HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS (TV)
Summary
One in this series of special presentations sponsored by Hallmark. This is Hallmark's fifth live presentation of Gian Carlo Menotti's opera, which was the first opera especially commissioned for television when Hallmark first presented it on December 24, 1951. This Christmas favorite concerns a young crippled boy named Amahl and his mother, who are visited in their home by three weary kings on their way to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Christ. Amahl and his fellow shepherds treat the kings with great respect, sharing what little food they have with them. Amahl's mother, on the other hand, is caught trying to steal gold from one of the sleeping kings so that she can better provide for her lame son. Although the kings treat her mercifully, it is Amahl who shows the greatest act of kindness. The lame boy offers his crutch as a gift for the newborn son of God. After the opera, the Columbus Boychoir of Princeton, New Jersey, sings holiday music.Includes commercials for Hallmark.
("Hallmark Hall of Fame" was broadcast on NBC from 1952 to 1978; network affiliation varies after 1978.)
(Beginning with the live telecast of the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on December 24, 1951, Hallmark has sponsored a series of dramatic specials which, since 1952, have aired under the title "Hallmark Hall of Fame." From 1952 to 1955 Hallmark also presented "Hallmark Hall of Fame," a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology series hosted by Sarah Churchill. The first broadcast, "Dr. Serocold," was aired in January 1952 under the title "Hallmark Television Theatre." This series also ran under the title "Hallmark Summer Theatre" in July and August 1952.)
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: December 19, 1954 5:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:27
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T85:0119
- GENRE: Music; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Operas; Christmas
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1951-1978
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Hallmark Cards
CREDITS
- Samuel Chotzinoff … Producer
- Charles Polacheck … Associate Producer
- Kirk Browning … Director
- Gian Carlo Menotti … Music by
- Thomas Schippers … Conductor
- Symphony of the Air … Symphony Orchestra
- Columbus Boychoir of Princeton, New Jersey … Choir/Chorus
- John Butler … Choreographer
- Bill McIver … Cast, Amahl
- Rosemary Kuhlman … Cast, the Mother
- Andrew McKinley … Cast, King Kaspar
- David Aiken … Cast, King Balthazar
- Leon Lishner … Cast, King Melchior
- Francis Monachino … Cast, the Page
- Felisa Conde … Cast, Dancer
- John Butler … Cast, Dancer
- Glen Tetley … Cast, Dancer