To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the General Foods Corporation has taken over the NBC and CBS networks from 8:00 to 9:30 P.M. to present highlights from the musical productions of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd.  The shows to be represented in this review of eleven years of musical-comedy achievement are: Oklahoma, Carousel, Allegro, South Pacific, The King and I, and Me and Juliet. 

   Clarence Francis, chairman of General Foods, opens the program which is hosted by Mary Martin. The first musical number, "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," sung by Gordon MacRae, comes from "Oklahoma!", Rodgers and Hammerstein's first musical collaboration together. Jack Benny then appears in a sketch in which he recalls buying a ticket to "Carousel" for only six dollars and sixty cents. Then John Raitt sings "You're a Queer One, Julie Jordan," and is joined by Jan Clayton in singing "If I Loved You"; both songs are from "Carousel." After Martin sings "It Might as Well Be Spring," from the score to the movie "State Fair," Edgar Bergen and his dummy, Charlie McCarthy, introduce Bill Hayes and Janice Rule in "You Are Never Away," from the musical "Allegro." The following segment is an excerpt from Groucho Marx's "You Bet Your Life" television series, in which he interviews Rodgers and Hammerstein. Then Martin and Ezio Pinza perform "Some Enchanted Evening," and Martin sings "A Wonderful Guy." Both pieces are from the musical "South Pacific." Ed Sullivan then introduces excerpts from "The King and I," which feature Patricia Morison singing "Getting to Know You," with dancing by Michiko, as well as Yul Brynner performing "A Puzzlement." Jack Benny returns to showcase Tony Martin in "The Big Black Giant" and Rosemary Clooney in "No Other Love"; both pieces are from "Me and Juliet." The program ends with MacRae and Florence Henderson performing a duet from "Oklahoma!" titled "People Will Say We're in Love."       

October 5th, 1950- September 21st, 1961- NBC
1980-Syndicated, 1992- Syndicated

Comedic filmed quiz show featuring competitive questions and humorous conversation with the contestants. The NBC version of the show was hosted by Groucho Marx with his longtime sidekick George Fenneman serving as announcer and scorekeeper. A revival of the show was attempted in 1980 with Buddy Hackett as host. Another revival with host Bill Cosby was attempted in 1992. Both syndicated revivals were unsuccessful.                                                    

HY GARDNER CALLING - Sunday Night, half hour broadcast, weekly, WRCA Ch. 4 New York City - 11:30pm - 12:30am  April 29, 1956-January 13, 1957

HY GARDNER - Mon-Fri, weekdays, WRCA CH. 4 New York City 11:15-11:25pm, 11:20-11:30pm, 11:15-11:30pm September 10, 1956-January 25, 1957

TONIGHT: AMERICA AFTER DARK Hy Gardner ten minute segments "Face to Face" (New format replacing Steve Allen's TONIGHT!,
revised format series hosted by Jack Lescoulie.Last broadcast January 28, 1957 - July 26, 1958 (M-F 11:15pm - 1:00am).   

HY GARDNER CALLING - February 12, 1958 - September 3, 1958
WABD (Dumont). 30 minute broadcast Wednesday evenings 8:30-9:00pm.

HY GARDNER CALLING - September 10, 1958 - January 14, 1959 
WNEW. 30 minute broadcast Wednesday evenings 8:30 - 9:00pm

HY GARDNER SHOW - October 25, 1959-August 14, 1960 WNEW 45 minute and 60 minute broadcast, Sunday evenings 10-11pm.

HY GARDNER SHOW - September 24, 1960 - September 29, 1962 WOR one hour weekly broadcast, Saturday evenings 12am-1am.

HY GARDNER SHOW - October 21, 1962 - April 4, 1964 WOR one hour weekly broadcast Saturdays or Sundays 7:00pm-8:00pm.

HY GARDNER SHOW - September 26, 1964-January 10, 1965 WOR one hour weekly broadcast Saturday 11:30pm-12:30am or 12:00am-1:00am.


Hy Gardner was a well-known New York Herald-Tribune columnist.  He  appeared regularly on Tonight! and America After Dark, a short-term substitute for Tonight! after Steve Allen abandoned it early in 1957. Gardner specialized in profiling show business celebrities and other news makers, and he hosted a nightly ten-minute TV interview program in New York called Face to Face. His weekly Sunday-night show, Hy Gardner Calling!, also aired only in the New York area and consisted of interviews conducted by telephone, with the subject seemingly at home, but actually seated in one studio, while Gardner sat at his desk in another. The telephone hook-up was real, and there was no physical proximity between host and guest. The show premiered in 1954 ? on New York City’s NBC affiliate station WRCA-TV, Channel 4, and ran until 1965. 

Hy Gardner interviews Groucho Marx. In this excerpt Groucho tells Hy a very funny anecdote related to an incident all three Marx Brothers pranked on MGM's wonder boy, Irving Thalberg.                                                                                                                                           

Groucho Marx is the on and off screen narrator for this view of Americans getting off their high horses and into critterless carriages. Music by Skitch Henderson in this Project 20 venture. Written by Philip Reisman Jr. Executive producer, Donald B. Hyatt. Initial airing was on Oct. 22, 1961.             

Guests are Zsa Zsa Gabor, Salvatore Baccaloni, Joe Twirp, Joy Harmon, and announcer George Fenneman. Groucho Marx sings "Show Me A Rose."             

10-01-62- 05-22-92 (NBC)

Johnny Carson makes his debut as host of the Tonight Show. He is introduced by his announcer Ed McMahon. This was the beginning of Carson's thirty-year run as the host of this iconic late-night talk show. McMahon was to remain with Carson for Carson's complete tenure as host. Carson was the third permanent host, following Jack Paar who replaced original host Steve Allen. Joining Johnny for the premiere are Groucho Marx, who introduces Carson, Rudy Vallee and Joan Crawford.

The broadcast begins at 11:14 PM  Eastern Standard Time in New York with a commercial promoting the movie "Barabbas" followed by the NBC Peacock color tag. Announcer Ed McMahon introduces the show naming the  guests and then states " let us all welcome the new host of the Tonight Show" and Groucho Marx walks out. He does a brief monologue. Orchestra leader Skitch Henderson and the band play, "New York, New York It's A Wonderful Town."     
The 11:30pm sign on is heard by announcer Ed McMahon. He states, "...the man you have been waiting six months to meet, Johnny Carson." Groucho and Johnny Carson together. Carson thanks Groucho for flying to New York to do the opening of his first show. Comedic advice by Groucho to Johnny. 
Complete monologue by Johnny Carson. McMahon's first words to Carson, "You were very good my Prince." Ed and Johnny at the desk. Johnny does his first commercial for "Greasy Kids Stuff." Johnny introduces his very first guest, Rudy Vallee. There would be many thousands more to come.  
Johnny Carson interview  with his last guest, Joan Crawford. 

NOTE: This material is comprised from the very best available original off the air recordings known to exist. Each source does not duplicate one another. One is direct line recorded (excellent audio quality). One is microphone recorded (good audio quality). The two sources have been edited together by Phil Gries for content and continuity. 
                                           

Steve Allen's guests are Groucho Marx and stand-up comic impressionist Adam Keefe.                          

Special celebrating NBC's 40th anniversary in broadcasting. 

Host: Chet Huntley                    

1966-1971 syndicated, 1971-1999, PBS.

Firing Line was an American public affairs program hosted by William F. Buckley Jr. Its 1504 episodes over 33 years, made Firing Line the longest-running public affairs show in television history with a single host. 


Humor and the Marx wit predominate as guest Groucho Marx trades ad-libs with host William F. Buckley.                          

Angela Lansbury and Peter Ustinov host the 1968 version of the Tony Awards (Broadway's Oscar). The ceremonies, telecast from the Shubert Theater in New York City, include production numbers from "Hello Dolly," "Golden Rainbow," "The Happy Time," "How Now Dow Jones?" "Mame," and "Hallelujah, Baby!" 
Award presenters include Art Carney, Anne Bancroft, Sandy Dennis, Groucho Marx, Paul Newman, Gregory Peck, Tony Randall and Joanne Woodward. Major categories and nominees are listed below.
Best play: "Joe Egg," "Plaza Suite," "The Price," "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead."
Best Musical: "The Happy Time," "Hallelujah,Baby!" "How Now Dow Jones?" "Illya Darling."
Dramatic actor/actress: Martin Balsam, Albert Finney, Milo O'Shea, Alan Webb, Zoe Caldwell, Colleen Dewhurst, Maureen Stapleton, Dorothy Tutin. 
Musical actor/actress: Robert Goulet, Robert Hooks, Anthony Roberts, David Wayne, Melina Mercouri, Patricia Routledge, Leslie Uggams, Brenda Vaccaro.
Missing from tonight's show is the melodramatic "may I have this envelope, please?" Instead of nervous fumbling, viewers will see the nominees and winners names in lights. Nominations will be lighted up on a theater marquee as they are announced.                                                  

September 13, 1967-May 12, 1971. This was the "Johnny Carson Friar's Club Roast" broadcast. The 1967 version of "The Kraft Music Hall" was an hour show, which lasted four seasons. It was hosted by a guest celebrity each week.  

Duplicate Of #3556.            

The 46th annual Academy Awards presentation broadcast live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in Los Angeles, California. 
Burt Reynolds, Diana Ross, David Niven, and, John Huston serve as hosts. Director George Lucas made his Academy Award debut for American Grafitti, Katherine Hepburn made her first and only appearance at the ceremony. Susan Heyward made her last public appearance before dying of brain cancer. Producer Samuel Goldwyn is honored posthumously and Groucho Marx is presented with an honorary Academy Award for his contributions to the cinema. 
               

Bob Hope hires six TV detectives to solve a series of mysterious disappearances at his house in this comedy special.                                      

Bob Hope hires six TV detectives to solve a series of mysterious disappearances at his house in this comedy special.

Duplicate of # 7757.                                                    

October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated)

A salute to the late Ernie Kovacs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

A bevy of stars gathers to participate in this television salute to Lucille Ball on her 25th anniversary with CBS.