CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US
Drama Series
Pete Kelly's Blues (1959)
Episode Guide
compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
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PETE KELLY'S BLUES
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Mark VII Ltd. Production (Jack Webb)
Revue Studios ?
for
NBC (Sundays)
Executive Producer
Jack Webb
based on the 1955 Warner Brothers film of the same name
starring Jack Webb, Edmond O'Brien, Janet Leigh and Peggy Lee
US Drama series 1959 13 episodes x 30 min bw
05Apr59-04Sep59
Starring:
William Reynolds as Pete Kelly
Connee Boswell as Savannah Brown
Than Wyenn as George Lupo
Phil Gordon as Fred
Fred (Anthony) Eisley as Johnny Cassiano
Premise:
Pete Kelly's Blues was life in Kansas City during the Roaring Twenties,
from the standpoint of a musician working in a Kansas Speakeasy at
17 Cherry Street.
Pete was a trumpet player and the leader of Pete Kelly's Original Big Seven
Band. His best friend was the band's pianist Fred and his closest female
friend was Savannah Brown, a blues singer at another speakeasy.
The stories revolved around the adventures of Pete as he ran into
people who got him involved in all kinds of trouble!
Background:
Jack Webb, who produced this series, had been the original Pete Kelly
in the radio series of the same name, which ran for six months in 1951,
and also starred in the movie version which was released in 1955.
Off-screen Trumpet Player who dubbed in Pete's solos was Dick Cathcart,
a well know jazz performer of the period. He had originally been picked
by Webb for the radio series and also appeared with him in the movie
version.
Band Members:
Johnny Silver, Than Wyenn, Fred Beems, Ricky Allen
Theme Vocal "Pete Kelly's Blues" Sung by Connee Boswell
Music for the Club Scenes: The Matty Matlock Combo
############## Pete Kelly's BLues ############
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NBC Sundays
1.01 [--] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE STEVE PORTER
STORY
Mark VII prod. no.4809
05-Apr-1959 NBC Sun
Synopsis:
Fearing her husband's wrath, an old girlfriend of Pete Kelly's asks
him, as a favor to see a man who's trying to sell her some information.
[RF]
1.02 [--] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE JUNE GOULD STORY
Mark VII prod. no.4808
12-Apr-1959 NBC Sun (rebroadcast 17Jul59)
Guest cast:
Johnny Silver ..... Izzy
Lillian Powell .... Mrs. Gould
Synopsis:
A white-haired old lady asks Pete Kelly to help find her missing
daughter. Pete learns of a nightclub owner who once employed
the girl. [RF]
[03] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE ENVELOPE STORY
19-Apr-1959 NBC Sun
Mark VII prod. no.4810
1.04 [--] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE POOR BUTTERFLY STORY
Mark VII prod. no.4811
26-Apr-1959 NBC Sun (rebroadcast 31Jul59 NBC Fri)
Guest cast:
Whitney Blake ...... Zelda
John Hudson ........ Johnny April
Marshall Kent ...... Matty
Synopsis:
On the way to a recording session Pete is accosted by the
ex-wife of the man who heads he recording company. She says
she will pay any price to get the "master" of a record
back from her former husband. [RF]
*Note:
Musical numbers from this episode include;
"Mama Goes Where Papa Goes", sung by Connee Boswell
and "I'm Goin' South", played by the band. [RF]
1.05 [--] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE TEX BIGLOWE STORY
Mark VII prod. no.4812
10-May-1959 NBC Sun (rebroadcast 07Aug59 NBC Fri)
Guest cast:
Malcolm Atterbury ... Tex Biglowe
Georgine Darcy ...... Terry
Harald Dyrenforth ... Dr. Eckhardt
Tom Daly ............ Funeral Director
Billy Bletcher ...... Karl
Steve Wayne ......... Ernie
Paul Smith .......... Night Clerk
Fred Eisley ......... John Cassiano
Synopsis:
On his death-bed, clarinetist Tex Biglowe asks to see Pete Kelly.
Kelly visits the musician and finds that Biglowe wants him to
deliver a sealed envelope to his daughter. [RF]
*Note:
The band plays, "Chinatown, My Chinatown" and "Eddie's Blues".
Connee Boswell sings, "I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover". [RF]
[06] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE BABY RAY STORY
17-May-1959 NBC Sun
Mark VII prod. no.4814
1.07 [--] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE MIKE REEGAN STORY
Mark VII prod. no.4813
24-May-1959 (rebroadcast 21Aug59)
Guest cast:
Miriam Nelson ....... Thelma Reegan
Dan Sturkie ......... Mike Reegan
Julian Barton ....... Sam Bruno
Synopsis:
Thelma Reegan, a bootlegger's wife, is enjoying a night out at
17 Cherry Street until one of her husband's henchmen forces
Pete Kelly to take her home. Later, when she is found dead,
Kelly is caught between the law and the underworld. [RF]
*Note:
Connee Boswell sings "Ain't We Got Fun" and "Sad Man Blues". [RF]
[08] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE ROMPY THOMPSON STORY
31-May-1959 NBC Sun
Mark VII prod. no.4815
[09] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE GUS TRUDO STORY
07-Jun-1959 NBC Sun
Mark VII prod. no.4807
[10] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE EMORY CUSACK STORY
14-Jun-1959 NBC Sun
Mark VII prod. no.4816
[11] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE FITZHUGH STORY
21-Jun-1959 NBC Sun
Mark VII prod. no.4817
[12] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE JOE ARTEVEKIAN STORY
28-Jun-1959 NBC Sun
Mark VII prod. no.4818
[13] Pete Kelly's Blues: THE 16-BAR TACET (final episode)
05-Jul-1959 NBC Sun
Mark VII prod. no.4819
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Summer Reruns NBC Fridays (10Jul59-04Sep59)
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[--] 10Jul59 rerun of 1.01 ?
[--] 17Jul59 rerun of 1.02 ?
[--] 24Jul59 rerun of 1.03 ?
[--] 31Jul59 rerun of 1.04 "The Poor Butterfly Story" (first aired 26Apr59)
[--] 07Aug59 rerun of 1.05 "The Tex Biglowe Story" (first aired 10May59)
[--] 21Aug59 rerun of 1.07 "The Mike Reagan Story" (first aired 24May59)
[--] 28Aug59 rerun of ?
[--] 05Sep59 rerun of ? (final rerun)
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