TOAST OF THE TOWN: THE BEATRICE LILLIE STORY (TV)
Summary
One in this series of variety programs presided over by Ed Sullivan. This special program feature "The Beatrice Lillie Story," a portrait of "the number one comedienne of international stage" showcasing several of her signature comedy sketches from the stage. Sullivan first gives a brief account of Beatrice's Lillie's life story from her birth in Toronto, Canada, to her Broadway debut in 1924. He praises her for never having "resorted to off-color material to win a laugh" and cites her many decorations for entertaining the troops during World War II. He then introduces the antic comedienne who claims that she cannot stay to perform in her life story as she is going to see "Hamlet." Highlights of the program include: in a comedy sketch written by Moss Hart for "The Show Is On," Reginald Gardiner portrays a temperamental Sir Laurence Olivier whose New York debut as Hamlet is ruined by a disruptive member of the audience (Lillie); songwriters Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz are introduced from the audience and Lillie conducts Les Compagnons De La Chanson in a performance of the Dietz and Schwartz song "Come, Oh Come to Pittsburgh" from "Inside U.S.A."; the French group then sings a French song followed by their rendition of "Three Little Bells"; Lillie recreates her famous tongue-twister skit from "At Home Aboard" in which she attempts to buy "two dozen double damask dinner napkins" from Reginald Gardiner in a department store; and Lillie appears as a chatterbox friend who unleashes a barage of catty criticism to a star (played by Constance Carpenter) backstage after her opening night on Broadway. From the audience, Sullivan introduces two typical women from the Army Nurses Corps. The program closes with Lillie's imitation of a concert diva singing "There Are Fairies at the Bottom of Our Garden." Includes commercials.
(Series title varies; as above, 1948-1955; as "The Ed Sullivan Show," 1955-1971.)
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: February 3, 1952 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:43
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T76:0042
- GENRE: Variety; Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Biography; Comedy; Music, popular (songs, etc.); Musical revues, comedies, etc.
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1948-1955
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Lincoln Mercury automobile dealers
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- TV - Promos - "Toast of the Town {Audrey Hepburn}"
CREDITS
- Marlo Lewis … Producer
- Ed Sullivan … Producer, Host
- John Wray … Director, Choreographer
- Ray Bloch … Orchestra leader
- Compagnons De La Chanson, Les … Music Group
- Reginald Gardiner … Cast, Sir Laurence Olivier
- Beatrice Lillie … Cast
- Constance Carpenter … Cast