DINAH SHORE CHEVY SHOW, THE {SID CAESAR, MAHALIA JACKSON, JOSE GRECO, MICHAEL DAVIS, CLIFF MARTIN} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of music/variety programs hosted by Dinah Shore. In this episode, Shore opens the program by singing "Perdido," after which she is joined onstage by 8-year-old flamenco dancer Michael Davis. He jokes with her about his extravagant full name and talks about his past experiencing meeting famed dancer Jose Greco. Greco appears with many back-up dancers and performs an elaborate flamenco number, then joining Davis as he shows off his own skills. Shore sings "All Through the Day," and then explains that she wrote a "fan letter" to Sid Caesar, requesting that he appear on her show, though he is known for doing very few guest appearances. He joins her onstage and talks about attending one's first formal dance, then jokingly imitating an awkward young man attempting to navigate the event with style. He then impersonates the same young man "five years later," when he has acquired more dance skill and confidence.
Shore introduces gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who performs "Hold Me." She then talks with Shore about the influence of church music on popular jazz, and they both sing "Elijah Rock." Shore performs "(What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry" solo, then revealing that the song is from the 1920s as she dons a flapper outfit. Next is a skit in which Shore, as showgirl Kitty LaRue, performs at a speakeasy and catches the eye of a notorious gangster known as The Moose, played by Caesar. Though she is intimidated by him, she sings "My Man" (originally "Mon Homme"), and he is moved to tears. They share a dance and he spontaneously proposes to her, noting that she has "real class," but she is flustered and declares that he is too "uncouth." He attempts to remedy this by presenting her with a large diamond, but his rival Joe Heels, played by Greco, then arrives, and Kitty makes Moose swear not to start any violence. The mobsters size each other up, but Moose decides to change his life and turn himself in, allowing Joe to have his territory in order to win Kitty's heart, but Moose's men are annoyed by this and go over to Joe's side. The lights go out and a gun battle breaks out, and Kitty holds Moose and tragically sings to him as he dies. Shore reprises "Perdido" and thanks her guests, then closing out the show with her signature "See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet." Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 16, 1958 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:23
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:50379
- GENRE: Music/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music/Variety; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1956-1963
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
- TV - Promos - "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show" upcoming episode
- TV - Promos - "The Loretta Young Show"
CREDITS
- William Asher … Producer, Director
- Robert Wells … Co-Producer, Music by, Lyrics
- Dean Whitmore … Associate Producer
- Johnny Bradford … Writer
- Ray Brenner … Writer
- Leo Townsend … Writer
- W. Earl Brown … Music by, Lyrics
- Tony Charmoli … Choreographer
- Dinah Shore … Host, Performer
- Joel Aldred … Announcer
- Jose Greco … Guest, Performer
- Michael Davis … Guest, Performer
- Mahalia Jackson … Guest, Performer
- Cliff Martin … Guest, Performer
- Sid Caesar … Guest, Performer