theater in New York City occurred 14 times during this series run. Jan. 13-17, 1958 Miami Beach, Florida July 28, 1958 Havana, Cuba Nov. 3-21, 1958 Hollywood, California March 2-20, 1959 Hollywood, California Nov. 10-12, 1959 Nassau, Bahamas (Video Tape) Nov. 30- Dec. 10, 1959 Hollywood, California March 28-April 1, 1960 London, England (Video Tape) Nov.9-11, 1960 Hawaii (Video Tape) - b&w Nov.14-24, 1960 Hollywood, California March 21-24, 1961 London, England (Video Tape) Sept. 12-14, 1961 West Berlin (Video Tape) Nov. 14-17, 1961 Hollywood, California (Tape) Nov. 21-24, 1961 Hollywood, California (Tape) March 13-16, 1962 London, England (Video Tape) OBSERVATION: Listening to the few extant audio air check COMPLETE JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, as originally televised, AND RECORDED DIRECT LINE RESULTING IN PRISTINE PLAYBACK SOUND, retains the essence and specialty which Jack Paar was able to convey as host of his late night talk show. He set the standard for how the TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JACK PAAR format evolved, including introducing the standard monologue at the beginning of every show, which continues to evolve to this day...however, sans the whit, charm, warmth, ease, unpredictability, vulnerability, pace and controversy which Paar brought to TV audiences at night. Jack Paar was stellar, and he is sorely missed by most Baby Boomers who remember watching him in real time. Mostly forgotten by todays' younger audiences Jack Paar needs to be re-evaluated at length to place him royally as one of the most, if not the most, important LATE NIGHT HOSTS IN THE HISTORY OF LATE NIGHT TELEVISION. Interestingly, current documentaries examining the history of Late Night television, including the current CNN 6 hours retrospective on the subject THE STORY OF LATE NIGHT (2021), relegates only 15 minutes of screen time to Jack Paar's contributions as one of many late night hosts.
1961-11-23, WABC, 7 min.
Joe Franklin's guest is Johnny Marks, who wrote "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" in 1949. Gene Autry's original recording of Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer sold 1.75 million copies its first Christmas season (1949) and 1.5 million the following year. It eventually sold a total of 12.5 million. Cover versions included, sales exceed 150 million copies, second only to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas."
#4559: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-11-23, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.#19257: GARRY MOORE SHOW, THE
Order1961-11-28, WCBS, 15 min.
September 30th, 1958-June 16th, 1964 The Garry Moore variety series made a star out of Carol Burnett,brought back Allen Funt's Candid Camera and showcased many fine musical and comedic talents from 1958-1964. The highlight of most shows was "That Wonderful Year," consisting of film clips, comedy sketches, and production numbers based on the events and styles of a given year. Regulars: Garry Moore, Carol Burnett (1959-1962), Dorothy Loudon (1962-1964), Allen Funt (1959-1960, Durward Kirby (1958-1964), and Marion Lorne (1958-1962). Guest is George Gobel. George and Carol Burnett in a skit. Song : "Tumbleweed." Wonderful year: 1934.
1961-12-03, WNYC, 27 min.
- Otto Preminger
- Sessue Hayakawa
- Joan Franklin
- Robert Franklin
- Ralph Bellamy
- Elliot Nugent
- Frances Marion
- Myrna Loy
- Melvyn Douglas
- Walter Abel
- Dore Schary
- Buster Keaton
- Albert Hackett
- Samuel Spewack
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Program number 10 of 18 programs. Myrna Loy introduces this unique series. Buster Keaton leads a tour through the boulevards and back rooms and closets where the skeletons were kept in the grandest, gaudiest days of Hollywood, USA, when the guest lists and salary checks were closely related. The movie industry's catered affairs are recalled by Melvyn Douglas, Ralph Bellamy, Elliot Nugent, Walter Abel, writers Frances Marion, Albert Hackett, Samuel Spewack and Otto Preminger, producers Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Dore Schary and Japanese star Sessue Hayakawa. Most of the interviews were originally recorded in 1959 by producers Joan and Robert Franklin. NOTE: Robert C. Franklin (1920-1980), inspired by a 1958 newspaper story he read about Columbia University's POPULAR ARTS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, approached Dr. Louis Starr, then director of the oral-history collection, with a proposal to interview and tape record, on to 1/4" reel to reel audio tapes, movie people as they passed through New York. The objective would be to document, through personal recollections, the era of the silent era in films, the impact of sound, the triumphs and inequities of the major studios, and life in the glittering film capital...a firsthand account revelation of how silent movies were actually made. Robert and his wife, Joan Franklin went on to record 200 reels of audio tape, recording celebrities mostly in New York City hotel rooms in 1958 and 1959. Transcripts of interviews were made available at the time to students and researchers. In 1961 excerpts/highlights from these audio tapes were edited into a 16 part radio series titled, MEMOIRS OF THE MOVIES. Myrna Loy provided a standard opening. A different celebrity host/hostess was employed to introduce each episode. All of the 90 celebrities interviewed have since passed away with the exception of Joanne Woodward. Two additional episodes were later produced, "Style of the 70's," and "Rush To Reality," both hosted by Ben Gazzara and added, subsequently, to re-issues of the series which were syndicated in the 1960's and 1970's airing in New York (WINS), Boston (WBZ), Philadelphia (KYW), Baltimore (WJZ), Fort Wayne (WOWO), Chicago (WIND), San Francisco (KPIX), and Los Angeles (KFWB). The original 200 unedited reels of 1/4" audio tape interviews recorded by Joan and Robert Franklin are no longer known to exist. However, audio cassette transfers from these original tapes were donated by Joan Franklin many decades ago to Columbia University's Oral History Research Office where they exist today. Confirmed during a 2009 phone conversation with Mary Marshal Clark, archivist at Columbia at that time, who stated that the first on file communication from Robert Franklin to Columbia University related to his proposal to do an oral history audio recorded project is dated, July 31, 1958.
1961-12-03, CBS, 8 min.
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: Joan Sutherland, Earl Grant.
1961-12-05, NBC, 15 min.
July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. (NBC). For four years and eight months, Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times, and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, news bulletin on the "Explorer I" satellite, launched today. Guest: Shelley Berman who trades stories with Jack Paar. Shelley takes questions from the audience.
1961-12-06, NBC, 25 min.
July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. (NBC). For four years and eight months, Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times, and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, news bulletin on the "Explorer I" satellite, launched today. Guest: Genevieve and Jack take exception to a column written by Dorothy Kilgallen in the New York Journal American. They concur that very little of what Dorothy writes is true and is libelous. Jack says Dorothy often writes about strange people. Hugh Downs does a live commercial for Purethon Air Purifier. Cleans away smoke. Guest Dr. Albert Burke criticizes Americans who are degrading America. He discusses Stalin's appeal to Russians.
1961-12-06, NBC, 58 min.
- Don Adams
- Kaye Ballard
- George Sanders
- Paul Lynde
- Perry Como
- Mitchell Ayres Orchestra
- Frank Gallop
- Jack Duffy
- Sandy Stewart
December 24th, 1948- June 4th, 1950 (NBC) October 2nd, 1950-June 24th 1955 (CBS) September 17th 1955- June 12th, 1963 (NBC) In 1944, the year his first record was released, Perry Como appeared on radio in The Chesterfield Supper Club; when that show came to television late in 1948, Como came with it, and has remained on television for more than four decades. The Chesterfield Supper Club, which also featured The Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and the Fontane Sisters, was originally seen on Friday nights but soon shifted to a half-hour slot on Sundays, opposite Ed Sullivan's "Toast Of The Town." In the fall of 1950, Como shifted to CBS where he hosted his own show for the next five seasons; the fifteen-minute program was seen Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, following the network news. Also featured were the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and The Fontane Sisters, together with announcer Frank Gallop. In the fall of 1955 Como returned to NBC, where he hosted a weekly hour show for the next eight years; from 1955 to 1959 it was seen Saturdays and was titled The Perry Como Show. From 1959 to 1963 it was seen on Wednesdays and was titled The Kraft Music Hall. The Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and Frank Gallop were again featured, along with The Ray Charles Singers and The Louis DaPron Dancers (later, The Peter Gennaro Dancers). The Como Music Hall Players included Don Adams, Paul Lynde, Kaye Ballard, Jack Duffy, and Sandy Stewart. Show of 12-6-61; Actor George Sanders. Spoof of "The Jack Paar Show." Salute to Texas. Sanders and Como: Medley of children's Christmas songs. Singers: "The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You." Como: "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas." Commercials included. Announcer Frank Gallop.
#4560: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-12-07, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.1961-12-10, WNYC, 27 min.
- Joan Franklin
- Robert Franklin
- King Vidor
- Myrna Loy
- Henry Fonda
- Leo Rosten
- Rouben Mamoulian
- Edward Dmytryk
- Jean Negulesco
- Arthur Mayer
- Ben Hecht
- Samuel Spewack
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Program number 14 of 18 programs. Myrna Loy introduces this unique series. Under the wise and tolerant guidance of movie historian Arthur Mayer, the industry's most imaginative film makers are induced to recall the essential ingredients that either make or break a picture. Discussing their cinematic art are directors Rouben Mamoulian, King Vidor, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Edward Dmytryk and Jean Negulesco, stars Myrna Loy and Henry Fonda, and writers Ben Hecht, Samuel Spewack and Leo Rosten. NOTE: Robert C. Franklin (1920-1980), inspired by a 1958 newspaper story he read about Columbia University's POPULAR ARTS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, approached Dr. Louis Starr, then director of the oral-history collection, with a proposal to interview and tape record, on to 1/4" reel to reel audio tapes, movie people as they passed through New York. The objective would be to document, through personal recollections, the era of the silent era in films, the impact of sound, the triumphs and inequities of the major studios, and life in the glittering film capital...a firsthand account revelation of how silent movies were actually made. Robert and his wife, Joan Franklin went on to record 200 reels of audio tape, recording celebrities mostly in New York City hotel rooms in 1958 and 1959. Transcripts of interviews were made available at the time to students and researchers. In 1961 excerpts/highlights from these audio tapes were edited into a 16 part radio series titled, MEMOIRS OF THE MOVIES. Myrna Loy provided a standard opening. A different celebrity host/hostess was employed to introduce each episode. All of the 90 celebrities interviewed have since passed away with the exception of Joanne Woodward. Two additional episodes were later produced, "Style of the 70's," and "Rush To Reality," both hosted by Ben Gazzara and added, subsequently, to re-issues of the series which were syndicated in the 1960's and 1970's airing in New York (WINS), Boston (WBZ), Philadelphia (KYW), Baltimore (WJZ), Fort Wayne (WOWO), Chicago (WIND), San Francisco (KPIX), and Los Angeles (KFWB). The original 200 unedited reels of 1/4" audio tape interviews recorded by Joan and Robert Franklin are no longer known to exist. However, audio cassette transfers from these original tapes were donated by Joan Franklin many decades ago to Columbia University's Oral History Research Office where they exist today. Confirmed during a 2009 phone conversation with Mary Marshal Clark, archivist at Columbia at that time, who stated that the first on file communication from Robert Franklin to Columbia University related to his proposal to do an oral history audio recorded project is dated, July 31, 1958.
#4547: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-12-14, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. This was "The Employment Office" broadcast. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.#7400: SING ALONG WITH MITCH
Order1961-12-21, NBC, 00 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. This was the first broadcast of the series. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series. Christmas Program With Traditional Melodies And Carols.
1961-12-24, WNYC, 27 min.
- Chester Morris
- William Wyler
- Alfred Hitchcock
- John Ford
- Otto Preminger
- George Seaton
- Joan Franklin
- Robert Franklin
- King Vidor
- Janet Gaynor
- Jack Lemmon
- Myrna Loy
- Rouben Mamoulian
- Edward Dmytryk
- Teresa Wright
- Samson Raphaelson
- Ernst Lubitsch
- F.W. Murnau
- Dana Andrews
Program number 7 of 18 programs. Myrna Loy introduces this unique series. A distinguished company of Hollywood's greatest directors...recalled by their disciples and their actors who dissect their varied ways of working. Chester Morris is host to directors George Seaton, Otto Preminger, King Vidor, Rouben Mamoulian and Edward Dmytryk. Janet Gaynor recalls F.W. Murnau. Dana Andrews talks about William Wyler, Teresa Wright speaks about Alfred Hitchcock. Jack Lemmon talks about John Ford, and Samson Raphaelson recalls the great Ernst Lubitsch. Most of the interviews were originally recorded in 1959 by producers Joan and Robert Franklin. NOTE: Robert C. Franklin (1920-1980), inspired by a 1958 newspaper story he read about Columbia University's POPULAR ARTS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, approached Dr. Louis Starr, then director of the oral-history collection, with a proposal to interview and tape record, on to 1/4" reel to reel audio tapes, movie people as they passed through New York. The objective would be to document, through personal recollections, the era of the silent era in films, the impact of sound, the triumphs and inequities of the major studios, and life in the glittering film capital...a firsthand account revelation of how silent movies were actually made. Robert and his wife, Joan Franklin went on to record 200 reels of audio tape, recording celebrities mostly in New York City hotel rooms in 1958 and 1959. Transcripts of interviews were made available at the time to students and researchers. In 1961 excerpts/highlights from these audio tapes were edited into a 16 part radio series titled, MEMOIRS OF THE MOVIES. Myrna Loy provided a standard opening. A different celebrity host/hostess was employed to introduce each episode. All of the 90 celebrities interviewed have since passed away with the exception of Joanne Woodward. Two additional episodes were later produced, "Style of the 70's," and "Rush To Reality," both hosted by Ben Gazzara and added, subsequently, to re-issues of the series which were syndicated in the 1960's and 1970's airing in New York (WINS), Boston (WBZ), Philadelphia (KYW), Baltimore (WJZ), Fort Wayne (WOWO), Chicago (WIND), San Francisco (KPIX), and Los Angeles (KFWB). The original 200 unedited reels of 1/4" audio tape interviews recorded by Joan and Robert Franklin are no longer known to exist. However, audio cassette transfers from these original tapes were donated by Joan Franklin many decades ago to Columbia University's Oral History Research Office where they exist today. Confirmed during a 2009 phone conversation with Mary Marshal Clark, archivist at Columbia at that time, who stated that the first on file communication from Robert Franklin to Columbia University related to his proposal to do an oral history audio recorded project is dated, July 31, 1958.
1961-12-24, WNBC, 52 min.
Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians instrumental group perform favorites of the past 45 years. Fred sings "Big John" and reminisces about his group's early days.1961-12-28, CBS, 6 min.
January 12, 1926-November 25, 1960 (radio); June 28, 1951-June 11, 1953 (television). "Amos 'n' Andy," one of the most popular and long-running radio programs of all time, was brought to television in the summer of 1951 by Freeman Gosden & Charles Correll. When the show was cancelled, 65 episodes had been produced. An additional 13 episodes were then filmed to be added to the syndicated re-run package. These 13 episodes first aired on CBS television beginning on January 4, 1955. Note: "Amos 'n' Andy" used three 35mm cameras to film each episode prior to "I Love Lucy," most often given credit for first using this TV revolutionary three camera approach. "I Love Lucy" premiered on October 15, 1951. Today, 74 of the 78 "Amos 'n' Andy" episodes are available & sold on DVD. However, four episodes remain mysteriously absent: "Andy Goes In Business," "Race Horse," "Sapphire's Mysterious Admirer," and "Restitution." Archival Television Audio recorded one of these missing episodes off the air Dec. 28, 1961 - "Restitution." While trying to do a good deed, Kingfish ends up becoming a fugitive from justice. Joined in progress. Only a 6:10-minute excerpt was recorded off the air, but inaccessible to the public for over half a century.
#3636: LAWRENCE WELK SHOW, THE
Order1961-12-30, WABC, 52 min.
July 2, 1955-September 4, 1971; 1971-1982 (Syndicated). This was the "New Year's Party" broadcast. "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.1961-12-31, WNYC, 27 min.
- Joan Franklin
- Robert Franklin
- Richard Barthelmess
- Jack Lemmon
- Myrna Loy
- David Wark Griffith
- Jerry Wald
- Dore Schary
- Zachary Scott
- Samuel Goldwyn
- Louis B. Mayer
- Basil Rathbone
- Ben Hecht
- Alexander Korda
- Harry Cohen
- Reginald Denham
- Irving Thalberg
Program number 8 of 18 programs. Myrna Loy introduces this unique series. Zachary Scott as host, assembles a composite portrait of the men who produce and direct the great motion picture studios. Some bouquets and a handful of knocks are handed to D.W. Griffith, Samuel Goldwyn, Alexander Korda, Harry Cohen, Irving Thalberg and Louis B. Mayer by Richard Barthlemess, Basil Rathbone, Jerry Wald, director Reginald Denham, Jack Lemmon, Ben Hecht, Dore Schary and Myrna Loy. NOTE: Robert C. Franklin (1920-1980), inspired by a 1958 newspaper story he read about Columbia University's POPULAR ARTS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, approached Dr. Louis Starr, then director of the oral-history collection, with a proposal to interview and tape record, on to 1/4" reel to reel audio tapes, movie people as they passed through New York. The objective would be to document, through personal recollections, the era of the silent era in films, the impact of sound, the triumphs and inequities of the major studios, and life in the glittering film capital...a firsthand account revelation of how silent movies were actually made. Robert and his wife, Joan Franklin went on to record 200 reels of audio tape, recording celebrities mostly in New York City hotel rooms in 1958 and 1959. Transcripts of interviews were made available at the time to students and researchers. In 1961 excerpts/highlights from these audio tapes were edited into a 16 part radio series titled, MEMOIRS OF THE MOVIES. Myrna Loy provided a standard opening. A different celebrity host/hostess was employed to introduce each episode. All of the 90 celebrities interviewed have since passed away with the exception of Joanne Woodward. Two additional episodes were later produced, "Style of the 70's," and "Rush To Reality," both hosted by Ben Gazzara and added, subsequently, to re-issues of the series which were syndicated in the 1960's and 1970's airing in New York (WINS), Boston (WBZ), Philadelphia (KYW), Baltimore (WJZ), Fort Wayne (WOWO), Chicago (WIND), San Francisco (KPIX), and Los Angeles (KFWB). The original 200 unedited reels of 1/4" audio tape interviews recorded by Joan and Robert Franklin are no longer known to exist. However, audio cassette transfers from these original tapes were donated by Joan Franklin many decades ago to Columbia University's Oral History Research Office where they exist today. Confirmed during a 2009 phone conversation with Mary Marshal Clark, archivist at Columbia at that time, who stated that the first on file communication from Robert Franklin to Columbia University related to his proposal to do an oral history audio recorded project is dated, July 31, 1958.
#129A: HERE'S HOLLYWOOD
Order1962-01-02, WNBC, 20 min.
September 26, 1960 - December 28, 1962 Jack Linkletter interviews his father Art Linkletter from the home Jack grew up. Also on hand are his brother, Robert, and sister Diane, along with Jack's wife Barbara and his mom, Lois. Art replays a 1953 audio tape he recorded of Jack auditioning as an announcer, prior to his first TV appearance at the age of 16. Many personal anecdotes are exchanged. Note: The audio quality has variations in quality. However, very discernible and a valued addition to the Here's Hollywood surviving broadcasts in the ATA archive. Here's Hollywood aired as a half-hour interview program, weekday afternoons on NBC at 4:30pm. On October 2, 1961 the show was reduced five minutes giving way to a live news broadcast with Sander Vanocur which aired at 4:55pm. Here's Hollywood was the leading daytime show for two years. It was the first TV broadcast of its kind, using two mobile vans equipped with 2" video tape equipment which traveled to the homes of celebrities...two locations each day, one star in the morning and one in the afternoon. Most of the interviews aired were ten minutes in length. Two different interviews comprised the full length of the half hour program. Occasionally, one subject would be interviewed for the complete program. Occasionally programs were produced outside of the United States...Hawaii, Germany, France. Five color broadcasts were attempted and then the concept abandoned, due to the complexity of 2" quadruplex video tape at the time. Dean Miller conducted interviews from September 26, 1960 to September 29, 1961. He was replaced by Jack Linkletter who conducted interviews from October 2, 1961 to December 28, 1962. Joanne Jordan conducted interviews from September 26, 1960 to June 9, 1961. She was replaced by Helen O'Oconnell who conducted interviews from June 13, 1961 to December 28, 1962. Note: Only a handful of the 1,100 different interviews survive. Most were erased, discarded, misplaced. NBC Archives have only two surviving kinescopes, one with Joe E. Brown (12-2-61), and one with Linda Darnell (12-4-61). UCLA Film & TV Archive has 46 different subject interview kinescopes on separate negative film and separate optical film tracks. Archival Television Audio has 74 broadcasts on audio tape, originally recorded by Phil Gries at the time the broadcasts first aired.