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Season 6 (NBC) (1963-64)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox
references:
TV Guide / Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive

 ############ The Bell Telephone Hour #########
############## season 6 1963-64 ##############
##############################################
NBC Tuesdays 10:00-11:00pm ET
Shared this time slot with "The Andy Williams Show" (season 2)

6.01 [55] SHOW #1
Prod. no. 63-1971
08Oct1963
Written by Bill Gammie
Directed by Clark Jones
Produced by Dan Lounsbery
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by John Butler
Black swan pas de deux [ballet segment] staged by Rudolf Nureyev
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Host Robert Preston
with performances by
Rudolf Nureyev
Svetlana Beriosova
Grant Johannessen
Richard Tucker
Anna Moffo
and The Chad Mitchell Trio.

Highlights:
Rudolf Nureyev with Svetlana Beriosova perform "Black Swan" from Swan Lake.
Anna Moffo performs from Puccini's "La Boheme", Che gelida manina, Si, mi chiamano Mimi.
Richard Tucker with Anna Moffo perform "O soave fanciulla".

6.02 [56] SHOW #2
Prod. no. 63-2069
22Oct1963
Written by Bill Gammie
Directed by Sid Smith
Produced by Dan Lounsbery
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography, Herb Ross
Square dance ballet choreographed by George Balanchine
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Nanette Fabray
with performances by
Byron Janis
Lisa della Casa
Nicolai Gedda
Cesare Siepi
Patricia Wilde
Nicholas Magallanes
Elisha Keeler
The New York City Ballet Corps de Ballet

Highlights:
Patricia Wilde, Nicolas Magallanes and Elisha Keeler perform Balanchine's "Square Dance".
Lisa della Casa and Cesare Siepi sing the prison scene from "Faust".
Pianist Byron Janis performs Prokofiev's Concerto No. 3 in C third movement.
Nanette Fabray closes the show with a variety of selections from such musical comedies as "Gypsy", "High Button Shoes" and "The Bells Are Ringing".

6.03 [57] SHOW #3
Prod. no. 63-2155
05Nov1963
Written by Charles Andrews
Directed by Clark Jones
Produced by Charles Andrews
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Jonathan Lucas
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Ray Bolger
with performances by
singer Elaine Dunn
Opera stars Giuseppe di Stefano
and Teresa Stratas
pianist Yehudi Menuhin
and The New Christy Minstrels.

Highlights:
Ray Bolger opens the show cavorting through the "Hi Diddle Dee Dee (an actor's life for me)".
The New Christy Minstrels perform four songs.
Guiseppe di Stefano and Teresa Stratas do scenes from "Manon".
Elaine Dunn sings and dances "Fascinating Rhythm".
Yehudi Menuhin plays Pagnanini's violin "Concerto No. 1 in D Major".
Ray Bolger closes the show with a dance medley including "Once in Love With Amy".

6.04 [58] SHOW #4
Prod. no. 63-2252
19Nov1963
Written by Burt Shevelove
Directed by Sid Smith
Produced by Burt Shevelove
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by John Butler
Coppelia pas de deux [ballet segment] choreographed by Erik Bruhn
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Performances by
singer Patti Page
Coloratura soprano Joan Sutherland
singer-actor Martyn Green
singer-actress Margot Moser
bass baritone Mac Morgan
ballet dancers Maria Tallchief
Erik Bruhn
and Sonia Arova
and The Teddy Wilson Trio.

Highlights:
Erik Bruhn with Sonia Arova perform Coppella.
Joan Sutherland sings some selections from "I Puritani".
Patti Paige with the Teddy Wilson Trio perform a selection of "Songs of the 30s".
Martyn Green, Margot Mosert and Mac Morgan perform several Gilbert and Sullivan numbers.

6.05 [59] SHOW #5
Prod. no. 63-2364
03Dec1963
Written by Charles Andrews
Directed by Clark Jones
Produced by Charles Andrews
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Donald Saddler
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Maurice Chevalier
with performances by
French chanteuse Jacqueline François
French pianist Philippe Entremont
Opera singers Theodor Uppman
and Janet Pavek
and The Dukes of Dixieland.

Highlights:
Maurice Chevalier opens the show with "Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder"
Jacqueline Francois sings "Autumn Leaves" and "C'est Paris".
Philippe Entremont performs Camille Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 4 Op. 44 in C minor.
The Dukes of Dixieland perform "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "They Called it Dixieland".
Maurice Chevalier closes the show with a medley of "Mimi", "Thank Heaven for Little Girls", "Louise" and "Valentina" which he sang in his 75th birthday "One Man Show".

6.06 [60] SHOW #6
Prod. no. 63-2458
17Dec1963
Written by Burt Shevelove
Directed by Sid Smith
Produced by Burt Shevelove
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by John Butler
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Eleanor Powell
with performances by
singers Steve Lawrence
and Eydie Gorme
Opera star Birgit Nilsson
and pianist Lorin Hollander.

Highlights:
Birgit Nilsson performs Verdi's La Forza del Destino, "Pace, pace, mio Dio!" and Puccini's Tosca "Vissi d'arte" and the Immolation Scene from Wagner's Gotterdammerung.
Songs include, "Put On a Happy Face", "As Long As He Needs Me", "There Were Bells", "Tonight" and "You Are My Lucky Star".
Lorin Hollander plays the First Movement of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1.
Steve and Eydie wrap up the show with a Richard Rodgers' medley including "If I Loved You" from "Carousel", "Love Me Tonight", "Isn't It Romantic?", "It's Only Love" from "The King and I", "Hello, Young Lovers", "A New Room" and "People Will Say We're in Love" from "Oklahoma!".

6.07 [61] SHOW #7
Prod. no. 63-2515
24Dec1963
Written by Lucille Kallen
Directed by Clark Jones
Produced by Dan Lounsbery
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography, John Butler
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Jane Wyatt
with performances
singers Earl Wrightson
and Lois Hunt
ballet dancers Kirsten Simone
and Henning Kronstam
Soprano Phyllis Curtin
Cora Baird and Bil Baird Marionettes.
and Columbus Boys' Choir.

Highlights:
Jane Wyatt leads some children through magic gates into Christmas Land where:
Kirsten Simone and Henning Kronstam dance the Pas de Deux from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker".
Phyllis Curtin sings carols in a medieval castle.
The Bil Baird Marionettes act out "The Night Before Christmas" as Jane Wyatt tells the story.
Earl Wrightson and Lois Hunt and the Columbus Boys' Choir entertain at a Christmas party in merry old England.
The show ends with Jane Wyatt reading the Gospel according to St. Luke and Phyllis Curtin and the Columbus Boys' Choir sing "O Holy Night".
Songs include, "T'was the Night Before Christmas", "Obey the Son of Mary", "The Angels Sing", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Hey Penny", "Feast of Steven", "Carol of the Bells", "Joy to the World", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Benite Adoremos".

6.08 [62] THE YOUNGER GENERATION
Prod. no. 64-116
14Jan1964
Written by William Gammie
Directed by Sid Smith
Produced by Dan Lounsbery
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Herb Ross
Pas de deux of Tchaikovsky [ballet segment choreographed by] George Balanchine
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Jane Wyman
with performances by
singers Jack Jones
and Susan Watson
concert pianist Susan Starr
Opera stars Judith Raskin
and William Walker
ballet dancers Violette Verdy
and Edward Villella
and folksingers Ian and Sylvia Tyson.

Highlights:
Jack Jones sings "All I Need is a Girl" and "You Stepped Out of a Dream".
Edward Villella and Violette Verdy do a stunning Tchaikovsky pas de deux from "Swan Lake".
Concert pianist Susan Star plays the final movement of Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto.
Judith & William perform arias and a duet from Rossini's "Barber of Seville".

*NOTE: Liza Minnelli was originally announced to appear but was hospitalized. Susan Watson took her place.

6.09 [63] THE MUSIC OF COLE PORTER
Prod. no. 64-238
28Jan1964
Written by Charles Andrews
Directed by Clark Jones
Produced by Charles Andrews
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreographer, Jonathan Lucas
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Ethel Merman
with performances by
singers John Raitt
and Martha Wright
pianist Peter Nero
singer-actress Gretchen Wyler
and dancer Jillana.

Highlights:
Pianist Peter Nero plays "Night and Day"
Gretchen Wyler sings and dances to "Don't Fence Me In".
John Raitt and Martha Wright sings seven Porter love songs.
Jillana dances to "Begin the Beguine".

6.10 [64] ALMANAC
Prod. no. 64-334
11Feb1964
Written by Charles Andrews
Directed by Sid Smith
Produced by Charles Andrews
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreographer, Buster Venho
Concerto barocco [ballet segment] choreographed by George Balanchine
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Robert Ryan
with performances by
jazz trumpeter Al Hirt
Opera star Joan Sutherland
folk-singing The Brothers Four
ballet dancers Suzanne Farrell
Patricia Neary
and Conrad Ludlow
and the New York City Ballet dancers.

Highlights:
Joan Sutherland performs "Casta Diva" aria from Bellini's opera "Norma."
Suzanne Farrell, Patricia Neary and Conrad Ludlow as soloists in "Concerto Barocco" set to the music of Bach's Double Violin Concerto.
Al Hirt plays "Man With a Horn" and "Panama".
The Brothers Four sing "Seven Daffodils".
Al Hirt with Donald Voorhees and the Bell Telephone Orchestra play "Over the Rainbow".
Lincoln's birthday salute with Robert Ryan reading of Aaron Copland's "A Lincoln Portrait".

*Note: This episode salutes the birthday of President Abraham Lincoln and other February anniversaries.
Title also listed as "An Almanac for February". (New York Public Library copy)

6.11 [65] SHOW #11
Prod. no. 64-451
25Feb1964
Written by William Gammie
Directed by Sid Smith
Produced by Dan Lounsbery
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Matt Mattox
Allegro brillante ballet [choreographed] by George Balanchine
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Shirley Jones
with performances by
Count Basie and His Orchestra
singers Jack Cassidy
and Barbara McNair
ballet dancers Maria Tallchief
and Nicholas Magaflanes
pianist Robert Casadesus
his wife Gaby Casadesus
and son Jean Casadesus.

Highlights:
Shirley Jones opens the program with a medley of Jerome Kern songs "The Night was Made for Love" (from The Cat and the Fiddle), "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" (from Showboat), "The Touch of Your Hand" (from Roberta) and "Look For the Silver Lining" (from Sally).
Count Basie and His Orchestra with Barbara McNair perform "This Could be the Start of Something".
Barbara solos with "I Enjoy Being a Girl" and "All of Me".
Jack Cassidy performs a medley of songs including "Gigi" and joins his wife Shirley Jones in "You Are Love".
Pianist Robert Casadesus plays the last movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 27 and is joined by his wife and son in Bach's Concerto for Three Pianos.
Maria Tallchief and Nicholas Magaflanes dancing George Balanchine's "Allegro Brilliante" to Tchaikovsky's Third Piano Concerto.

Note: The program features artists in the fields of classical, concert, opera, jazz, and popular music and ballet and interpretative dance. This episode marks the 1,000th performance of the combined radio and television The Bell Telephone hour series. The opening of the first radio program is presented. Host Shirley Jones shows still photographs of some of the artists who have appeared on the program. The Bell Telephone hour was on radio for 18 years.

6.12 [66] SALUTE TO SPRING SHOW #12
Prod. no. 64-571
10Mar1964
Written by William Nichols
Directed by Clark Jones
Produced by Dan Lounsbery
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Peter Gennaro
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
with performances by
Soprano Birgit Nilsson
singers Jack Jones
and Susan Watson
violinists David Oistrakh
and Igor Oistrakh
and the New Christy Minstrels.

Highlights:
Birgit Nilsson performs Verdi's MacBeth "Vieni, t'affretta ... Or tutti, sorgete."
David Oistrakh and Igor perform Bach's "Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins.
Jack Jones and Susan Watso do a selection of show and pop tunes.
The New Christy Minstrels sing folk songs.

*Note: Due to Gwen Verdon's last-minute withdrawal from the program, the emphasis of the Telephone Hour's 1,001st broadcast switches from musical comedy to classics.
The replacements are the noted Russian violinists, David Oistrakh and his son Igor, making their debut on U.S. television.

6.13 [67] SHOW #13
Prod. no. 64-690
24Mar1964
Written by Charles Andrews
Directed by Clark Jones
Produced by Charles Andrews
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Matt Mattox
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Carol Lawrence
with performances by
pianist André Previn
Tenor Franco Corelli
Soprano Régine Crespin
ballet dancers Rudolf Nureyev
and Svetlana Beriosova
The Robert Shaw Chorale.

Highlights:
Rudolf Nureyev and Svetlana Beriosova perform a pas de deun of La Esmeralda "Diana and Actaeon".
Franco Corelli with Régine Crespin performs Un Ballo in Maschera (The Masked Ball) from Verdi's Teco io Sto!
Carol Lawrence pays tribute to a number of Broadway shows including "Hello, Dolly!" and "Funny Girl".
André Previn plays a "My Fair Lady" medley.
Songs performed include "I'd Do Anything" from Oliver (Bart), "Is It Really Me?" from 110 in the Shade (Schmidt/Jones), and "Everybody Loves to Take a Bow" from Hazel Flagg (Styne/Hilliard).

Title listed as "The Finest in Music and Dance". NYPL.org

6.14 [68] SHOW #14
Prod. no. 64-800
07Apr1964
Written by William Nichols
Directed by Clark Jones
Produced by Dan Lounsbery
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Matt Mattox
[narration of] Johnny Appleseed suite written by Lucille Kallen
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Ginger Rogers
with performances by
Opera singers Robert Merrill
and James McCracken
pianist-composer Hoagy Carmichael
ballet dancers Patricia McBride
and Edward Villella
songstress Helen O'Connell
and Jazz musician Red Nichols and His All-Stars.

Highlights:
TV premiere of Hoagy Carmichael's Johnny Appleseed Suite danced by Edward Villella and Patricia McBride.
James McCracken and Robert Merrill in excerpts from Verdi's opera Othello with "Credo in um Dio Crudel", "Ora e per sempre, addio" and "Si, pel ciel".
Ginger Rogers sings a selection of movie music from the '30's.
Red Nichols and His All-Stars and Helen O'Connell do a segment of nostalgic songs.
Robert Merrill sings "American Dream".

*Note: This episode includes a celebration of the 400th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare.

6.15 [69] SHOW #15
Prod. no. 64-928
21Apr1964
Written by William Nichols
Directed by Dave Geisel
Produced by Sid Smith
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Matt Mattox
Additional choreography for Donald O'Connor by Louis da Pron
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Donald O'Connor
with performances by
singer-actress Diahann Carroll
coloratura soprano Gianna D'Angelo
entertainer Gretchen Wyler
Jazz dancer Matt Mattox
and the Pete Fountain Quintet.

Highlights:
A salute to tomorrow's opening of the World's Fair.
Donald O'Connor opens with "Come to the Fair" and then with the chorus sings Richard Rodgers' official anthem "Fair is Fair".
He performs the Charleston for the 1926 fair, the Jitterbug for the 1939 fair, and the Twist for the current fair.
Gretchen Wyler joins in, performing songs from the era of the 1904 St. Louis Fair, as well as dancing with choreographer Matt Mattox.
Gianna D'Angelo performs the Bell Song from Delibes "Lakme".
Gretchen Wyler does a song-and-dance medley of Broadway tunes from "Oliver" and "Hello, Dolly".
Diahann Carroll sings "The Sweetest Sounds" and "Someone to Watch Over Me."
Pete Fountain performing "The St. Louis Blues".
Music includes "Come Up From the Valley Children" and "When the Saints Come Marching In".

Title also listed as "Salute to the World's Fair".

6.16 [70] SHOW #16
Prod. no. 64-1025
05May1964
Written by Charles Andrews
Directed by Clark Jones
Produced by Charles Andrews
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Jonathan Lucas
"They dared to be free" pictorial tone poem directed by Irving Jacoby
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Van Heflin
with performances by
singer Connie Francis
tenor Jon Vickers
mezzo-soprano Giulietta Simionato
Joe Bushkin and His Friends
The West Point Cadet Glee Club.

Highlights:
Host Van Heflin narrates an Armed Forces Day salute.
Jon Vickers and Miss Simionato perform a scene from Verdi's "Aida" "Gia I Sacerdoti Adunansi".
Accompanied by Morton Gould's "Declaration Suite".

6.17 [71] SHOW #17
Prod. no. 64-1138
19May1964
Written by Lucille Kallen
Directed by Clark Jones
Produced by Dan Lounsbery
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Matt Mattox
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
with performances by
Woody Herman and His Band
bass-baritone George London
concert pianist Grant Johannesen
Harry Belafonte and The Belafonte Singers

Highlights:
Woody Herman and his band performing "The Woodchopper's Ball," "Caldonia, What Makes Your Big Head So Hard?," "Early Autumn," and "Jazz Hoot."
Metropolitan Opera star George London performs scenes from Mussorgsky's opera "Boris Godunov".
Pianist Grant Johannesen plays Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor.
Harry Belafonte and the Belafonte Singers performing their hits "Coconut Woman," "Island in the Sun," "Mama Look a BooBoo," "Jamaica Farewell," and "Going Down Jordan."

6.18 [72] SHOW #18
Prod. no. 64-1346
16Jun1964
Written by Herb Sargent
Directed by Sid Smith
Produced by Gary Smith
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Peter Gennaro
Announcer, Mel Brandt
Hosted by Ray Bolger
with performances by
singer-actress Janis Paige
singer-actor Ron Husmann
violinist Ruggiero Ricci
Erroll Garner Trio
and The Serendipity Singers.

Highlights:
Ruggiero Ricci performs Op. 35, D major. 3rd movement.
Songs include, "Maria", "Standing on the Corner", "Do Re Mi", "Make Someone Happy", "With a Little Bit of Luck", "Way You Look Tonight", "Misty" and "Mack the Knife".
Closing sequence with a medley of campaign songs like :Wilson, That's All", "Mr. Hoover and Mr. Smith", "Row, Row, Row With Roosevelt", "Keep Cool and Keep Coolidge" and "Get on a Raft with Mr. Taft".

6.19 [73] SHOW #19
Prod. no. 64-1417
30Jun1964
Written by Marshall Barer
Directed by Sid Smith
Produced by Herbert Ross
Executive producer, Barry Wood
Conductor, Donald Voorhees
Choreography by Donald Saddler
Announcer, Mel Brandt.
Hosted by Robert Goulet
with performances by
Opera singer Rosalind Elias
singer-actresses Janet Blair
Carol Lawrence
and Florence Henderson.

Highlights:
Robert Goulet sings "Time After Time".
Florence Henderson sings "Tea For Two" and "You and the Night and the Music".
Songs performed include "That Old Feeling" and "I'll Be Seeing You" (Fain/Brown), "Let's Get Away From It All" (Adair/Dennis), "The Very Thought Of You" (Noble), “Row Row Row” (Jerome/Monaco), and “Paddlin’ Madeline Home” from Sunny (Woods) and "Four loves have I" and a medley of Broadway songs.

***********************
The Bell Summer Theatre

[--] Bell Summer Theatre
Prod. no. 64-1584
28-Jul-1964
written by Charles Andrews
directed by Clark Jones
produced by Charles Andrews
Executive producer, Barry Wood ; conductor, Donald Voorhees ; choreography by Matt Mattox ; announcer, Mel Brandt.
Host Florence Henderson
starring
Bobby Troup Trio
Rolf Bjoerling
Glenn Dicterow
Ethel Ennis
Shani Wallis
Doug Crosley

[--] Bell Summer Theatre
Prod. no. 64-1584
11-Aug-1964
written by Marshall Barer
directed by Clark Jones
produced by Herbert Ross
Executive producer, Barry Wood ; conductor, Donald Voorhees ; choreography by Kevin Carlisle ; announcer, Mel Brandt.
host Florence Henderson
starring
The Bernie Leighton Jazz Trio
Kelly Brown
Hanne-Marie Reiner
Tim Harum
The Grant Brothers and Wendy
Gita Karasik
Robert Burr
Anita Gillette
Robert Kaye

[--] Bell Summer Theatre
Prod. no. 64-1831
08-Sep-1964
written by Marshall Barer
directed by Clark Jones
produced by Dan Lounsbery
Executive producer, Barry Wood ; conductor, Donald Voorhees ; choreography, Herbert Ross ; announcer, Mel Brandt.
host Florence Henderson
starring
The Bill Evans Trio
Jamie and the J's
Gary Karr
Jacqueline Danno
Barbara Monte
Harald Horn
James Hurst
Linda Bennett
Highlights:
"Many a New Day" ..... Florence Henderson
"Scarlet Ribbons", "Lot of Living to Do", "Cotton Fields" ..... The J's
"Danny Boy" ...... Evans Trio
"It All Comes Back to Me Now" ...... Linda Bennett
"Shine on Harvest Moon", "Autumn in New York" ..... Linda Bennett, James Hurst. ############ The Bell Telephone Hour #########
################ end of season 6 #############
##############################################

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