ADLAI STEVENSON CAMPAIGN RALLY, 1952 {EXCERPT}
(TV)
Summary
An excerpt from rally in support of 1952 Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson, broadcast live from New York City's Madison Square Garden. Actress Lauren Bacall, who identifies herself as a "volunteer for Stevenson," introduces actor Robert Ryan, whose entrance is accompanied by the campaign ditty "Stevenson for President" to the tune of "Wintergreen for President" from the musical "Of Thee I Sing." Kenny Delmar and George Hall warble anti-Eisenhower lyrics to an aria from "Carmen." Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein take the stage to announce their support for Stevenson. Cartoonist Al Capp suggests that Eisenhower's basic decency has been co-opted by an unspecified "gang." Channing Tobias praises Stevenson's position on civil rights. Mercedes McCambridge introduces Lew Parker and Al Kelly, who perform a short anti-Eisenhower skit. Actor Montgomery Clift suggests that "if you want to live like a Republican, vote Democratic." Actress Tallulah Bankhead professes to love everything Stevenson stands for. Louis Calhern reads a vituperative statement from Sen. Wayne Morse (R-Ore.), disassociating himself from the Eisenhower candidacy and linking the kindly general to "evil, reactionary forces." Singer Benay Venuta wails "It Ain't Necessarily So" from "Porgy and Bess" with new lyrics trashing Eisenhower. A grumpy-looking Humphrey Bogart makes fun of his gangster screen persona before introducing poet Carl Sandburg, who praises Stevenson with purple prose and dubs him "a great and a consecrated man." Vaudevillian George Jessel peppers his commentary with a stinging reference to "Joseph Goebbels -- er -- McCarthy." James A. Farley quotes Catholic bishops' remarks against distortion and lies in political campaigns. This tape ends abruptly. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: WABD-TV
- DATE: October 29, 1952
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:55
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T85:0511
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music, popular (songs, etc.); Political rallies; Political satire
- SERIES RUN: WABD (New York, NY) - TV, 1952
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Yes tissues
CREDITS
- Benay Venuta … Singer
- Lew Parker … Performer
- Al Kelly … Performer
- Robert Ryan … Speaker
- Lauren Bacall … Speaker
- Tallulah Bankhead … Speaker
- Humphrey Bogart … Speaker
- Louis Calhern … Speaker
- Al Capp … Speaker
- Montgomery Clift … Speaker
- Kenny Delmar … Speaker
- James A. Farley … Speaker
- George Hall … Speaker
- Hammerstein, Oscar, II … Speaker
- George Jessel … Speaker
- Mercedes McCambridge … Speaker
- Richard Rodgers … Speaker
- Carl Sandburg … Speaker
- Channing Tobias … Speaker
- Adlai Stevenson