WESTINGHOUSE DESILU PLAYHOUSE: THE DESILU REVUE (TV)
Summary
One in this anthology series, hosted by Desi Arnaz. In this special Christmas show, Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball arrive at a Christmas party, where Hedda Hopper is researching a story on Lucy's "Desilu Workshop Theater," a showcase for the talents of young, unknown performers in dramas, comedies, musical comedies, and more. When Lucy starts to get nervous about the evening, Desi is reminded of another time at which Lucy was a bundle of nerves, and he tells Hopper the story. The program proceeds as a flashback of opening night of a show Lucy has produced, a revue for the kids from the Workshop. Desi narrates, saying that Lucy has called on practically everyone in the studio to help out with the production -- including Spring Byington, William Demarest, William Frawley, and Vivian Vance. Even Lassie appears with a delivery of flowers for Lucy. While Lucy is frantically trying to give all the kids last minute notes on what to do, she notices that the house is only half full. When she goes outside to find out what's going on, she discovers Ann Sothern signing autographs and Danny Thomas working the spotlight. While Lucy is gone, Desi tells Frawley (who is manning the stage door) that Lucy is banned from the backstage area; her nervousness is making everyone anxious. The show begins -- with Desi conducting the orchestra, George Murphy in the audience, and Lucy stuck outside. The first piece is a dance performance. Between acts, Lucy devises schemes for sneaking backstage. The kids' performances include the following original songs, among others: "Fast Freight"; "I'm Only Happy When I'm Singing the Blues" (a beatnik number); "I Still Remember"; "In Love With Paris"; "So Easy to Please"; "Whistler's Mother"; and "Summertime is Summertime" (a barbershop number going into a turn-of-the-century nostalgia piece). The show is a hit, and Lucy sheds tears of joy from her position backstage, where she has finally managed to sneak in. The flashback concludes, and the program returns to the Christmas party. The workshop kids perform one more song, "Let's Make Believe it's Christmas Eve." Cameo stars include Rory Calhoun, John Bromfield, and Bonita Granville. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: December 25, 1959 Friday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:52:19
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:04737
- GENRE: Music/Variety; Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Lucille Ball); Musical revues, comedies, etc.
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV Series, 1958-1960
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Bert Granet … Executive Producer
- Lucille Ball … Producer
- Paul Davis … Associate Producer
- Claudio Guzman … Directed by
- Bob Schiller … Writer
- Bob Weiskopf … Writer
- Walter Kent … Music by
- Walton Farrar … Music by
- Johnny Green … Theme Music by
- Desi Arnaz … Host, Cast
- Georgine Darcy … Performer
- Mark Tobin … Performer
- Majel Barret … Performer
- Howie Storm … Performer
- Johnny O'Neill … Performer
- Frances Martin … Performer
- Rob Barran … Performer
- Gary Menteer … Performer
- Dick Kallman … Performer
- Carole Cook … Performer
- Jerry Antes … Performer
- Bob Trevis … Performer
- Marilynn Lovell … Performer
- Bob Osborne … Performer
- Janice Carroll … Performer
- Roger Perry … Performer
- Lucille Ball … Cast
- Vivian Vance … Cast
- William Frawley … Cast
- Hedda Hopper … Cast
- Lita Baron … Cast
- John Bromfield … Cast
- Spring Byington … Cast
- Rory Calhoun … Cast
- William Demarest … Cast
- Bonita Granville … Cast
- George Murphy … Cast
- Ann Sothern … Cast
- Danny Thomas … Cast
- Lassie … Cast