Ford Startime
(1959-60)
aka Lincoln-Mercury Startime
Sponsors The Ford Motor Company
Episode Guide compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
https://ctva.biz/index.htm
with contributions by:
Tom Alger,
Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
FORD STARTIME
Executive Producer Hubbell Robinson
NBC (Tuesdays 9:30-10:30PM ET)(60 min episodes + some 90 min specials)
US Dramatic/Variety Anthology series 1959-60 33 episodes x 60/90 min (All in Color)
(6Oct59- 31May60)
######### Ford Startime ########
####### season 1 1959-60 #######
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1.01 [01] Ford Startime: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT
06-Oct-1959 NBC Tue
Adapted by Larry Gelbart
Based on a story by Howard Teichmann
Directed by Kirk Browning
Assistant director Bob Fosse
Hosted by Rosalind Russell
starring:
Ernie Kovacs ........... Himself
Polly Bergen ........... Herself
Jack Paar .............. Himself
Kate Smith ............. Herself
Maurice Chevalier ...... Himself
Eddie Foy Jr. .......... Himself
Eddie Hodges ........... Himself
Arthur O'Connell ....... Himself
Jack Paar .............. Himself
Tommy Rall ............. Himself
Harry Sosnik ........... Himself
1.02 [02] Ford Startime: THE JAZZ SINGER
13-Oct-1959
Adapted by Oliver Crawford
Based on a story by Samson Raphaelson
Directed by Ralph Nelson
starring:
Jerry Lewis ............ Joey Rabinowitz/Joey Robbins
Anna Maria Alberghetti.. Ginny Gibbons
Eduard Franz ........... Cantor Rabinowitz
Molly Picon ............ Sarah Rabinowitz
Alan Reed .............. Ed Giddleson
Synopsis:
Joey Rabinowitz' father begs him to carry on the family tradition and
become a cantor, but Joey ignores his pleas and enters
show business as comedian Joey Robbins. [RF]
*Note: Jerry Lewis sings "Kol Nidre".
Trivia: George Jessel starred in the 1925 Broadway version of "The Jazz Singer".
Al Jolson's 1927 movie version was the first full-length film to feature talking.
1.03 [03] Ford Startime: TURN OF THE SCREW (90 min)
20Oct59 NBC Tue (9:30-11:00 PM ET)
Adapted by James Costigan
Based on the story by Henry James
Directed by John Frankenheimer
starring:
Ingrid Bergman ......... Governess
Paul Stevens ........... Peter Quint
Laurinda Barrett ....... Miss Jessel
Isobel Elsom ........... Mrs. Grose
Hayward Morse .......... Miles
Alexandra Wager ........ Flora
1.04 [04] Ford Startime: THE SECRET WORLD OF KIDS
27-Oct-1959 NBC Tue
Written by Dick Wesson & Paul Henning
Directed by Dick McDonough
Hosted by Art Linkletter
starring:
Ann Blyth .............. Herself
Angela Cartwright ...... Herself
John F. Kennedy ........ Himself
Richard Nixon .......... Himself
Vincent Price .......... Himself
Jon Provost ............ Himself
Teddy Rooney ........... Himself
Ed Wynn ................ Himself
Lassie also appeared.
1.05 [05] Ford Startime: THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW I (Color)
03-Nov-1959 NBC Tue
Written by Herbert Baker & Robert O'Brien
Directed by Jack Donovan
Hosted by Dean Martin
starring:
Mickey Rooney .......... Himself
Frank Sinatra .......... Himself
Synopsis:
Dean Martin takes over "Startime", for an hour of songs, dances and comedy.
His guests are Frank Sinatra, Mickey Rooney
and the dance team of Augie and Margo, David Rose conducts. [RF]
*
Highlights
*
Medley: "Great Day", "Hallelujah", "September Song",
"Sunny Side Up", "Fine and Dandy", "I'll Never Smile
Again", "When You're Smiling" ..... Martin, Sinatra, Rooney
"Mack the Knife" .................. Martin
"All I Need is a Girl" ............ Rooney
"I Can't Get Started" ............. Sinatra
"Dark Journey", "Port Said" ....... Augie and Margo
"Dream" (conducted by Sinatra) .... Martin
Rodgers and Hart Medley ........... Martin, Sinatra
1.06 [06] Ford Startime: THE WICKED SCHEME OF JEBAL DEEKS
10-Nov-1959 NBC Tue
Written by John D. Hess
Directed by Franklin Schaffner
starring:
Alec Guinness .......... Jebal Deeks (Emmy nomination)
Patricia Barry ......... Miss Calhoun
Charles Coburn ......... Colonel Sykes
Arthur Hughes .......... McComb
Henry Jones ............ Byrnes
Albert Linville ........ Carpouec
Woodrow Parfrey ........ Auditor
William Redfield ....... Bricklow
Bartlett Robinson ...... Elliott
Clinton Sundberg ....... Berry
Peter Turgeon .......... Auditor
Roland Winters ......... Fannington
1.07 [07] Ford Startime: GEORGE BURNS IN THE BIG TIME
17-Nov-1959 NBC Tue
Written by Mac Benoff
Directed by Dick Darley
Hosted by George Burns
starring:
Jack Benny ............. Himself
Eddie Cantor ........... Himself
Bobby Darin ............ Himself
George Jessel .......... Himself
The Kingston Trio
1.08 [08] Ford Startime: MERMAN ON BROADWAY
24-Nov-1959 NBC Tue
written by A.J. Russell & Joe Bigelow
directed by Greg Garrison
starring:
Ethel Merman ........... Herself
Tab Hunter ............. Himself
Fess Parker ............ Himself
Tom Poston ............. Himself
Bobby Sherwood ......... Himself
1.09 [09] Ford Startime: SOMETHING SPECIAL
01-Dec-1959 NBC Tue
written by Sol Saks
directed by Marc Daniels
starring:
Red Buttons ............ Joe Henders
Jack Carson ............ Albert Maddon
Jeannie Carson ......... Ruth Turner
Eli Mintz .............. Mr. Baumstein
Cliff Norton ........... Bert
Barbara Baxley ......... Hannah
1.10 [10] Ford Startime: MY THREE ANGELS (90 min)
08-Dec-1959 NBC Tue (9:00-10:30 PM ET)
Adapted by Sam & Bella Spewack
Based on their 1953 Broadway Comedy
Directed by Bretaigne Windust & Gordon Rigsby
starring:
Walter Slezak .......... Joseph
Barry Sullivan ......... Jules
George Grizzard ........ Alfred
Henry Daniell .......... Uncle Henri
Peter Donat ............ Paul
Will Kuluva ............ Papa/Felix Ducotel
Carmen Mathews ......... Maman/Emilie Ducotel
Synopsis:
Three inmates of the Devil's Island prison are allowed
to become servants in the house hold of the Ducotels, who run a store for
island personnel. With inspiration, the conscientious convicts set about
to rid the Ducotels of threatening Uncle Henri and to further the romance
of the Ducotel's daughter. [TA]
1.11 [11] Ford Startime: CINDY'S FELLA
15-Dec-1959 NBC Tue
Adapted by Jameson Brewer
Based on a story by Frank Burt
Directed by Gower Champion
starring:
James Stewart .......... Azel Dorsey
George Gobel ........... Drifter
Lois Smith ............. Cindy
James Best ............. Duke
Mary Wickes ............ Myrtle
Kathie Browne .......... Phyllis
Alice Backes ........... Esther
George Keymas .......... Zack Riney
Mark Allen ............. Swaney Rivers
Maurice Kelly .......... Bartender
Synopsis:
This "Startime" comedy-drama puts the fairy tale "Cinderella" in a Western
setting and takes a few liberties with the plot.
In a saloon brawl, Yankee trader Azel Dorsey is given a hand by the Drifter,
a guitar strumming roamer. Then the Drifter, plucking his guitar, lures Azel to the
farm of the Widow Parks and her three daughters. But Azel is no Prince Charming. [RF]
1.12 [12] Ford Startime: CHRISTMAS STARTIME
22-Dec-1959 NBC Tue
Hosted by Joseph N. Welch, also reads several verses from the Gospel According to St. Luke.
Presented by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra
starring:
Betty Allen ............ Herself
Marian Anderson ........ Herself
Leonard Bernstein ...... Himself
Charles Bressler ....... Himself
Russell Oberlin ........ Himself
Lee Venora ............. Himself
also appearing, St. Paul's Cathedral Boys' Choir of London
Synopsis:
The Philharmonic and the Schola Cantorum perform most of the Bach Magnificat.
Soloists are Lee Venora, Betty Allen, Russell Oberlin and Charles Bressler.
Miss Anderson reads related passages from St. Luke.
St. Paul's Cathedral Boys' Choir, filmed in London. Accompanied by Bernstein
at the piano, they sing carols: "O Come, All Ye Faithful", "Ding Dong Melody on High",
"What Child Is This?", "Good King Wenceslas", "The Infant King",
"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing", "The 12 Days of Christmas".
Marian Anderson sings the spirituals "Behold That Star" and "He's Got the Whole
World In His Hands" and closes the taped program with "Silent Night". [RF]
1.13 [13] Ford Startime: MEET CYD CHARISSE (60min)
29-Dec-1959 NBC Tue
Written by Irwin Graham
Directed by Jack Donohue
Choreographer Eugene Loring
Music Director Tutti Camarata
starring:
Eve Arden .............. Herself
Cyd Charisse ........... Herself
Tony Martin ............ Himself
James Mitchell ......... Himself
Synopsis:
A chorus of 20 dancers appears in the production numbers where Cyd Charisse
and her husband Tony Martin appear with James Mitchell and Eve Arden. [RF]
1.14 [14] Ford Startime: THE MAN
05-Jan-1960 NBC Tue
Adapted by James P. Cavanagh
Based on a story by Mel Dinelli
Directed by Robert Stevens
starring:
Audie Murphy ........... Howard Wilton
Thelma Ritter .......... Mrs. Gillis
Phil Adams ............. Bowling Man
Joseph Campanella ...... Repairman
William Hickey ......... Bowling Man
Renne Jarrett .......... Judy
John McGovern .......... Franks
Michael J. Pollard ..... Doug
Joseph Sullivan ........ Bartender
1.15 [15] Ford Startime: THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW II
12-Jan-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Herbert Baker & Robert O'Brien
Directed by Jack Donohue
Hosted by Dean Martin
starring:
Fabian Forte ........... Himself
Nanette Fabray ......... Herself
Carl Fortina ........... Himself
André Previn ........... Himself
1.16 [16] Ford Startime: CRIME, INC.
19-Jan-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Luther Davis
Directed by Delbert Mann
Narrated by Lloyd Nolan
starring:
Stanley Adams .......... Dale
Jan Arvan .............. Detective
Parley Baer ............ Congressional Committeeman
Harry Townes ........... Man in Court
1.17 [17] Ford Startime: THE JACK PAAR VARIETY SHOW
26-Jan-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Paul W. Keyes & Bob Howard with Jack Douglas and Richard Maury
Directed by Greg Garrison
Hosted by Jack Paar
starring:
Betty Bruce ............ Herself
Duke Hazlett ........... Himself
Jose Melis ............. Himself
Harry Minno ............ Himself
Randy Paar ............. Herself
Alice Pearce ........... Herself
Pat Suzuki ............. Herself
Jonathan Winters ....... Himself
1.18 [18] Ford Startime: THE GREATEST MAN ALIVE
02-Feb-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Tony Webster
Directed by Bretaigne Windust and Gordon Rigsby
starring:
Bert Lahr .............. Tom Hopkins
Russell Nype ........... Steve Boyle
Nancy Olson ............ Peggy Thomas
Ed Wynn ................ Amos Benedict
1.19 [19] Ford Startime: THE SWINGIN' YEARS
09-Feb-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Tom Waldman & Frank Waldman
Directed by Greg Garrison
starring:
Count Basie ............ Himself
Tex Beneke ............. Himself
Bob Crosby ............. Himself
Bob Elerby ............. Himself
Glen Gray .............. Himself
Woody Herman ........... Himself
Gene Krupa ............. Himself
Jack Leonard ........... Himself
Guy Lombardo ........... Himself
Helen O'Connell ........ Herself
Anita O'Day ............ Herself
1.20 [20] Ford Startime: CLOSED SET
16-Feb-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Gavin Lambert
Directed by Robert Stevens
starring:
Joan Fontaine .......... Julie Forbes
John Ireland ........... Cliff Harriston
Peter Lazer ............ Timmy Forbes
Agnes Moorehead ........ Carmen Lynch
Diana van der Vlis ..... Wilma Cole
Synopsis:
Movie Queen Julie Forbes is a big success, but she burns to do a picture
which is "art". She manages to obtain the services of a good director,
then discovers that their ideas clash. [RF]
1.21 [21] Ford Startime: THE TALENT SCOUTS PROGRAM
23-Feb-1960 NBC Tue
Written by George Foster
Directed by Grey Lockwood
Produced by Irving Mansfield
Orchestra conducted by Harry Sosnick
Hosted by Dave Garroway
starring:
Joan Crawford .......... Herself
Colleen Dewhurst ....... Herself
Hugh Downs ............. Himself
Ethel Merman ........... Herself
Maureen O'Hara ......... Herself
Laurie Peters .......... Herself
Richard Rodgers ........ Himself
Tommy Sands ............ Himself
Johnnie Sommers ........ Himself
Paul Wallace ........... Himself
Synopsis:
The John Lasalle vocal quartet, the dance team of Brascia
and Tybee and singers Laurie Peters, Lester James and
Joannie Sommers play along with the scouts. [RF]
*Note: Irving Mansfield who produced this show, was the creator of the
original "Talent Scouts", series which had a 10-year run with Arthur Godfrey as host. [RF]
1.22 [22] Ford Startime: JEFF MCCLEOD, THE LAST REB
01-Mar-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Douglas Hayes & William D. Gordon
Directed by Paul Nickell
starring:
Anne Francis ........... Emma
Robert Horton .......... Jeff McCleod
Ricardo Montalban ...... Turk
Marshall Thompson ...... Lieutenant Train
1.23 [--] Ford Startime: THE SWINGIN' SINGIN' YEARS
08-Mar-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Tom Waldman & Frank Waldman
Directed by Barry Shear
Hosted by Ronald Reagan
starring:
Jack Fina .............. Himself
Woody Herman ........... Himself
Eddy Howard ............ Himself
Red Ingle .............. Himself
Louis Jordan ........... Himself
Stan Kenton ............ Himself
Freddy Martin .......... Himself
Vaughn Monroe .......... Himself
Ella Mae Morse ......... Herself
Jo Stafford ............ Herself
Dinah Washington ....... Herself
Songs Included:
1. "Your Father's Moustache" by Bill Harris, Woody Herman.
2. "Cow-Cow Boogie" by Don Raye, Gene DePaul, Benny Carter.
3. "Tonight We Love" by Bobby Worth, Freddy Martin, Ray Austin; "Bumble Boogie"
by Jack Fina.
4. "The Gentleman is a Dope" by Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers.
5. "Temptation" by Arthur Freed, Nacio Herb Brown.
6. "To Each his Own" by Ray Evans, Jay Livingston.
7. "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes" by Stanley Adams, Maria Grever; "Makin'
Whoopee" by Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson.
8. "Choo Choo Ch'boogie" by Denver Darling, Vaughn Horton, Milt Gabler.
9. "Blues".
10. "There, I've Said it Again" by Redd Evans, Dave Mann.
11. "Malagueña" by Ernesto Lecuona.
Featured talent:
1. Woody Herman and orchestra.
2. Ella Mae Morse, vocal; Freddie Slack, piano.
3. Freddy Martin and orchestra, Jack Fina, piano.
4. Jo Stafford, vocal.
5. Jo Stafford, vocal; Cinderella G. Stump, vocal, violin.
6. Eddie Howard and orchestra. 7. Dinah Washington, vocal.
8. Louis Jordan.
9. Charlie Barnet and orchestra.
10. Vaughn Monroe and orchestra.
11. Stan Kenton and orchestra:- Bud Brisbois, Dalton Smith, Jack Sheldon, Rolf
Ericson, Danny Nolan,
trumpet; Archie LeCoque, Kent Larsen, Dick Nash, Jim Amlotte, Bob Knight,
trombone; Lennie Niehaus,
alto sax; Ronnie Rubin, Jay Migliori, tenor sax; Jack Nimitz, Marvin Holladay,
baritone sax; Stan Kenton,
piano; Pete Chivily, acoustic double bass; Stan Levey, drums; Mike Pacheco,
percussion.
12. Featured personnel of the studio orchestra, collectively:- John Best, Conte
Candoli, Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist,
Conrad Gozzo, Ray Linn, Gerald Wilson, Jack Sheldon, Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard,
Murray McEachern, Dick Nash,
George Washington, Dick Noel, Gus Bivona, Skeets Herfurt, Bill Hood, Matty
Matlock, Eddie Miller, Lennie Niehaus,
Babe Russin, Willie Schwartz, Zeke Zarchy, Billy Usselton, Bill Perkins, Jimmy
Rowles, Gerry Wiggins, Harry Babasin,
Rolly Bundock, Irv Cottler, Jack Sperling. [RF]
1.24 [24] Ford Startime: ACADEMY AWARD SONGS
15-Mar-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Mac Benoff
Directed by Greg Garrison
starring:
Nat 'King' Cole ........ Himself
Elsa Lanchester ........ Herself
Charles Laughton ....... Himself
Tex Ritter ............. Himself
Kay Starr .............. Herself
Jane Wyman ............. Herself
1.25 [25] Ford Startime: DEAR ARTHUR
22-Mar-1960 NBC Tue
Adapted by Gore Vidal
Based on a story by Ferenc Molnár and P.G. Wodehouse
Directed by Bretaigne Windust & Gordon Rigsby
starring:
Rex Harrison ........... Arthur (a rare TV appearance)
Hermione Baddeley....... Emerald Dane
Robert Dryden .......... Lawyer
Olga Fabian ............ Julie
John Garson ............ Ribaud
Rex Harrison ........... Fred Cortin
Sarah Marshall ......... Edith Brooks
Nicholas Pryor ......... Robert Griffiths
Guy Repp ............... Secretary of State
Gaby Rodgers ........... Woman
1.26 [26] Ford Startime: THE YOUNG JUGGLER
29-Mar-1960 NBC Tue
Adapted by Joseph Stefano
Based on a story by Anatole France
Directed by Ted Post
starring:
Tony Curtis ............ Juggler
Patricia Medina ........ Gentlewoman
Nehemiah Persoff ....... Prior Andry
Heather Ames ........... Young Girl
Robert Carricart ....... Brother Franc
Elisha Cook Jr. ........ Trick
Bert Freed ............. Couver
Harvey Johnson ......... Brother Roger
Charles Morton ......... Wine Merchant
Wanda Shannon .......... Dancer
1.27 [27] Ford Startime: INCIDENT AT A CORNER
05-Apr-1960
Written by Charlotte Armstrong
Based on a story by Charlotte Armstrong
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
starring:
Vera Miles ............. Jean Medwick
George Peppard ......... Pat Lawrence
Jack Albertson ......... Harry
Charity Grace .......... Elsa Medwick
Paul Hartman ........... James Medwick
Alice Backes ........... Aunt Pauline
Jerry Paris ............ Grimes
Leslie Barrett ......... Batle
Barbara Beaird ......... Mary Jane
Warren Berlinger ....... Ron Tawley
Leora Dana ............. Mrs. Tawley
Joe Flynn .............. Sidney Sinden
Mary Alan Hokanson ..... Mrs. Parker
Wendell Holmes ......... Rigsby
Hollis Irving .......... Mrs. Sidney
Eve McVeagh ............ Georgia
Tyler McVey ............ Chief Taylor
Philip Ober ............ Malcolm Tawley
Bob Sweeney ............ Uncle Jeffrey
1.28 [28] Ford Startime: WELL, WHAT ABOUT YOU?
19-Apr-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Dore Schary
Directed by Greg Garrison
Hosted by Eddie Albert
starring:
Marian Anderson ........ Herself
Polly Bergen ........... Herself
Paul Butler ............ Himself
John F. Kennedy ........ Himself
Thurston B. Morton ..... Himself
Richard Nixon .......... Himself
Nelson Rockefeller ..... Himself
Adlai Stevenson ........ Himself
Mike Wallace ........... Himself
Fred Clark
Martin Gabel
1.29 [29] Ford Startime: SOLDIERS IN GREASEPAINT
26-Apr-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Joe Bigelow
Directed by Grey Lockwood
Hosted by Bob Crosby
starring:
Don Adams .............. Himself
Jane Morgan ............ Herself
1.30 [30] Ford Startime: FUN FAIR
03-May-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Jean Meegan and Robert J. Hilliard
Directed by Gordon Rigsby
starring:
Cliff Arquette ......... Himself
Carl Ballantine ........ Himself (as The Amazing Mr. Ballantine)
Hermione Gingold ....... Herself
Margaret Hamilton ...... Herself
Celeste Holm ........... Herself
Marion Marlowe ......... Herself
Jaye P. Morgan ......... Herself
Peter Palmer ........... Himself
1.31 [31] Ford Startime: TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD MEETS KING ARTHUR
10-May-1960 NBC Tue
Adapted by Roland Kibbee
Based on the story by Mark Twain
Directed by Lee J. Cobb
starring:
Tennessee Ernie Ford ... Himself
Carl Ballantine ........ Merlin (as The Amazing Mr. Ballantine)
Alan Mowbray ........... King Arthur
Vincent Price .......... Sir Boris
John Dehner ............ Commentator
Robert Emhardt ......... Professor
Addison Richards ....... Doctor
Alan Young ............. Clarence
1.32 [32] Ford Startime: THE MITCH MILLER VARIETY SHOW
(aka Sing Along With Mitch Miller)
24-May-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Gordon Cotler
Directed by Bill Hobin
Hosted by Mitch Miller
starring:
Diana Trask ............ Herself
Leslie Uggams .......... Herself
1.33 [33] Ford Startime: THE NANETTE FABRAY SHOW
(aka So Help Me, Aphrodite)
31-May-1960 NBC Tue
Written by Danny Arnold
Music by Jack Brooks
Lyrics by Danny Arnold & Jack Brooks
Directed by Bob Henry
starring:
Jean-Pierre Aumont ..... Louis
Nanette Fabray ......... Sally
Stubby Kaye ............ Joe
Peter Leeds ............ Charlie
Tony Randall ........... Ernest
Robert Strauss ......... Frank
######### Unknowns ##########
#############################
[--] Ford Startime: (title unknown)
airdate not known
starring
Irene Dunne ............ Maria Clark
Gene Barry ............. Bill Hannagin
[--] Ford Startime: DECEPTION
airdate not known
starring
Sylvia Sidney .......... Laura Blake
John Howard ............ Paul Blake
[--] Ford Startime: SUNDAY MORN
airdate not known
starring
Brian Keith ............ Mano
Marilyn Maxwell ........ Sally Carter
######### Ford Startime #########
########### the end ############
##############################
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