1963-1982 (SYNDICATED). Mike Douglas hosted one of television's longest-running talk shows (19 years). Each week Douglas was joined by a different co-host. In 1967, "The Mike Douglas Show" became the first syndicated talk show to win an Emmy Award.
Broadcast from 1963-1978 in Philadelphia
Broadcast from 1978-1982 in Los Angeles
Co-Host: Richard Hatch
Richard Hatch discusses message therapy which he has experienced a better balanced body and relief from tension.
He mentions his great relationship and love for co-star Karl Malden on the series "Streets of San Francisco."
Richard, who first learned to play piano at eight years of age plays piano.
In a separate video taped 32 minute segment Mike Douglas interviews Betty Hutton who just has filmed a Beretta TV episode with Robert Blake.
Betty discusses a myriad of subjects including:
Mother, an early bootlegger and alcoholic herself...Betty singing at three years of age, with her mother playing guitar...marriage four times and never loved by any of her husbands...at 14 meeting Bernard Baruch, and dropping out of school to go into showbusiness...at one point in her life wanting to become a nun but unable to find the passion...love of church and finding God...writing a book called "Backstage You Can Have."
Betty also remember her years with Vincent Lopez and a career that in the whole made her miserable and depressed. Playing Vegas...replacing Judy Garland on sage and making $100,000 a night and replacing Garland reshooting the movie "Annie Oakley."
Biggest satisfaction in her career playing for the troops in Korea. Past 10 years very lonely...has found God after shock of having former husband Pete Candoli leave her, at such time thought of committing suicided.
Betty Hutton tells Mike Douglas that she and most other entertainers have a inside fear prior to performing. Interestingly she remembers seeing Al Jolson on stage for his last time and he told her the same emotion he has always had as well.
Betty confirms that at one time she had almost 10 million dollars and after it was all gone her children moved in with their father...a future estranged relationship, and she subsequently has never met her four grandchildren.
Betty confides she was a "bastard child" and finally one day tracked down her biological father. She had a lot of money stolen from her and remembers her mother not trusting banks and use to keep cash savings under the bed mattress.
Betty reveals why she failed as a wife and mother...the pitfalls being a star played on who the real Betty Hutton.
She sings "It Had to be You."
Continuing her interview with Mike Douglas Betty Hutton reflects on memories working on "Panama Hattie" with Ethel Merman and devastated when Merman removed the only song in the show sung by Hutton.
More discussion about the days when the great directors and writers ruled the motion picture industry collaborating with talent and all working together in a very creative way. Such approach has long gone with corporations taking over. Betty reflects her TV Series "The Betty Hutton Show" playing Goldie and how the 37 episodes have vanished...locked away by Lucille Ball who purchased the show (a failure) years ago.
Betty states her life story on stage or in film should be done by Bernadette Peters.
Ending this extraordinary segment interview between Betty Hutton and Mike Douglas they both sing a duet, "Ragtime Cowboy Joe."