HUNGARIAN EMERGENCY RELIEF ORGANIZATION {HERO CHRISTMAS DAY SPECIAL} (TV)
Summary
This Christmas-themed fundraising special highlights the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and the need for charitable intervention, particularly for the many refugees fleeing the Hungarian People's Republic.
Host John Daly introduces Vice-President Richard Nixon, who discusses his recent trip to the Hungary-Austria border and his encounters with the people, whose revolt against the government has exposed the "gigantic failure of Communism." Nixon comments on the 21,000 refugees who have already come to the United States and urges Americans to honor the Christmas spirit by donating to local charities. Next, Arlene Francis introduces Edie Adams and Stubby Kaye, who perform "I'm Past My Prime" from the musical "Li'l Abner," conducted by Lehmen Engel. Daly introduces Danny Thomas, who briefly jokes about his impoverished childhood and his father's role as a neighborhood "counselor" before singing "The Christmas Story," written by Pauline Walsh. Francis introduces Sammy Davis, Jr., who sings "On the Street Where You Live" from "My Fair Lady"; "Standing on the Corner" from "The Most Happy Fella"; "Too Close for Comfort" from his own show "Mr. Wonderful"; and "Long Before I Met You" from "Bells Are Ringing."
Betty Comden and Adolph Green then take the stage and sing "Inspiration," after which Francis introduces the chairman of the American Red Cross, E. Roland Harriman, who discusses the crisis and the importance of welcoming the refugees into American life. Garry Moore introduces Julie Andrews, who sings "I Could Have Danced All Night" from "My Fair Lady," conducted by Franz Allers. Next, Robert Weede, Jo Sullivan and Susan Johnson perform "Happy to Make Your Acquaintance" from "The Most Happy Fella." Mary Martin and her family then speak from the Cheshire, Connecticut home of Benjamin T. Gilliard, and Martin sings "I Washed My Hands This Morning" and "Once Upon a Time and Long Ago" with the children. Next, Moore introduces Hungarian actress Éva Szörényi and her husband István, followed by renowned opera singers Suzanna and Mihal Hontvary, who perform the Hungarian National Hymn. Finally, the Vienna Boys' Choir sings a Christmas carol, and Moore closes the evening by urging viewers to support the relief effort by giving to charity. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:38
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: 128408
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Specials; Music; Charities
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1956
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Tom Loeb … Executive Producer
- Fred Coe … Producer
- Bill Nichols … Associate Producer
- David Karp … Writer
- Lehman Engel … Conductor
- Franz Allers … Conductor
- Herbert Greene … Conductor
- John Daly … Host
- Arlene Francis … Host
- Garry Moore … Host
- Dick Dudley … Announcer
- Stubby Kaye … Performer
- Edith Adams (see also: Edie Adams) … Performer
- Charles Laughton … Performer
- Danny Thomas … Performer
- Sammy Davis Jr. … Performer
- Jule Styne … Performer
- Betty Comden … Performer
- Adolph Green … Performer
- Julie Andrews … Performer
- Robert Weede … Performer
- Jo Sullivan … Performer
- Susan Johnson … Performer
- Mary Martin … Performer
- Suzanna Hontvary … Performer
- Mihal Hontvary … Performer
- Vienna Boys' Choir, The … Performer
- Richard Nixon … Guest
- E. Roland Harriman … Guest
- Benjamin T. Gilliard … Guest
- Heller Halliday … Guest
- Richard Halliday … Guest
- Éva Szörényi … Guest
- István Örményi … Guest
- Abraham Lincoln
- Pauline Walsh