A world of talent in this show. The 50's was the greatest decade for many reasons, one of them being many of the show business legends still around for us to enjoy. Sure wish someone would invent a time machine!
This show must have been preserved on kinescope. Definitely live TV, with the awkward music transtions between Eddie Cantor, Eddie Fisher and Connie Russell.
It is obvious from watching this that Mr. Cantor was in no condition to be hosting a live TV show so soon after having a serious heart attack. How touching it is see to see a concerned George Jessel help his long-time acquittance through to the finale when Cantor began showing signs of exhaustion. Those two men began their careers in entertainment together on the New York vaudeville circuit at the turn of the twentieth century, and I can't help but be moved in seeing the profound gratitude and respect Jessel had for his stage partner from fifty-years ago. And the camaraderie had by Jessel's guest performers seems to be genuine and heartfelt. Many showbiz luminaries of the Golden Age kept close circles with their professional peers, but those with Vaudeville heritage seemed to have a special affinity for one another that no doubt came from a shared formative experience of the drudgery, hardship, and deprivation of working smalltime circuits and being constantly bilked by greedy impresarios.
Eddie had his first heart attack right after his monthly appearance on "THE COLGATE COMEDY HOUR" on September 28, 1952. He recovered that November, but was very careful not to exert himself afterwards {Ralph Edwards honored him on "THIS IS YOUR LIFE" [December 23, 1953] by telling him in advance what he wanted to do, as he didn't want Eddie to have another heart attack by springing it as a surprise, as he usually did}. After Eddie left the "COLGATE" series in 1954, he starred in a syndicated series for Fred Ziv, "THE EDDIE CANTOR COMEDY THEATRE"- which didn't require too much effort on his part, as he mostly served as host for the comedy vignettes, and occasionally did some variety segments. After 38 episodes, however, he decided to retire from weekly television and take it easy. However, like the proverbial old "fire horse", Eddie didn't completely retire; he appeared in guest star roles, and some variety shows and specials {including this one}. After one of his five daughter's deaths in 1959, he and his wife Ida's heath slowly declined. When she died in 1962, Cantor virtually withdrew from public appearances; a second heart attack finished him off in 1964.
It's more than ironic that a man with serious heart issues like Cantor shilled for Old Gold. I assume Coca Cola must've sponsored Eddie Fisher in some way. The real gold in this clip is the montage of classic songwriters - who were fairly old already in 1957 - these folks were rarely seen on TV but are legendary. That in and of itself could have been the entire show, which Cantor alluded to.
In the early 1950's, he did a weekly half-hour "I remember when....." radio show on NBC, in which he played old records, and reminisced about his long career in show business and his fellow performers and friends. He was sponsored for a time by Philip Morris, even though he wasn't a smoker.
@@fromthesidelines Although he enjoyed a cigar on occasion, I don't think Jack Benny was a cigarette smoker, despite the long association with Lucky Strike. Cantor and Jolson liked to look back on radio as well - although I don't think of either of them as having been particularly old when they did these shows, they had been around a very long time and had done a lot, so I guess they were entitled.
You're right, Jack didn't smoke cigarettes (although American Tobacco really didn't want him to smoke cigars in public while he was on the air for Luckies).
Thank you so much for posting this rare and wonderful gem!
live TV was basically vaudeville up until the 70s, when it finally ended. this is so classic!
Wonderful, just wonderful.
What a fantastic show
A world of talent in this show. The 50's was the greatest decade for many reasons, one of them being many of the show business legends still around for us to enjoy.
Sure wish someone would invent a time machine!
This show must have been preserved on kinescope. Definitely live TV, with the awkward music transtions between Eddie Cantor, Eddie Fisher and Connie Russell.
It is obvious from watching this that Mr. Cantor was in no condition to be hosting a live TV show so soon after having a serious heart attack. How touching it is see to see a concerned George Jessel help his long-time acquittance through to the finale when Cantor began showing signs of exhaustion. Those two men began their careers in entertainment together on the New York vaudeville circuit at the turn of the twentieth century, and I can't help but be moved in seeing the profound gratitude and respect Jessel had for his stage partner from fifty-years ago. And the camaraderie had by Jessel's guest performers seems to be genuine and heartfelt. Many showbiz luminaries of the Golden Age kept close circles with their professional peers, but those with Vaudeville heritage seemed to have a special affinity for one another that no doubt came from a shared formative experience of the drudgery, hardship, and deprivation of working smalltime circuits and being constantly bilked by greedy impresarios.
Eddie had his first heart attack right after his monthly appearance on "THE COLGATE COMEDY HOUR" on September 28, 1952. He recovered that November, but was very careful not to exert himself afterwards {Ralph Edwards honored him on "THIS IS YOUR LIFE" [December 23, 1953] by telling him in advance what he wanted to do, as he didn't want Eddie to have another heart attack by springing it as a surprise, as he usually did}. After Eddie left the "COLGATE" series in 1954, he starred in a syndicated series for Fred Ziv, "THE EDDIE CANTOR COMEDY THEATRE"- which didn't require too much effort on his part, as he mostly served as host for the comedy vignettes, and occasionally did some variety segments. After 38 episodes, however, he decided to retire from weekly television and take it easy. However, like the proverbial old "fire horse", Eddie didn't completely retire; he appeared in guest star roles, and some variety shows and specials {including this one}. After one of his five daughter's deaths in 1959, he and his wife Ida's heath slowly declined. When she died in 1962, Cantor virtually withdrew from public appearances; a second heart attack finished him off in 1964.
It's more than ironic that a man with serious heart issues like Cantor shilled for Old Gold. I assume Coca Cola must've sponsored Eddie Fisher in some way. The real gold in this clip is the montage of classic songwriters - who were fairly old already in 1957 - these folks were rarely seen on TV but are legendary. That in and of itself could have been the entire show, which Cantor alluded to.
In the early 1950's, he did a weekly half-hour "I remember when....." radio show on NBC, in which he played old records, and reminisced about his long career in show business and his fellow performers and friends. He was sponsored for a time by Philip Morris, even though he wasn't a smoker.
@@fromthesidelines Although he enjoyed a cigar on occasion, I don't think Jack Benny was a cigarette smoker, despite the long association with Lucky Strike. Cantor and Jolson liked to look back on radio as well - although I don't think of either of them as having been particularly old when they did these shows, they had been around a very long time and had done a lot, so I guess they were entitled.
You're right, Jack didn't smoke cigarettes (although American Tobacco really didn't want him to smoke cigars in public while he was on the air for Luckies).
Bulova great watches wish I had one d.w.
59:18- "'THE GALE STORM SHOW' is next, on the CBS TELEVISION NETWORK."
great
Did Southern CBS affililiates opt out ?