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STEVE ALLEN SHOW, THE {GLORIA SWANSON, TONY BENNETT, CHARLIE RUGGLES, XAVIER CUGAT} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of comedy/variety programs hosted by Steve Allen. Allen opens the program with his own mock awards ceremony, presenting the following guests with awards: Gloria Swanson in recognition of the clothing she has designed for herself; Charlie Ruggles for his autobiography, "I'll Laugh Tomorrow"; Tony Bennett for selling over twenty million records this year; Jack E. Leonard for losing over two hundred pounds; and Xavier Cugat and his wife Abbe Lane for being named snow king and queen of a Vermont College. Next, Tony Bennett sings "Taking a Chance on Love"; comedian Jack E. Leonard performs a stand-up routine of mostly insult humor and dances around the stage; Gloria Swanson stars as silent screen star Norma Desmond in a production number -- "Those Wonderful People Out There in the Dark" -- from her forthcoming musical stage version of "Sunset Boulevard" written by Dick Hughes and Richard Stapely (Hughes portrays Desmond's chauffeur/director Max who helps the star imagine her first day back on the set in this excerpt); in the Man in the Street interview, Allen questions Louis Nye, Don Knotts, and Tom Poston about their views on the current jurisdictional dispute between two television groups -- the Radio and Television Directors Guild and the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET); Tony Bennett sings "I Never Felt More Like Falling in Love" accompanied by Allen on the piano; in a sketch, Charlie Ruggles, as noted child psychologist "Dr. Charles Spoof," answers Allen's queries about child rearing; Allen introduces the "King and Queen of the Latin Beat" Xavier Cugat and Abbe Lane as the program's fan-mail favorite guests; Cugat leads the band while dancers perform; Abbe Lane sings "Hernando's Hideaway"; in a commercial, Allen takes a Polaroid photo of Abbe Lane; and Allen plays a latin-rhythm number on the piano. Includes commercials, promos, and public service announcements. (This is a black-and-white copy of a color telecast.)

("The Steve Allen Show" was telecast on NBC from 1956-1959. Retitled "The Steve Allen Plymouth Show," it ran on NBC from 1959-1960.)

(Network affiliation varies. As "The Steve Allen Show," this program also aired on CBS from 1950-1952 and as "The New Steve Allen Show" on ABC in 1961.)

Details

  • NETWORK: NBC
  • DATE: November 10, 1957 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:59:23
  • COLOR/B&W: B&W
  • CATALOG ID: T:03008
  • GENRE: Variety
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Music, popular (songs, etc.)
  • SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1956-1960; ABC - 1961; Syndication - 1962-1964
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - Johnson's Pride
    • TV - Commercials - Johnson's Wax
    • TV - Commercials - Johnson's Wax Convertible floor cleaning and waxing machine
    • TV - Commercials - Johnson's Wax Glade air freshener
    • TV - Commercials - Johnson's Wax Glo-Coat floor wax
    • TV - Commercials - Polaroid Land cameras
    • TV - PSA - Foster Parents' Plan
    • TV - Promos - "Holiday in Las Vegas" (voice only)
    • TV - Promos - "The Steve Allen Show"
    • TV - Promos - "The Tony Martin Show" (Steve Allen mentions)

CREDITS

  • Jules L. Green … Executive Producer
  • William O. Harbach … Producer
  • Nick Vanoff … Associate Producer
  • James Elson … Production (Misc.), Assistant Producer
  • Dwight A. Hemion … Director
  • Virginia Dunning … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director
  • Leonard Stern … Comedy production and writing supervision by
  • Stan Burns … Writer
  • Herb Sargent … Writer
  • Bill Dana … Writer
  • Don Hinkley … Writer
  • Hal Goodman … Writer
  • Larry Klein … Writer
  • Claire Rosenstein … Feature Writer
  • Skitch Henderson … Conductor
  • Felisa Conde … Choreographer
  • Steve Allen … Host, Talent, Johnson's Wax Convertible floor cleaning and waxing machine commercial, Johnson's Wax Glade air freshener commercial, Johnson's Wax Glo-Coat floor wax commercial, Polaroid Land cameras commercial, "The Steve Allen Show" promo
  • Gloria Swanson … Performer
  • Tony Bennett … Performer
  • Charlie Ruggles … Performer
  • Jack E. Leonard … Performer
  • Xavier Cugat … Performer, Conductor
  • Abbe Lane … Performer, Singer
  • Louis Nye … Cast, Gordon Hathaway
  • Tom Poston … Cast, the Man Who Can't Remember His Name
  • Don Knotts … Cast, Mr. Morrison
  • Robbie Palmer … Cast, Miss Coming Attraction book
  • Gene Rayburn