SHOWER OF STARS {GALE STORM, JACQUES D'AMBOISE, LAWRENCE WELK, SID KROFFT, HEDY LAMARR} (TV)
Summary
The first of two programs on this asset. One in this series of irregularly scheduled live music/variety programs. This program, hosted by Bill Lundigan, features master of ceremonies Jack Benny and guest stars Gale Storm, Jacques d'Amboise, Sid Krofft, and Hedy Lamarr. Lundigan brings Benny to the stage, and as they banter about the quality of his introduction, Lundigan is forced to correct a few of his malapropisms. Benny then discusses his recent violin concerts, conducted by the famous Alfred Wallenstein, and then introduces Storm. She sings "You Make Me Feel So Young," and Benny compliments her versatility while also mentioning his own new records. She then introduces her accompanist "Guy Lombardo," though he turns out to be Lawrence Welk, and they briefly discuss Welk's show before he introduces a "ballerina" of note, one of Krofft's marionettes, whom Benny is relieved to see recognizes him as a star. D'Amboise then takes the stage and performs a dance to the polka song "Stashu Pandowski," after which Benny talks with Lamarr about her residence in Texas and her new picture "Loves of Three Queens," which she also produced.
Krofft's marionettes then perform a dance number, and Storm sings "Just in Time." Following this is a film noir parody sketch in which Benny plays a private eye, Nelson, and Storm plays "Sonya," a chanteuse/spy at a café in Lisbon who is at odds with Sasha, the waiter/spy played by Welk. Nelson interrogates a mysterious duchess, Lamarr, and searches for a Dr. Renaldo, who has created the deadly "I-Bomb" and smuggled it into the country. The plot soon thickens as secret relationships and alliances are unveiled, and Nelson notes the danger of the situation when he spots an informant unaware of the knife in his back. Finally, he suspects Sonya's Shriner friend of being Dr. Renaldo and finds the bomb hidden under his fez, but is too late to stop its explosion. He manages to escape and flees to Alaska, and is relieved to run into Lamarr there. Also, Lundigan performs several in-studio commercials for various Chrysler automobiles. For the second program on this asset, see B:25379.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: March 14, 1957 Thursday 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:27
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:25378
- GENRE: Music/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music/Variety; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1954-1958
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "Climax!: Let It Be Me"
CREDITS
- Ralph Levy … Producer, Director
- John F. Meyers … Associate Producer
- Hugh Wedlock … Writer
- Howard Snyder … Writer
- Lyn Murray … Conductor
- Rod Alexander … Choreographer
- Art Gilmore … Announcer
- William Lundigan … Host
- Jack Benny … Master of Ceremonies
- Gale Storm … Performer
- Jacques D'Amboise … Performer
- Lawrence Welk … Performer
- Sid Krofft … Performer
- Hedy Lamarr … Performer