Live TV--Microphone didn't get over her on cue. So what--"the show must go on" and it did. Absolutely wonderful entertainment. Couldn't be replicated today. Thanks for posting these.
Glad you're enjoying them! Live TV certainly had its hazards---and the show had to go on. One of my favorite examples: On YSOS, Sid got clocked on the chin with a bale of newspapers and had to get through the sketch blotting the blood with the back of his hand. Imogene was wonderful in ignoring it all. --kjh
This show was so successful at boosting demand for Admiral TV's that it was cancelled after about 6 months. Admiral put the money into new factories because they couldn't even come CLOSE to meeting demand for sets! Caesar said it was the only time a show was cancelled because it was too successful. Hail Caesar.
Thank you for providing one! Glad you're enjoying the videos. The ABR ones are an interesting mix. Although the ABR was in many ways Your Show of Shows in embryo, the sketches (at least most of them) are not up to the YSOS par, yet Sid tended to hit his monologues out of the box from the outset. --kjh
It's definitely of lower quality than YSOS. But does YSOS do the musical numbers, too? And some of the other vaudevilley stuff? I guess they were still working out the format of this kind of tv program. Or any tv program. (this show also lacks Reiner - at least in the two eps I have seen) Caesar and Coca are already terrific, though. The Champions are a nice cute young (gentile?) couple, which may have seemed important for marketing in 1949.
YSOS kept the variety/revue format (song and dance numbers, etc.--they had a kind of stock company in that regard), although it wasn't as rigid. (You don't see very much of it in the videos that are currently available, but Sid and Imogene also did a few song and dance numbers together.) And, of course (and thank heaven), there was a greater emphasis on comedy: the Hickenloopers appear early on, as do the parodies of films and film genres. Carl Reiner (best Second Banana ever) didn't join YSOS until its first full season in the Fall of 1950. --kjh
"YSOS kept the variety/revue format (song and dance numbers, etc.--they had a kind of stock company in that regard), although it wasn't as rigid. (You don't see very much of it in the videos that are currently available, but Sid and Imogene also did a few song and dance numbers together.) And, of course (and thank heaven), there was a greater emphasis on comedy: the Hickenloopers appear early on, as do the parodies of films and film genres. Carl Reiner (best Second Banana ever) didn't join YSOS until its first full season in the Fall of 1950. --kjh"
According to Wikipedia, this may have only been show #2. Really virtually the beginning. Caesar claims he didn't allow the use of cue cards so that the eye contact was more real. Not sure I believe that, but the acting here plays far truer than SNL's sketches where the actors stare past each other for most of the sketch. He also claimed the entire production budget was $64,000 per week, a fortune at the time, given especially how few people saw the show. But the groundwork was laid for bigger audiences shortly to come. Admiral, Dumont, and NBC all knew what they were doing.
The more I watch of this video and the others, the more astounded I am at the assembly of real talent on those shows. Bobby Van wasn't Rich Little with impressions. Bobby Van was a talented dancer and singer. You say these recordings are "invaluable"? I disagree. I believe they are a priceless reminder of a time that will never be duplicated. Sad, but true.
![Admiral Broadway Revue: Complete Show (Feb 11, 1949) [Sid Caesar's first TV series - RARE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fslWj2YmgVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Admiral Broadway Revue: Complete Show (Feb 11, 1949) [Sid Caesar's first TV series - RARE]](/img/tr.png)
![Admiral Broadway Revue: Complete Show (Mar 4, 1949) [Sid Caesar's first TV series - RARE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/L-hEhz__XXI/mqdefault.jpg)
According to the Paley Center, this episode is actually from February 11, 1949.
Fascinating to see the early work of the stars.
Live TV--Microphone didn't get over her on cue. So what--"the show must go on" and it did. Absolutely wonderful entertainment. Couldn't be replicated today. Thanks for posting these.
Glad you're enjoying them! Live TV certainly had its hazards---and the show had to go on. One of my favorite examples: On YSOS, Sid got clocked on the chin with a bale of newspapers and had to get through the sketch blotting the blood with the back of his hand. Imogene was wonderful in ignoring it all. --kjh
Thank you for sharing. History can be fun.
This show was so successful at boosting demand for Admiral TV's that it was cancelled after about 6 months. Admiral put the money into new factories because they couldn't even come CLOSE to meeting demand for sets! Caesar said it was the only time a show was cancelled because it was too successful. Hail Caesar.
This lonely video needs a comment. It's funny that other videos on the same playlist have lots of discussion. :-)
Thanks for the priceless uploads!
Thank you for providing one! Glad you're enjoying the videos. The ABR ones are an interesting mix. Although the ABR was in many ways Your Show of Shows in embryo, the sketches (at least most of them) are not up to the YSOS par, yet Sid tended to hit his monologues out of the box from the outset. --kjh
It's definitely of lower quality than YSOS. But does YSOS do the musical numbers, too? And some of the other vaudevilley stuff?
I guess they were still working out the format of this kind of tv program. Or any tv program. (this show also lacks Reiner - at least in the two eps I have seen)
Caesar and Coca are already terrific, though.
The Champions are a nice cute young (gentile?) couple, which may have seemed important for marketing in 1949.
YSOS kept the variety/revue format (song and dance numbers, etc.--they had a kind of stock company in that regard), although it wasn't as rigid. (You don't see very much of it in the videos that are currently available, but Sid and Imogene also did a few song and dance numbers together.) And, of course (and thank heaven), there was a greater emphasis on comedy: the Hickenloopers appear early on, as do the parodies of films and film genres. Carl Reiner (best Second Banana ever) didn't join YSOS until its first full season in the Fall of 1950. --kjh
Hmm. I could have sworn I replied to this, but it seems to have disappeared. UA-cam. Did you get anything?
"YSOS kept the variety/revue format (song and dance numbers, etc.--they had a kind of stock company in that regard), although it wasn't as rigid. (You don't see very much of it in the videos that are currently available, but Sid and Imogene also did a few song and dance numbers together.) And, of course (and thank heaven), there was a greater emphasis on comedy: the Hickenloopers appear early on, as do the parodies of films and film genres. Carl Reiner (best Second Banana ever) didn't join YSOS until its first full season in the Fall of 1950. --kjh"
According to Wikipedia, this may have only been show #2. Really virtually the beginning. Caesar claims he didn't allow the use of cue cards so that the eye contact was more real. Not sure I believe that, but the acting here plays far truer than SNL's sketches where the actors stare past each other for most of the sketch. He also claimed the entire production budget was $64,000 per week, a fortune at the time, given especially how few people saw the show. But the groundwork was laid for bigger audiences shortly to come. Admiral, Dumont, and NBC all knew what they were doing.
Wow. Marge and Gower Champion!
The more I watch of this video and the others, the more astounded I am at the assembly of real talent on those shows. Bobby Van wasn't Rich Little with impressions. Bobby Van was a talented dancer and singer. You say these recordings are "invaluable"? I disagree. I believe they are a priceless reminder of a time that will never be duplicated. Sad, but true.
You would never get this kind of talent live, over the number of years of the Revue, Your Show of Shows, and Caesar's Hour, I agree! --kjh
Bobby Van--wow! Never heard of him before, just great!
I don't know who the announcer was but I'm pretty sure he was the announcer for a radio show too, maybe the Jack Benny show,
Notice the absolute minimal use of technology of any kind.
Where is Ed Sullivan when we need him? Plenty of action for your typical 1949 12" screen!
Be nice if this was the 30"s or earlier