Time For A Rare TV Treat

Here's a kinescope of the June 3, 1950 DuMont Network telecast of Cavalcade of Stars, hosted at the time by comedian Jerry Lester (who left the show and network shortly thereafter to become one of the headliners on NBC's Broadway Open House; he would be replaced by Jackie Gleason).



Among Jerry's guests that night, which marked the series' one-year anniversary, were actors John Garfield, Kim Stanley, and Jane Pickens, as well as ventriloquist Paul Winchell (and his sidekick Jerry Mahoney).  Don Russell, who was a DuMont staff announcer, appeared as a pharmacist for the show's producers, Drugstore Television Productions (representing several regional drug-store chains).

Enjoy!

Here's Something You Don't See Every Day..

Here's a kinescope from the May 20, 1950 DuMont Network telecast of Cavalcade of Stars, starring Jerry Lester, who would soon go on to become one of the hosts of NBC's pioneering late-night comedy-variety showcase Broadway Open House, a forerunner to The Tonight Show.  Baseball legend Jackie Robinson, singer Mindy Carson, and dancer Lucienne Boyer were among Jerry's guests that night.  He would soon be replaced by the star of a recently failed NBC filmed sitcom adaptation of the successful radio series, The Life of Riley.  A feller named Jackie Gleason.

Time For Really Early TV

Here is, I believe, a kinescope of the April 22, 1949 telecast of the Admiral Broadway Revue, which aired simultaneously over the NBC and DuMont networks.  It was a forerunner of the more successful and classic Your Show of Shows which began airing on NBC in 1950.  The show starred Sid Caesar with Mary McCarty, Imogene Coca, and Marge and Gower Champion.  Produced by directed by Max Liebman, who later produced and directed YSOS.

Stand By, Video Rangers

Time for an early 1950s episode of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, which aired over the old DuMont Television Network.  This telecast included commercials for Post Sugar Crisp, with the show sponsored by General Foods.  Al Hodge starred as the Captain, with Don Hastings (of future As The World Turns fame as Dr. Bob Hughes) as the seemingly always nameless Video Ranger.

After You Eat Your Cereal...

Don't forget to brush your teeth with Phillips Milk of Magnesia Toothpaste.  This 1950 live commercial which aired on Okay, Mother, which aired on the old DuMont Network, features Dennis James and Julia Meade.