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"Max Liebman Presents"
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Season
1 (NBC) (1954-55)
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 / Writers Guild of America (wga)
####### Max Liebman Presents #######
######### season 1 1954-55 #########
################################
Every fourth Sunday (some Saturday) from 9/12/1954 to 6/9/1956 on NBC.
1.01 Max Liebman Presents: SATINS AND SPURS
12-Sep-1954 NBC Sunday
written by Billy Friedberg & William Glickman & Max Liebman & Fred Saidy & Neil Simon
directed by Charles O'Curran
Songs by Ray Evans & Jay Livingston
Cast:
Betty Hutton .......... Cindy Smathers
Kevin McCarthy ........ Tony
Genevieve ............. Chanteuse
Guy Richmond .......... Tex
Josh Wheeler .......... Dick
Edwin Phillips ........ Ollie
Neva Patterson ........ Ursula
Maggi McNellis
Synopsis:
Cindy Smathers, a rodeo star who appears at Madison Square Garden in New York City and
becomes the subject of a Life magazine photo essay about a country girl in the big city.
The photographer at first makes her feel like such a rube but eventually they fall in love
and the pictures land Cindy the lead in a Broadway musical.
*Note: Songs sung by Betty Hutton, include: Whoop-Diddy-Ay / Wildcat Smathers / Satins and Spurs /
The Little Roll Rock / I've Had Enough - Hutton & McCarthy / Nobody Cares / Back Home /
You're So Right for Me - Hutton & McCarthy / Sexy Sadie/Finale.
1.02 Max Liebman Presents: LADY IN THE DARK
25-Sep-1954 NBC Saturday
written by Billy Friedberg story by Moss Hart
directed by Max Liebman and Jeffrey Hayden
Cast:
Ann Sothern ........... Liza Elliot
James Daly ............ Charley Johnson
Carleton Carpenter .... Russell Paxton
Luella Gear ........... Maggie Grant
Paul McGrath .......... Kendall Nesbitt
Shepherd Strudwick .... Dr. Alexander Brooks
Robert Fortier ........ Randy Culver
Stephanie Augustine ... Miss Foster
Synopsis:
Liza Elliot, neurotic fashion editor of Allure magazine, seeks psychiatric help
to solve her problems.
Her Freudian session leads to three musical dream sequences, including:
Glamour Dream: Oh Fabulous One/Huxley/One Life to Live/Girl of the Moment /
Wedding Dream: Mapleton High Chorale/This is New/The Princess of Pure Delight /
Circus Dream: The Greatest Show on Earth/Dance of the Tumblers/The Best Years of
His Life/
Tschaikowsky/The Saga of Jenny /
Childhood Dream: My Ship.
1.03 Max Liebman Presents: SUNDAY IN TOWN
10-Oct-1954 NBC Sunday
written by Bill Friedberg & Neil Simon & William Glickman
directed by Max Liebman
Hosted by Steve Allen
Cast:
Judy Holliday
Dick Shawn
Jack Russell
1.04 Max Liebman Presents: THE FOLLIES OF SUZY
23-Oct-1954 NBC Saturday
written by Bill Friedberg & William Glickman & Neil Simon & William Jacobson & Fred Saidy
directed by Max Liebman
Hosted by Steve Allen
Cast:
Zizi Jeanmaire
Tom Avera
Cliff Norton
Connie Russell
Paul Whiteman
Synopsis:
Steve Allen is a young playwright who daydreams about an imaginary French ballerina, Jeanmarie,
as she appears in three romantic stories set in different time periods of American history.
*Note: Also appearing are the dance team of Harrison & Eliot.
1.05 Max Liebman Presents: FANFARE
Prod. no. N-5726
07-Nov-1954 NBC Sunday
written by William Friedberg, Fred Saidy, Neil Simon, Will Glickman, Bill Jacobson
directed and produced by Max Liebman
Musical Conductor Charles Sanford
Hosted by Steve Allen
Cast:
Judy Holliday
Frank Sinatra
Dick Shawn
Jacques Tati
1.06 Max Liebman Presents: BEST FOOT FORWARD
20-Nov-1954 NBC Saturday
written by Neil Simon & William Glickman & Fred Saidy
& Bill Friedberg & William Jacobson
directed by Max Liebman
Guest cast:
Marilyn Maxwell ....... Gale Joy
Bob Cummings .......... Jack Haggerty
Charlie Applewhite .... Bud Hooper
Hope Holliday ......... Minerva
Jeannie Carson ........ Helen Twitterton
Harrison Miller ....... Dutch
Arte Johnson .......... Chuck
James Komack .......... Hunk
Howard St. John ....... Dean Reeber
Synopsis:
The story of a fading Hollywood movie star, Gale Joy, who descends on a boy's
prep school as a publicity stunt to accompany a student, Bud Hooper, to his prom.
The kids at the Junior Prom go wild over the movie star and she's forced to seek
refuge in the boy's dormitory - a move that could get the boys expelled from school.
1.07 Max Liebman Presents: SPOTLIGHT
05-Dec-1954 NBC Sunday
directed by Bill Hobin
Hosted by Jimmy Durante
Guest cast:
Sonja Henie
Jack Buchanan
Jeannie Carson
Pat Carroll
1.08 Max Liebman Presents: BABES IN TOYLAND
18-Dec-1954 NBC Saturday
written by Bill Friedberg & Neil Simon & Fred Saidy
directed by Max Liebman
Guest cast:
Wally Cox ............ Toymaker Grumino
Dave Garroway ........ Santa Claus
Ellen Barrie ......... Joan
Dennis Day ........... Tommy Tucker
Barbara Cook ......... Jane Piper
Jack E. Leonard ...... Silas Barnaby
Karin Wolfe .......... Ann Piper
Synopsis:
A department store Santa entertains a lost young girl with tales of a land where
storybook characters live. The girl dreams of Toyland and the story of
Tommy Tucker who wants to win the hand of Jane Piper despite the evil
Silas Barnaby who wants Jane for himself.
1.09 Max Liebman Presents: GOOD TIMES
02-Jan-1955 NBC Sunday
written by Bill Friedberg & Neil Simon & William Glickman
& Fred Saidy & William Jacobson
directed by Max Liebman and Bill Hobin
Hosted by Steve Allen
Guest cast:
Judy Holliday
Dick Shawn
William Le Massena
Robert Gallagher
Donn Driver
Cathryn Damon
The Ritz Brothers
1.10 Max Liebman Presents: NAUGHTY MARIETTA
15-Jan-1955 NBC Saturday
Guest cast:
Patrice Munsel ....... Marietta d'Altena
Alfred Drake ......... Captain Dick Warrington
John Conte ........... Lt. Governor Le Grange
Gale Sherwood ........ Yvonne
Donn Driver .......... Louis D'Arc
Robert Gallagher ..... Captain of Ship
William Le Massena ... Rudolfo
Charles Dagmar ....... Punch & Judy Puppeteer
Synopsis:
Operetta set in New Orleans circa 1780. Marietta is there to escape from an
unwanted marriage in France and Capt. Dick is there to lead his Rangers against
a pirate gang. Marietta is first attracted to the son of the lieutenant governor. But when he
is revealed as the pirate leader, she turns her attentions to Capt. Dick. She decides he
is the man for her when he is able to finish the "Dream" melody that Marietta recalls from childhood.
1.11 Max Liebman Presents: VARIETY
30-Jan-1955 NBC Sunday
directed by Max Liebman
Guest cast:
Perry Como
Kitty Kallen
Buddy Hackett
Bill Hayes
Pat Carroll
Jack Russell
Herb Shriner
Bil Baird & Cora Baird, Puppeteers
Synopsis:
Music, comedy and song & dance, including a jazz version of Gilbert & Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinafore."
1.12 Max Liebman Presents: A CONNECTICUT YANKEE
12-Mar-1955 NBC Saturday
written by Billy Friedberg & Neil Simon & William Glickman & Al Schwartz
based on a novel by Mark Twain
directed by Max Liebman and Bill Hobin
Music by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart
Guest cast:
Eddie Albert .......... Martin Barrett
Janet Blair ........... Sandy
Boris Karloff ......... King Arthur
John Conte ............ Sir Kay
Gale Sherwood ......... Morgan Le Fay
Leonard Elliott ....... Merlin
Beverly Dennis
Ray Drakeley
Synopsis:
Max Liebman presents A Connecticut Yankee, inspired by the Mark Twain tale.
It tells of a modern-day groom-to-be who is projected back in time to the days
of King Arthur. There, the people he knows at home assume the identities
of the characters about the Round Table and their lady-loves.
Highlights
Songs : "This is My Night to Howl ", "My Heart Stood Still", "Thou Swell" ........Eddie Albert
"At the Round Table" ......... Boris Karloff
"On a Desert Island with Thee", "To Keep My Love Alive" ........ Gale Sherwood
"Hymn to the Sun", "Ye Lunchtime Follies", "Can't You Do a Friend a Favor?" ....... Eddie Albert
"I Feel At Home with You" ............. Jack Thompson
"You Always Love the Same Girl" ............ Eddie Albert / The Camelot Samba.
1.13 Max Liebman Presents: THE MERRY WIDOW
09-Apr-1955 NBC Saturday
Written by Bill Friedberg & Neil Simon & William Glickman
Adapted from the 1907 play with music by Franz Lehar and book by Leo Stein & Victor Leon
Produced & Directed by Max Liebman
Guest cast:
Anne Jeffreys ......... Sonia Sadoya
Barry Sullivan ........ Prince Danilo
Edward Everett Horton . Baron Zelta
Helena Bliss .......... Valencienne
Jack Russell .......... Lieutenant Nicholas
John Conte ............ Georges
Synopsis 1:
The pretty widow, Sonia, comes to Paris for a gay fling. Since she owns most of
her native Marsovia, her government wants to make certain her second marriage
does not take her wealth away from home. Their choice of a groom
the dashing Marsovian Prince Danilo.
Synopsis 2:
Sonja Sadoya is a wealthy young widow who is being romanced by the dashing
Prince Danilo, a womanizing Marsovian embassy attache who is courting Sonia in hopes
of using her money to restore his country's fiscal solvency. Sonia attempts to convince
Dalio that she is penniless and still get him to marry her.
Highlights
ACT I
"Can-Can" ..................... Dancers
"Maxim's" ..................... Sullivan
"Girls, Girls, Girls .......... Sullivan, Conte
"You'll Love Love in Paris .... Jeffreys
"Fidelity" .................... Conte
"Love Song" ................... Jeffreys, Sullivan
"Merry Widow Waltz" ........... Ensemble
ACT II
"Marsovian Dance" ............. Kraft, Linn & Alexander
"Vilia" ....................... Jeffreys
"Lovely Is The Music" ......... Ensemble
"Fidelity" .................... Conte
"Ladies of the Chorus" ........ Singers
"The Merry Widow Waltz" ....... Ensemble
1.14 Max Liebman Presents: KALEIDOSCOPE
24-Apr-1955 NBC Sunday
Hosted by Judy Holliday
Guest cast:
Frank Sinatra
Dick Shawn
George S. Irving
Robert Gallagher
Beatrice Arthur
Synopsis:
Judy appears with George Irving in the "Museum Sketch"
and with Bea Arthur in "The Hat Sketch".
Dick Shawn appears in "The Dario Sketch" and sings "Not Since Nineveh",
from the musical "Kismet" supported by singers and dancers.
Bambi Linn and Rod Alexander dance to "Whatever Lola Wants",
from the forthcoming musical, "Damn Yankees".
The dancers and singers perform in a production number
of "You're Devastating". The New York finale features the entire cast in
"Razz-a-ma-tazz". From Hollywood Frank Sinatra appears in a comedy sketch
and sings: "I'm Gonna Live till I Die", "One For the Road" and "Learnin' the Blues".
1.15 Max Liebman Presents: THE DESERT SONG
07-May-1955 NBC Saturday
written by Billy Friedberg & Neil Simon & William Glickman
Based on Sigmund Romberg's "The Desert Song"
Book by Otto Harbach
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein & Frank Mandel
Staged by Milton Lyon
Produced & Directed by Max Liebman
Musical numbers staged by Rod Alexander
Musical conductor, Charles Sanford
Musical adaptation by Clay Warnick and Mel Pahl
Arrangements by Irwin Kostal
Choral director, Clay Warnick
Lighting by Fred McKinnon
Adaptation of the 1926 Broadway operetta
Guest cast:
Nelson Eddy ........... Pierre/The Red Shadow
Gale Sherwood ......... Margot
Otto Kruger ........... General Birabeau
John Conte ............ Paul Fontaine
Salvatore Baccalone ... Ali Ben Ali
Viola Essen ........... Azuri
Earl William .......... Hassi
Felisha Conde ......... Castenette Dancer
Synopsis 1:
Pierre Birabeau, son of the general of all French troops in Morocco,
is secretly sympathetic to the local Riffs. Disguising himself in a red costume,
he leads the Moroccans against his own countrymen, but at the garrison he
pretends to be a weakly simpleton. His behavior with his fellow Frenchmen
does not help further his desire for romance with the beautiful Margot. She
prefers dashing, but fickle, Captain Paul Fontaine. Pierre has no choice but to
go to Margot in his other identity, the notorious Red Shadow, and carry her off to
his desert camp. Complications arise when Azuri, a dancing girl, reveals
the camp's location to the French.
Synopsis 2:
This is the tale of a dashing Frenchman who, opposing his own father,
General Birabeau's campaign, joins the Riffs of Morocco in their battle against
the French. Our hero leads a double life, at home the playboy, Pierre; in the desert,
Red Shadow, the fighter for Moroccan independence. Neither his girl nor his father
suspects that these two are one and the same.
Highlights:
ACT I
Scene 1. Desert Oasis
"Riff Song" .................... Eddy
Scene 2. Street and cafe
"Why Do We Marry Soldiers?"..... Girls
"French Marching Song" ......... Eddy
"Pretty Maid of France" ........ Conte, Sherwood
"Girls, Girls, Girls" .......... Conte, Sherwood
"Romance" ...................... Conte
Scene 3. General Birabeau's Mansion
Dance .......................... Viola Essen
"Then You Will Know" ........... Eddy, Sherwood
"I Want a Kiss" ................ Eddy, Sherwood
"Romance" ...................... Sherwood
"Desert Song" .................. Eddy
ACT II
Scene 1. Ali Ben's Desert Fortress
"My Little Castognette" ........ Dancers
"Eastern-Western Love" ......... Eddy, Williams, Baccaloni
Scene 2. General Birabeau's Mansion
"Sabre Song" ................... Sherwood
Scene 3. Ali's Fortress
"Desert Song" .................. Eddy
ACT III
Scene 1. General Birabeau's Mansion
"Dance of Triumph" ............. Viola Essen
"French Military Song" ......... Conte
Scene 2. Town Square
"One Alone" .................... Eddy, Sherwood
*Note: "The Desert Song" debuted at New York's Casino Theater in 1926.
1.16 Max Liebman Presents: PROMENADE
22-May-1955 NBC Sunday
written by Bill Friedberg & William Glickman & Neil Simon
& William Jacobson & Fred Saidy
directed by Max Liebman
Hosted by Tyrone Power
Guest cast:
Judy Holliday
Janet Blair
Kay Starr
George S. Irving
Barbara Baxley
Jack Russell
Herb Shriner
Zachary A. Charles
Bil Baird & Cora Baird, Puppeteers
Synopsis:
Actor Tyrone Power is the host and actresses Judy Holliday and Janet Blair
as well as dancers Bambi Linn & Rod Alexander; singers Kay Starr,
Jack Russell, Herb Shriner and Barbara Baxley perform.
Highlights:
"It's A Great Feeling" .............. Cast
"What Part of Indiana?" ............. Shriner
Baseball Wives ...................... Holliday, Blair, Baxley
Trapped ............................. Holliday, Russell, Baxley,
George Irving, Zachary Charles
Girl Singers ........................ Holliday, Blair, Starr
"I Love To Rhyme" ................... Blair
"Carabelle" ......................... Russell
"The Carioca" ....................... Linn & Alexander
"Chattanooga Choo-choo" ............. Cast
"Side By Side" ...................... Starr
"If You Love Me" .................... Starr
"That Ain't Love" ................... Starr
"Wheel of Fortune" .................. Starr
1.17 Max Liebman Presents: THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER
04-Jun-1955 NBC Saturday
written by Neil Simon & Bill Friedberg & William Glickman
Based on George Bernard Shaw's 1894 play "Arms and the Man."
directed by Jeffrey Hayden
Guest cast:
Eddie Albert ......... Captain Bumerli
Rise Stevens ......... Nadina
Akim Tamaroff ........ Major Ludek
David Atkinson ....... Alexius Spiridoff
George Ebeling ....... General Masakroff
Synopsis:
Captain Bumerli, a cowardly Swiss Army pastry chef, finds himself in the midst
of battle and flees the scene. He escapes up a trellis and ends up in the bedroom
of Nadina, the fiancee of a war hero. Nadina helps him avoid capture by the
Bulgarians and later helps him escape. A year later Bumerli returns to win
Nadina's love and prevent her loveless marriage to Major Spiridoff.
NOTE: Adapted from the 1909 Broadway opera, with music by Oscar Straus
and libretto by Rudolph Bernauer & Leopold Jacobson.
############ Max Liebman Presents
############
############### end of season 1 ##############
##############################################
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