SWIFT SHOW, THE {LANNY ROSS, MILTON BERLE, KURT
WEILL, MARTHA WRIGHT, TOMMY RALL} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of musical/variety programs starring singer Lanny Ross. The program opens with Ross singing "About a Quarter to Nine." First, Ross speaks with a little boy in pajamas who is running away from home because his mother wants him to go to bed; to illustrate the magic that can be found in bed, the Rudells acrobatic troupe performs a jumping routine on a trampoline bed. Other highlights include the following: Martha Wright sings "In the Still of the Night"; the chorus sings "We're Headed for Broadway"; Ross drops by the studio of Broadway composer Kurt Weill and sings Weill's "September Song" as the composer accompanies him on the piano; Weill compliments Ross on his interpretation of the song and mentions his latest project, "Lost in the Stars," a musical dramatization of the novel, "Cry the Beloved Country"; Wright joins them and sings a duet with Ross, "Here I'll Stay," from Weill's current Broadway musical, "Love Life"; Weill talks about his fascination with and love for New York; and dancers Tommy Rall, Joan Mann, and Morty Marshall perform a mime and dance about the automat. Next, Lanny Ross toasts the first anniversary of "The Swift Show" and the following celebrities join him: NBC stars Bob Smith from "The Howdy Doody Show"; Kyle MacDonnell and Earl Wrightson, from "Girl About Town," who sing "You Made Us Love You"; and host of "Texaco Star Theater" Milton Berle, who makes a surprise visit dressed as a waiter carrying a birthday cake. Berle offers to sell Ross jokes and attempts to illustrate various types of comedy, but instead gets a cake in his face. The program concludes with Berle and Ross singing, "You Made Us Love You." Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: March 31, 1949 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:29:36
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:53103
- GENRE: Music/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Acrobatics; Music, popular (songs, etc.)
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1948-1949
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Swift's Peanut Butter
CREDITS
- Duddy, Lyn, Chorus, The … Choir/Chorus
- Simeone, Harry, and His Swift Orchestra … Music Group
- Lanny Ross … Host, Performer, Singer
- Kurt Weill … Performer, Instrumentalist, Pianist
- Martha Wright … Performer, Singer
- The Rudells … Performer, Acrobats
- Joan Mann … Performer, Dancer
- Tommy Rall … Performer, Dancer
- Morty Marshall … Performer, Dancer
- Martha Logan … Talent, Swift peanut butter commercial
- Milton Berle
- Kyle MacDonnell
- Smith, Bob (See also: Smith, "Buffalo" Bob)
- Earl Wrightson