Ethel Merman reprises the role she created from the 1946 Broadway hit, in this "lost" TV musical special, which was recorded off the air, direct line, on reel to reel 1/4" audio tape and is archived in the collection of Archival Television Audio, Inc. A duplication of this TV Audio Air Check has been donated to The Paley Center for Media by Phil Gries, founder and owner of Archival Television Audio, Inc. 

NOTE:
The ONLY Irving Berlin related production (film or television) that is not archived. Not found in the Ethel Merman estate, as well. 

NOTE:
To date no original video tape or kinescope exists representing this Special NBC TV broadcast with the original cast from the Lincoln Center Stage revival which opened for a limited engagement of 47 performances on May 31, 1966 and then moving to the Broadway Theater on September 21, 1966 for another 77 performances. An LP was released on July 1, 1966 with just the musical numbers. 

Jane Klain at the Paley Center for Media has devoted much time over the years to finding the tape. She did find the box that once housed it but the title was ERASED out suggesting the tape had been erased and reused. 

From published reports, the telecast wasn't successful, cutting the show to 90 minutes and performing without an audience robbed it of its vitality...debated by critics and the public to the contrary.  

Dupe of # 5892                                      

    Honoring Broadway's best at the 27th Tony Awards with hosts Rex Harrison, Celeste Holm, Jerry Orbach and Sandy Duncan.                      

Rex Harrison and Celeste Holm host the 27th Annual Tony Awards telecast at the Imperial Theater in New York City. This was the fourth time Julie Harris won a Tony Award and her sixth nomination.