A special WCBS radio broadcast of the 1957 Tony Awards with host Bud Collyer. There was a television blackout of this special due to a union issue. 

Winners were "My Fair Lady" for the best musical play, Rex Harrison, for best musical actor in "My Fair Lady," Frederick March for the best dramatic actor, and Judy Holliday for best actress in "The Bells Are Ringing." 

NOTE:   Due to a union dispute, there was no television broadcast, which had been scheduled for WCBS-TV Channel 2.                                                                                        

September 29th,1957-March 21st, 1961 (CBS)

An irregularly scheduled collection of culturally outstanding dramas usually presented monthly. SEARCH PROGRAM TITLES FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. 


Presented on "DUPONT SHOW OF THE MONTH." Rex Harrison portrays a visiting Englishman who takes a dim view of American culture. To overcome his skepticism, he is introduced to a wide variety of American musical styles. First show of the series.

Highlights: 

Play It Cool- dancers
"Mary Had A Little Lamb" Cha-Cha, Carol Channing
"Go West Young Man," Eddy Arnold
"Shine On Harvest Moon," Baby bumblebee
"Silvery Moon," Singers and dancers
"Streets Of Laredo," Singers and dancers
"Basin Street Blues," "Trouble I've Seen," Louis Armstrong 
"Blues In The Night," Peggy Lee
"Sit Down, You're Rockin The Boat," Stubby Kaye
"Didn't It Rain," Mahalia Jackson 
"Bill Bailey," Lizzie Miles, Turk Murphy
"The Birth Of The Blues," Dinah Washington 
Blues Sequence, Benny Goodman, Diahann Carroll
Jazz Sequence- Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong. 

                                             

     A two hour SPECIAL (live, tape, film) as Television takes a look at the decade just ended, the 1950's, its very first. 

Henry Fonda is the host for this two hour show. 

Jackie Gleason's career is reviewed and he performs the "Sid, Old Kid" number from his Broadway musical "Take Me Along." 

Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews present "My Fair Lady" songs. Rex: "I'm an Ordinary Man," Julie: "Just You Wait."   

Shelley Berman, and Mike Nichols and Elaine May, comedians who were introduced in the Fifties, lampoon psychiatry.  

Dick Van Dyke pantomimes dance crazes of the decade. His partner for this comedy sequence is Maria Karnilova.

Betty Comden and Adolph Green satirize cultural developments of the Fifties.

Suzy Parker represents the American woman in "The Creature," a film sequence created by Richard Avedon. Charles and Ray Eames also have contributed film features. 

Television and Movies are highlighted in clips from outstanding productions, including memorable the Mary Martin-Ethel Merman TV Show produced by Leland Hayward, who also has produced tonight's show. 

Excerpts from records illustrate music of the fifties.  

News Events of the decade are recalled by eyewitnesses. The voices of these men are heard: Arthur Godfrey, sports stars Roy Campanella, and Roger Bannister, sea captain Kurt Carlsen, submarine camp;ain William Anderson, explorer Edmund Hillary. 

Eric Sevareid provides commentary during the show, which consists of live, tape, and film elements. 

               

A salute to Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe on this Valentine's Day live presentation saluting the play "My Fair Lady." Hosts are Samuel Liff, stage production manager for the original Broadway production and conductor Franz Allers, who also performed during the Broadway "My Fair Lady" debut. Musical selections are played from the British and American productions. They include "I Could Have Danced All Night," sung by Julie Andrews, "The Rain in Spain," sung by Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison from the London Production, "With a Little Bit of Luck," sung by Stanley Holloway from the London Production, "The Ascop Gavotte," and "I've Grown Accustomed to her Face," sung by Rex Harrison.  

Anecdotes and recollections by Franz Allers and Samuel Liff reflect the many transitions experienced for this great classic as the company tours the world three years prior to the making of the motion picture in 1964.

NOTE:
The musical MY FAIR LADY had its pre-Broadway tryout at New Haven's Shubert Theatre. Then it played for four weeks at the Erlanger Theatre in Philadelphia, beginning on February 15, 1956.

The musical premiered on Broadway March 15, 1956, at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City. It transferred to the Broadhurst Theatre and then The Broadway Theatre, where it closed on September 29, 1962, after 2,717 performances, a record at the time. Moss Hart directed and Hanya Holm was choreographer. In addition to stars Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews and Stanley Holloway, the original cast included Robert Coote, Cathleen Nesbitt, John Michael King, and Reid Shelton. Harrison was replaced by Edward Mulhare in November 1957 and Sally Ann Howes replaced Andrews in February 1958. By the start of 1959, it was the biggest grossing Broadway show of all-time with a gross of $10 million.

The Original Cast Recording, released on April 2, 1956, was the best-selling album in the United States in 1956.

Original London production
The West End production, in which Harrison, Andrews, Coote, and Holloway reprised their roles, opened on April 30, 1958, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where it ran for five and a half years (2,281 performances). Edwardian musical comedy star Zena Dare made her last appearance in the musical as Mrs. Higgins. Leonard Weir played Freddy. Harrison left the London cast in March 1959, followed by Andrews in August 1959 and Holloway in October 1959.

MY FAIR LADY won six 1957 TONY awards, including Best Musical, and the Film version released in 1964 with Audrey Hepburn replacing Julie Andrews in the role of Eliza Doolittle won five Oscar awards including Best Actor for Rex Harrison and Best Picture.                        

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. Johnny Carson, host of NBC's network late-night "Tonight Show" reigned for 30 unprecedented years...five times the combined tenure of Steve Allen, and Jack Paar. Carson was impervious to competition, including efforts to dethrone him by Les Crane, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, and Arsenio Hall. Sadly, very few complete "Tonight Show" broadcasts survive during Johnny Carson's first ten years of broadcasting. Around 1965, through the early 1970's, oldest tapes were first erased systematically by orders from myopic NBC executives, to be recycled for purposes of saving money. Ironically, in many cases, these older master tapes were too brittle, and portended probable drop-outs for re-use after being erased. Subsequently blank after being erased, these older questionable master 2" Quad tapes were either sparingly used or never used again for recording new programming and eventually were discarded. Saving thousands of dollars at the time (wiping master tapes for potential re-use) resulted in losing millions of dollars by NBC in today's marketplace, and more importantly wiping thousands of historic TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, which contain precious personal anecdotes from political, show business, and sports icons of the past.
  
  

A Special telecast tonight for the motion picture premiere on Broadway at the Rivoli theater of "CLEOPATRA" with  Bert Parks live at the theater interviewing celebrities in the lobby as they enter the theater with cut-aways to Johnny Carson in Studio 6B, who interacts with those being interviewed.   

NOTE: There is much humor happening during this remote pick-up as celebrities get out of their cars at the curb and  they are stopped for photographs by some 500 photographers at the premiere. Local TV Station WPIX Channel 11 in New York City has first opportunities to interview celebrities on the outside, delaying Bert to do his interviews in the lobby. At times Bert frantically calls out to them and there is much humor exchanged between Parks and Johnny Carson who watches, and comments.

After the remote interviews Roddy McDowall joins Johnny in the NBC Tonight Show studio and discuses photographs he took on the set of CLOEPATRA, including those of Elizabeth Taylor getting made up for her role.   

NOTE: At one point Johnny Carson, breaking up with laughter says: "I want a copy of this show." 
Ironically, this broadcast  was wiped (erased) and is one of the thousands of "lost" TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts never saved/archived during the first ten years of  broadcasting.       

One of the rare TV Audio Air Checks archived  by ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. originally recorded off the air when broadcast, June 12, 1963.      

Duplicate of #14160                                                                                      

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. Johnny Carson, host of NBC's network late-night "Tonight Show" reigned for 30 unprecedented years...five times the combined tenure of Steve Allen, and Jack Paar. Carson was impervious to competition, including efforts to dethrone him by Les Crane, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, and Arsenio Hall. Sadly, very few complete "Tonight Show" broadcasts survive during Johnny Carson's first ten years of broadcasting. Around 1965, through the early 1970's, oldest tapes were first erased systematically by orders from myopic NBC executives, to be recycled for purposes of saving money. Ironically, in many cases, these older master tapes were too brittle, and portended probable drop-outs for re-use after being erased. Subsequently blank after being erased, these older questionable master 2" Quad tapes were either sparingly used or never used again for recording new programming and eventually were discarded. Saving thousands of dollars at the time (wiping master tapes for potential re-use) resulted in losing millions of dollars by NBC in today's marketplace, and more importantly wiping thousands of historic TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, which contain precious personal anecdotes from political, show business, and sports icons of the past.
  
  

A Special telecast tonight for the motion picture premiere on Broadway at the Rivoli theater of "CLEOPATRA" with  Bert Parks live at the theater interviewing celebrities in the lobby as they enter the theater with cut-aways to Johnny Carson in Studio 6B, who interacts with those being interviewed.   

NOTE: There is much humor happening during this remote pick-up as celebrities get out of their cars at the curb and  they are stopped for photographs by some 500 photographers at the premiere. Local TV Station WPIX Channel 11 in New York City has first opportunities to interview celebrities on the outside, delaying Bert to do his interviews in the lobby. At times Bert frantically calls out to them and there is much humor exchanged between Parks and Johnny Carson who watches, and comments.

After the remote interviews Roddy McDowall joins Johnny in the NBC Tonight Show studio and discuses photographs he took on the set of CLOEPATRA, including those of Elizabeth Taylor getting made up for her role.   

NOTE: At one point Johnny Carson, breaking up with laughter says: "I want a copy of this show." 
Ironically, this broadcast  was wiped (erased) and is one of the thousands of "lost" TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts never saved/archived during the first ten years of  broadcasting.       

One of the rare TV Audio Air Checks archived  by ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. originally recorded off the air when broadcast, June 12, 1963.      

Duplicate of #10833                                                                                      

Live WNEW radio coverage of the "Cleopatra" movie premiere at the Rivoli Theatre on Broadway. William B. Williams interviews "Cleopatra" director Joseph Mankiewicz. Williams also interviews Mrs. Dorothy Williams, (the wife of William B. Williams), Joan Fontaine, Roddy McDowall, Michael Rennie, and Red Buttons. Actress Ilka Chase reviews "Cleopatra." Following the film, Williams speaks to Rex Harrison who spent eight months on the film, and William's wife Dorothy.                                                                                         

The movie premiere of "My Fair Lady" at the Criterion Theatre in New York City. Celebrities include Jack Warner, George Cukor, Alan J. Lerner, Stanley Holloway, Rex Harrison, Audrey Hepburn,
Paul Anka, and Frederick Lowe.

Host: Arthur Godfrey. 

A presentation of WNEW-TV Channel 5 in New York City.                         

Celebrities include George Cukor, Audrey Hepburn, Jack Warner, Frederick Lowe, Troy Donahue, Caesar Romero, Rex Harrison, Danny Thomas, Gladys Cooper, Ed Begley, Hoagy Carmichael, Natalie Wood, Yul Brynner, Maureen O'Hara, Jim Backus, Bill Burrows, Henny Backus, Hugh O'Brian, Walter Pidgeon, Rock Hudson, Richard Crenna, Steve McQueen, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Marlo Thomas, 

Live from the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California.     

Co-Hosts: Arthur Godfrey and Bill Burrud. 

A presentation of WPIX-TV Channel 11 in New York City.                                            

Bob Hope is the host for The 37th Annual Academy Award presentations from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California.

Best Actor: Rex Harrison ("My Fair Lady")
Best Actress: Julie Andrews ("Mary Poppins")
Best Picture: ("My Fair Lady")
Best Director: George Cukor ("My Fair Lady")

This is Bob Hope's 14th time as Master Of Ceremonies for the Academy Award presentations.                                                                                                                                 

The 38th Annual Academy Award ceremonies telecast live from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. This was the first color broadcast of the award ceremonies.

Best Actor: Lee Marvin (Cat Ballou)
Best Actress: Julie Christie (Dr. Zhivago) 
Best Supporting Actor: Martin Balsam
Best Supporting Actress: Shelley Winters  
Best Film ( Sound Of Music)     
Best Musical Score: Dr. Zhivago 

William Wyler is awarded the Irving Thalberg Award.

Host: Bob Hope.                                        

The 25th Golden Globe Awards telecast live from the Coconut Grove, Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. This was the first Golden Globes to include television awards.
This is a partial broadcast, originally scheduled as a 60-minute show.                                                    

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.                                                              

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

The history of television is examined.
Complete with original commercials.

Host: Charles Kuralt     

  The special is a retrospective of the social history of television programming, circa 1948-1960's. Host Charles Kuralt describes 
 live television and illustrates the kinescope process. Excerpts include coverage of the following topics and people: Burns and Allen; news programs with Edward P. Morgan and Douglas Edwards; newsreels and propaganda; Art Carney and Jackie Gleason; children's programs, including "Captain Video"; the growth of television; performers Milton Berle, Ernie Kovacs, Red Skelton, Alan Young, Dick Van Dyke and Lucille Ball; reporter Edward R. Murrow; the Korean War; blacklisting; Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy; Mary Martin and Noel Coward; the 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings; Sid Caesar; President Harry S Truman's 1951 dismissal of General MacArthur; Bishop Fulton J. Sheen; a comedy and entertainment montage; quiz show scandals with comments by Frank Stanton of CBS and a look at how shows were rigged; Rex Harrison rehearsing for "My Fair Lady"; anthology drama with Charlton Heston, James Dean, and others; the 1952 Republican Convention; John F. Kennedy's 1956 bid for vice president; the 1960 presidential campaign; and Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Includes commercials.