THE MILT GRANT SHOW
(approx 60 min)
Produced in Washington, D.C. at the same time that Dick Clark's American Bandstand was coming out of Philadelphia,
THE MILT GRANT SHOW was less slick and a lot funnier, more spontaneous, and warmer than Clark's program.
The one-hour program features dancing teens (to "Bye Bye Love" by the Everly Bros., "I Just Don't Know" by the Four Aces, "Love Letters In the Sand" by Pat Boone, "Pink Champagne" by the Tyrones, and "Suzie Q" by Dale Hawkins), special guest rhythm-and-blues legend LaVerne Baker ("Jim Dandy" "Let's Play the Game of Love") and Johnny & Jo ("Over The Mountain and Across the Sea") lip-syncing to their records, and a Rate-a-Record sequence featuring the Cellos' "Rang Tang Ding Dong" and Johnny Mathis's "It's Not For Me to Say."
But the real beauty of THE MILT GRANT SHOW, apart from the performance sequences and the music, are the kids, who come across as really honest and sincere, even in their awkwardness, as they joke about their dancing and their music, and Grant himself, who doesn't try to be one of them, but still builds up a heady enthusiasm for the music.
The show was local, and includes lots of plugs for local and regional businesses, including Washington's Music Box Record Shop, Briggs Ice Cream, a nearby amusement park and Tops Drive-inn, as well as the then-current crop of Columbia Records artists.
A real blast from the past, and a delight not only to anyone in their 30's and 40's who remembers this era, but a must-own for anyone who wants to get a glimpse of what it was like to be a real teenager during that period.
OH KAY Vol. 1
(approx 60 min)
Chicago tv personality Kay Westfall starred in this short-lived series set in her apartment and produced by the same people who were behind SUPER CIRCUS.
Actually, OH KAY is a sort of distant antecedent to the MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, although the resemblence may be lost on anyone born much after 1955--both shows are about young, single career women and the rather eccentric men and women who people their lives.
OH KAY is a supposedly candid look at Kay Westfall's daily life and the unpredictable events that can unfold in her apartment, which include her witty pianist friend David LeWinter (always good for a show tune on Westfall's piano), her sometime love interest Jim Dimitri, and various musical guests, along with minor domestic crises such as the party that Kay is having trouble preparing for etc.
Note: The cast of SUPER CIRCUS shows up, playing themselves, at her apartment in one of these two shows.
OH KAY Vol. 2
(approx 60 min)
Kay Westfall and her guests David LeWinter and Jimk Dimitri entertain guest Ennio Polonini, a concert cellist, who presents a piece by Albeniz and some pop tunes with cello backing. On the second show, singer Betty Chappell of the Dave Garroway Show does "I've Got a Crush On You."
THE RAY ANTHONY SHOW Volume One
(approx 60 min)
Bandleader (and one-time husband to Mamie Van Doren) Ray Anthony hosted his own tv show at the end of the 1950's, sponsored by Plymouth ("the car that dares to break the time barrier").
This installment features guests the Four Freshmen and Debbie Kaye, with Don Durant and Jimmy Henderson.
Anthony didn't spend a lot of time on comedy on his show, devoting most of his time to music, and there is a lot of it here, including "The LAdy Is a Tramp," "It Ain't Necessariloy So," "Cindy, Oh Cindy," "Autumn Leaves," "Don't Be Cruel" (hey, like Elvis was moving up the charts, and he was just another kind of pop musician to these guys), "Limehouse Blues," "Stella By Starlight," and "The Best Things In Life Are Free."
The show was directed by Rudy Behlmer and choreographed by Marc Platt.
THE RAY ANTHONY SHOW
Volume 2 (approx 60 min)
Guests on this show include Molly Bee and Connie Haines.
The songs include "Bushel and a Peck" (Molly Bee)," "Crazy Rhythm," "This Could Be the Night," "Accentuate the Positive" (Connie Haines), "Hernando's Hideaway" from PAJAMA GAME, "Singin' In the Rain," "Getting To Know You," a MY FAIR LADY medley by the band, "Vaya Con Dios" (Connie Haines), "Who Needs You" (Four Savoys), "Music to Change Razor Blades By," "Three Little Words," "Wish You Were Here," "My Heart Belongs To Daddy," "Ah, Sweet MYstery of Life," "Almost Like Being In Love," "Some Enchanted Evening," and "You're Just In Love."
But the real surprise and highlight of this show is Anthony's next-to-last number, the title track from THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, performed live.
TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD SHOW
(approx 60 min)
Two installments from near the end of the run of Tennessee Ernie Ford's daytime ABC musical/comedy series from the mid-1960's, featuring future DATING GAME host Jim Lang as one of the supporting players.
The first show, from February 1965, features Ford singing "I Can't Stop Loving You," and--joined by his two lady support singers--performing "Personality." Ethel Ennis is the guest star, singing "The Boy From Ipanema."
Sponsor commercials include Lysol, Clairol's Loving Care Hair Color Lotion, Metrecal, and Action chlorine bleach (the famous ad featuring the big, muscular hand popping out of the top-loading washer), Rose Lotion Vel, and the Colgate Palmolive Pot of Gold sweepstakes.
The second show features Phil Ford and Mimi Hines as guests, and the song "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You." Comedy includes some examples of zany Valentine's Day cards. Cathy from the regular cast sings a very funny version of "The Name Game."
Sponsor commercials include Lustre Creme Shampoo, Borden's Ice Cream, Peter Pan Peanut Butter, and Sara Lee finger rolls, but the best ad is for Ajax Power Cleaner, and features people doing some surprising things with the cleaner in their hand.
THIS IS YOUR MUSIC
(approx 55)
Two installments from a series of mid-1950's short features dealing with American popular music, featuring Nelson Riddle as music director.
The first show is a salute to lyricist Johnny Mercer, which includes performances of such hits as "Skylark," "Fools Rush in Where Angels Fear to Tread," "That Old Black Magic," "G.I. Jive," "Jeepers Creepers" etc.
The second program is a salute to the entertainment institution of the showboat--surprisingly with only a vague single reference to the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein work of that name. Songs include "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee," "If I Had My Way," "Oh Those Golden Slippers," and the Stephen Foster-composed standards "Oh Sussanah," "Beautiful Dreamer," "Camptown Races," and "Swanee River."
Other songs include "Walking Through the Park One Day" and "By the Light of the Silvery Moon."
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OH KAY Vol. 1
(approx 60 min)
Chicago tv personality Kay Westfall starred in this short-lived series set in her apartment and produced by the same people who were behind SUPER CIRCUS.
OH KAY Vol. 2
(approx 60 min)
Kay Westfall and her guests David LeWinter and Jimk Dimitri entertain guest Ennio Polonini, a concert cellist, who presents a piece by Albeniz and some pop tunes with cello backing. On the second show, singer Betty Chappell of the Dave Garroway Show does "I've Got a Crush On You."
THE RAY ANTHONY SHOW Volume One
(approx 60 min)
Bandleader (and one-time husband to Mamie Van Doren) Ray Anthony hosted his own tv show at the end of the 1950's, sponsored by Plymouth ("the car that dares to break the time barrier").
THE RAY ANTHONY SHOW
Volume 2 (approx 60 min)
Guests on this show include Molly Bee and Connie Haines.
TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD SHOW
(approx 60 min)
Two installments from near the end of the run of Tennessee Ernie Ford's daytime ABC musical/comedy series from the mid-1960's, featuring future DATING GAME host Jim Lang as one of the supporting players.
THIS IS YOUR MUSIC
(approx 55)
Two installments from a series of mid-1950's short features dealing with American popular music, featuring Nelson Riddle as music director.