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FORD STARTIME: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT (TV)

Summary

The premiere of this anthology series of dramatic presentations and musical variety specials. Rosalind Russell hosts this variety revue, which takes an affectionate look at the changes in the entertainment industry during the past century.

The cavalcade begins with the year 1927 as Russell dons period costumes on stage via sped-up footage. Highlights of this segment on the 1920s include: clips of a silent movie chase and a love scene between Greta Garbo and John Gilbert is shown; Polly Bergen, Eddie Foy, and Eddie Hodges perform a soft-shoe rendition of "Ain't We Got Fun?"; the effect of the talkies is examined; a segment on radio features a simulated gangster program that utilizes sound effects, and dramatic moments of radio broadcasting such as the news report of the Hindenberg crash, advertisements, and crooners, which segues into Kate Smith singing "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain"; and Bergen, Foy, and Hodges join Smith for a medley of songs written between 1927 and 1936 including "Those Little White Lies" (Smith), "Moanin' Low" (Bergen), "Makin' Whoopee!" (Foy), "Anything Goes" (Bergen) and "Get Happy."

In the next segment, which focuses on the Depression era, Russell first traces the popularity of the Western from the silent era, and then Tommy Rall dances a comedic ballet about the "Streets of Laredo" (00:22:58), choreographed by Bob Fosse; Russell then spoofs the screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s and the "Boss Lady" career woman character she portrayed in numerous films -- and Ernie Kovacs plays the war correspondent with whom she falls in love. Next, Smith hosts a segment on romantic, sentimental pop songs of the 1940s, sung by Bergen, Foy, and Hodges, including "This Is the Army, Mr. Jones," "A Foggy Day in London Town," and a Boogie Woogie dance number, followed by Smith's signature song, "God Bless America."

The next segment examines wartime entertainment, with brief clips of Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and Al Jolson performing for the troops; Jack Paar then offers samples of the service humor that transformed him from a newcomer into an established comedian in his own right. Paar narrates the post-war entertainment section, listing the names of the era's new playwrights, and to illustrate this dramatic renaissance, Rosalind Russell and Arthur O'Connell recreate their acclaimed scene from William Inge's 1950s drama "Picnic"; then, Kate Smith introduces a medley of 1950s hit parade songs from Broadway shows, Hollywood, and the emerging rock 'n' roll sound, including "Getting to Know You" (with Eddie Hodges), "The Party's Over" (Polly Bergen), "Standing on the Corner" (Eddie Foy), "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" (Smith), "Hound Dog," "Mutual Admiration Society" (Smith, Bergen, Foy, Hodges), and "76 Trombones."

Next, in a segment the history of television, Kovacs describes how, in the 1950s, Hollywood was shaken to its foundation by a new "piece of talking furniture." Kovacs examines television as a means of witnessing history in the making, the effect of the quiz show scandals, and television's ability to create a national celebrity overnight, illustrated by Bergen singing "Why Was I Born?" from "The Helen Morgan Story"; Kovacs then performs a dialogue with an image of himself on a small television screen. Finally, Russell introduces Maurice Chevalier as an entertainer of timeless popularity; Chevalier reveals his age as seventy-two and sings "You Made Me Love You" in a variety of styles, offers his own version of "Yankee Doodle Dandy," and performs "Let Me Entertain You," assisted by Fosse's dancers in white gloves and black hats. Rosalind Russell concludes with comments about critics and the risky challenge entertainers accept to make the audience laugh or cry. She then introduces the following "risk-takers" that the Ford Motor Company has assembled to appear in upcoming "Ford Startime" presentations: Jerry Lewis who will star in "The Jazz Singer," Ingrid Bergman who will be making her television debut in "The Turn of the Screw," Art Linketter, and Dean Martin, and mentions the stars of future program. The dancers reprise "Let Me Entertain You" as the cast drives up in Fords. Includes commercials. This program contains minor technical problems. This represents the best copy of this program currently available to The Paley Center for Media.

Details

  • NETWORK: NBC
  • DATE: October 6, 1959 Tuesday 9:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:22:18
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:44890
  • GENRE: Variety; Music
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Dance; Music, popular (songs, etc.); Women's Collection - Music
  • SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1959-1960
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - 1960 Ford Country Sedan
    • TV - Commercials - 1960 Ford Galaxy
    • TV - Commercials - 1960 Ford Starliner
    • TV - Commercials - 1960 Ford Thunderbird
    • TV - Commercials - Ford Falcon
    • TV - Commercials - Ford Motor Company
    • TV - Promos - "Ben Hur" (feature film)(voice-over only)
    • TV - Promos - "Ford Show with Tennessee Ernie Ford" (voice-over only)
    • TV - Promos - "Ford Startime: The Jazz Singer"
    • TV - Promos - "Ford Startime: The Turn of the Screw"
    • TV - Promos - "Wagon Train" (voice-over only)

CREDITS

  • Hubbell Robinson … Executive Producer
  • Jess Oppenheimer … Producer
  • James Elson … Associate Producer
  • Bob Fosse … Director, Choreographer, Staged and choreographed by
  • Kirk Browning … Director
  • Hal Venho … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director
  • Dore Schary … Creative Consultant
  • Larry Gelbart … Writer
  • Howard Teichman … From a concept by
  • Harry Sosnik … Composer, Conductor, Music composed and conducted by
  • Roger Adams … Music (Misc. Credits), Dance arrangements by
  • Fred Werner … Music (Misc. Credits), Dance arrangements by
  • Hershy Kay … Music (Misc. Credits), Orchestrations
  • Dave Terry … Music (Misc. Credits), Orchestrations
  • Bill Stegmeyer … Music (Misc. Credits), Orchestrations
  • Rosalind Russell … Host, Performer, Singer
  • Polly Bergen … Performer, Singer
  • Maurice Chevalier … Performer, Singer
  • Eddie Foy … Performer, Singer
  • Eddie Hodges … Performer, Singer
  • Ernie Kovacs … Performer
  • Arthur O'Connell … Performer
  • Jack Paar … Performer
  • Kate Smith … Performer, Singer
  • Tommy Rall … Performer, Dancer, "Streets of Laredo" ballet
  • Shirley Mitchell … Performer, Dancer, "Streets of Laredo" ballet
  • Mort Marshall
  • Mason Adams
  • Jack Benny
  • Gilbert Mack