THE BILLY JOHNSON SHOW
(approx. 60 min.)
This is another one of those rare Kinescope negatives from WABD TV in Washington.
A folk singer type who played the guitar and sang kid songs, Billy Johnson and his two handpuppets lip synched songs either too slowly or too quickly, probably to avoid paying the licensing fees.
During the showing of the Looney Tune cartoons, the footage dissolves to show the studio where such hosts as Grandpa from GRANDPA'S PLACE, Milt Grant, and the Weather Girl appear to talk about their shows as they look for sponsorship.
But more interesting than the on camera footage are the peripheral clips. For instance, you see the Weather Girl waiting off stage for her cue to talk about advertising on THE WEATHER WHEEL, and you even hear someone off camera yelling to get her miked. A truly historical find.
CHESTERFIELD SUPPER CLUB
(The Perry Como Show)
(approx 60 min)
Barber-turned-singer Perry Como became a major star thanks to this series, which was eventually rechristened in his name.
With the Fontane Sisters, Martin Block, and Mitchel Ayres, he and the show move through "I Can Dream," "Begin the Beguine," "Dear Hearts and Gentle People," and "I Want To Go Home With You" on these two shows.
The second program of the two also features Raymond Massey portraying Abraham Lincoln, and actress Denise Alexander playing Como's daughter.
THE FREDDIE MARTIN SHOW
(approx 55 min)
Bandleader Freddy Martin hosts this showcase for the talents of his singers, which include a young Merv Griffin (singing "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" and "How About You"), and guest Eddie Arnold ("Deep In the Heart of Texas").
Other numbers include "You're Just In Love," "Toot Toot Tootsie" and "Atcheson, Topeka and Santa Fe." The show includes sketches and comedy routines, mostly involving Arnold, who plays it loud and boisterous.
COLGATE COMEDY HOUR
WITH JIMMY DURANTE AND FRANK SINATRA
(approx. 50 min)
Jimmy Durante is the guest host of this COLGATE COMEDY HOUR installment, which, despite the presence of Sinatra, emphasizes comedy as much as music.
The running joke features Frank Sinatra turning up throughout the show (even sitting in the audience at one point) and trying to sing "From Here To Eternity," only to be continually interrupted by Durante.
The Gay Tyroliers perform a very strange Maypole Dance. The Symphony of Cowbells (really "The Old Spinning Wheel," most famous from its use in the Laurel & Hardy short "Them Thar Hills") is interrupted by Sinatra, who is thrown off the set by Durante, who later gives an inimitable spelling and grammar lesson.
He and Sinatra participate in a TV game show parody with special guest Danny Thomas. Sinatra and Durante do a duet together and Sinatra does "The Ho-Ho Song."
And the host argues with a marionette in a sketch set in Club Durante. Sinatra is interrupted one last time, before Durante closes the show with "Goodnight."
THE FRANK SINATRA COLLECTION Volume One
(approx. 60 min.)
Two 1958 Sinatra shows.
In the first, Sinatra opens singing "South of the Border" to a group of admiring showgirls. Later, he's joined by British singer Jeanne Carson in a record shop sketch, where she and regular heckler Clifford (Jesse White) compete to get Sinatra's autograph, and he agrees to teach her how to sing like him and sound American.
Meanwhile, Clifford keeps bothering Sinatra, mistaking him for "Sol Mineo." Sinatra sings Cole Porter's "From This Moment On" in an outstanding rendition, as well as "Witchcraft" and "Wishing On a Star."
Jeanne Carson learns how to pronounce words American-style ("mudda, fodda etc.") and sings "Them There Eyes."
In the second show, special guest Ethel Merman opens with "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart." She and Sinatra trade jokes and act together in a sketch about a married star couple surprised at home by the cameras, who have to cover up their disaster of an apartment.
Sinatra sings Harry Warren and Al Dubin's "Getting To Be A Habit With You" from 42nd STREET and "You're The Top," Merman sings "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows."
Commercials include Budd Colyer plugging Bulova watches with help from VOGUE magazine, and Chesterfield spots showing Coast Guard men enjoying a smoke while their ship plunges through stormy waters, and an army missile crew enjoying cigarettes after a successful launch.
And Jesse White gets a rise out of Sinatra in his regular role of Clifford the heckler.
THE FRANK SINATRA COLLECTION Volume Two
(approx 60 min)
TIMEX PRESENTS AN AFTERNOON WITH FRANK SINATRA was filmed in Palm Springs on a rainy day during 1960, hosted by Sinatra with Peter Lawford (who makes a plug for his brother-in-law Senator John Kennedy), and featuring dancer Juliet Prowse (who worked with Sinatra in CAN-CAN), Ella Fitzgerald, the Hi-Los, and Hermoine Gingold.
Songs include "I've Got the World On a String" (Sinatra), "Just Too Marvelous For Words" (Sinatra), "I'll Never Smile Again" (the Hi-Los with Sinatra), "Puttin' On the Ritz" (Lawford and Gingold), "Love Walked In," "Our Love Is Here To Stay."
Prowse dances to a series of numbers, including Cole Porter's "Too Darn Hot." John Cameron Swayze hosts commercials for Timex watches, one of which features a pair of mimes acting out the virtues of the watch.
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CHESTERFIELD SUPPER CLUB
(The Perry Como Show)
(approx 60 min)
Barber-turned-singer Perry Como became a major star thanks to this series, which was eventually rechristened in his name.
THE FREDDIE MARTIN SHOW
(approx 55 min)
Bandleader Freddy Martin hosts this showcase for the talents of his singers, which include a young Merv Griffin (singing "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" and "How About You"), and guest Eddie Arnold ("Deep In the Heart of Texas").
COLGATE COMEDY HOUR WITH JIMMY DURANTE AND FRANK SINATRA
(approx. 50 min)
THE FRANK SINATRA COLLECTION Volume One
(approx. 60 min.)
Two 1958 Sinatra shows.
THE FRANK SINATRA COLLECTION Volume Two (approx 60 min)
TIMEX PRESENTS AN AFTERNOON WITH FRANK SINATRA was filmed in Palm Springs on a rainy day during 1960, hosted by Sinatra with Peter Lawford (who makes a plug for his brother-in-law Senator John Kennedy), and featuring dancer Juliet Prowse (who worked with Sinatra in CAN-CAN), Ella Fitzgerald, the Hi-Los, and Hermoine Gingold.