ARMSTRONG CIRCLE THEATRE: CAROUSEL (TV)
Summary
One in this series of Armstrong Circle Theatre presentations. This musical tells the story of a love affair between a brash carnival barker and a young millworker in late-19th century Maine. The story begins as Julie Jordan and her friend Carrie attend a carnival, and barker Billy Bigelow flirts with Julie as she rides the carousel. Carrie asks Julie if she is interested in him, but she declines to elaborate, leading Julie to declare that "You're a Queer One, Julie Jordan." She then reveals that she herself is engaged to be married to a humble but hardworking fisherman, fantasizing about how her life will be "(When I Marry) Mr. Snow." Julie decides to break her boardinghouse's curfew in order to remain at the carnival with Billy after closing, even though it means she will lose her job. The carousel owner, Mrs. Mullin, scolds Billy and Julie for flirting all day, and Billy quits in protest, leaving them both out of work. Julie's boss, Mr. Bascombe, catches them talking and warns her that Billy is a cad who will end up taking her money, offering to give her another chance to keep her home and job, but she refuses and stays with Billy. She declares that she must be "careful of her character," and though she has sworn never to marry, she wonders what it would be like "If I Loved You." Billy at first says that he is not suited to settled-down married life, but they soon give in to their feelings for one another.
Some time later, Billy and Julie have married and the town, including Julie's cousin Nellie, prepares for its annual summer clambake, happy that "June is Bustin' Out All Over." Julie confides to Nellie and Carrie that Billy, still unemployed, has been staying out late with a troublemaking sailor, Jigger, and that he has hit her, also revealing that she is pregnant but has not yet told Billy. Elsewhere, the sailors prepare to "Blow High, Blow Low" and head out to sea, and Jigger tells Billy about his plan to rob Bascombe during the clambake. Billy declares that killing the man is too "dirty" for him, but Jigger points out that he badly needs money. Mrs. Mullin questions him about his tempestuous relationship with Julie and urges him to leave her and return to his carnival job, but he refuses. Carrie introduces Julie to her fiancé, Enoch, and he talks excitedly about his plans for the future and their idyllic marriage together "When The Children Are Asleep," and Julie is upset to realize that she will likely have nothing of the sort with Billy. Billy tells Julie that he will not attend the clambake, and they argue when he tells her that he will not go back to the carnival, and he strikes her in anger. He is then shocked when she reveals that she is pregnant, and he returns to the docks, musing in a long "Soliloquy" about impending fatherhood and how he will raise his son, realizing only belatedly that it may be a girl. He decides to prepare himself and acquire more money at any cost "or die."
Later, the townspeople declare that "This Was A Real Nice Clambake," and Jigger and Billy privately make plans for their robbery. Jigger tells him they must wait a year and then escape, and Billy fantasizes about heading to San Francisco with his family. Left alone, Jigger makes aggressive advances on Carrie, who refuses him, and he quickly becomes contrite, telling her she must learn to defend herself against ruffians. Mr. Snow catches them and misunderstands, quickly ending things with Carrie because she is "free, loose and lollygagging." Carrie expresses her frustration to Julie, but Julie, thinking of Billy's shortcomings, asks "What's the Use of Wond'rin'?" Jigger and Billy play cards as they wait for Bascombe, and Billy loses much of his share of the money. When Bascombe arrives, he pulls a gun on the thieves, and while Jigger escapes, Billy is caught by the police. Billy stabs himself in desperation, and Julie, returning from the clambake, rushes to his side. He admits that he "couldn't see nothin' ahead" and dies as she holds his hand, and she acknowledges his wicked ways as she wishes him peace in death. Nellie comforts her heartbroken cousin, promising to help with the baby and assuring her that "You'll Never Walk Alone." Billy passes into the afterlife and hopes to meet "The Highest Judge of All," but ends up in the "backyard" of Heaven, where an official, the Starkeeper, offers him a chance to return to Earth for a day to complete his unfinished business. Billy refuses, but the Starkeeper calls him out on mistreating his family and says that he has not done enough good yet to make it into Heaven, then revealing that Julie had a daughter and that fifteen years have passed on Earth.
Billy looks down and sees his daughter Louise with Enoch and Carrie, who married after all and had seven children and achieved great wealth and success. Louise confides to Enoch Jr. that she intends to run away and become an actress, but he vows to stop her and she lashes out angrily, and Billy notes that she has his temperament. He envisions her in a ballet, where she is torn between Enoch Jr. and her dreams for a more glamorous life in show business, and "Billy Makes a Journey" and dances with his daughter. The Starkeeper urges him to visit her, and he takes a star from the heavens down to Earth and talks to her, telling her that he knew her father. She tells him that everyone in town mocks her for being a criminal's daughter, but he assures her that her father had some good qualities too. He tries to give her the star, but she reacts fearfully and he ends up hitting her in anger. Ashamed, he hides from Julie, but Julie seems to understand when Louise tells her about the strange man whose blow felt somehow like a kiss, and she takes the star. Billy asks to see Louise's graduation from school, and the Starkeeper appears there as the town doctor, telling the students in a speech to be confident and independent from their parents' successes and failures. Everyone begins singing "You'll Never Walk Alone," and Billy finally bids farewell to his widow and daughter as they join in. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: May 7, 1967 Sunday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T77:0109
- GENRE: Musical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Musical; Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1966-1968
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Armstrong floor and ceiling products
CREDITS
- Norman Rosemont … Producer
- James Loren … Associate Producer
- Paul Bogart … Director
- Sidney Michaels … Adapted by
- Richard Rodgers … Composer
- Oscar Hammerstein II … Lyricist
- Edward Villella … Choreographer
- Robert Goulet … Cast, Billy Bigelow
- Mary Grover … Cast, Julie Jordan
- Pernell Roberts … Cast, Jigger Craigin
- Marlyn Mason … Cast, Carrie Pipperidge
- Patricia Neway … Cast, Nettie Fowler
- Charlie Ruggles … Cast, Starkeeper
- Marge Redmond … Cast, Mrs. Mullin
- Linda Howe … Cast, Louise
- Jack De Lon … Cast, Mr. Snow
- Herbert Voland … Cast, Mr. Bascombe
- Jim Boles … Cast, Sea Captain
- Skip Martin … Cast, Enoch Snow Jr.
- Danny Rees … Cast, Juggler
- Bert May … Cast, Tumbling Clown
- Don Crichton … Cast, Louise's Partner