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The George Jessel Show (1953-54)
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 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

ABC Production
Produced by Mannie Manheim & Edward Leven
for
ABC (Sundays 6.30-7:00pm ET)

US Music Variety Series 1953-54     31 episodes x 30 min

Host George Jessel - America's "Toastmaster General"

Music, Buddy Wood and his Orchestra

Theme song: "Roses in December".

Announcer: Ed Michaels (all except first episode)   

########### The George Jessel Show ###########
############## season 1953-54 ###############
##############################################
ABC Sundays 6.30-7:00pm Eastern (30 min) (13Sep53-11Apr54)
ABC Fridays (West Coast) (5 day delay) (see episode #7)

[01] The George Jessel Show [Series premiere only was broadcast from Los Angeles].
13Sep1953 ABC Sun
director, Stuart W. Phelps
writers, George Jessel, Mannie Manheim, Sam Carlton
Musical director, Rex Koury.
Announcer: Hal Sawyer
guests:
Mitzi Gaynor
Margaret Whiting
comedian Buddy Hackett
Jerilyn Jessel
Highlights:
George jokes with Buddy Hackett.
Mitzi sings and dances.
Margaret performs a couple of songs.

[02] The George Jessel Show
20Sep1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Mannie Manheim, Sam Carlton.
Announcer: Ed Michaels
guests:
Eddie Fisher
Margaret O'Brien
Al Kelley
Highlights:
George Jessel is introduced by Vincent R. Impelliterri, mayor of New York city.
Eddie Fisher and Margaret O'Brien perform the balcony scene from Romeo & Juliet.

[03] The George Jessel Show
27Sep1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Mannie Manheim, Sam Carlton.
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Lilo
Jan Peerce
Lisa Ferraday
George Stone
Highlights:
This week's show pays tribute the women of Hadassah.
George Jessel is introduced by Mrs. Irving Levine, the president of the Hartford chapter of Hadassah.
Jan Peerce performs the Hebrew spiritual "A Plea to God."

[04] The George Jessel Show
04Oct1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Mannie Manheim, Sam Carlton.
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Georgia Gibbs
Bobby Winters
Joe Ward
Ted Atkinson

[05] The George Jessel Show
11Oct1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Mannie Manheim, Sam Carlton.
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Rose Marie
William Warfield
Roland LaStarza
Lew Hearn
Ann Hillary

[06] The George Jessel Show
18Oct1953 ABC Sun
Guest
Teresa Brewer
Gloria Pall
Highlights:
Teresa sings "Baby, Baby".

[07] The George Jessel Show
25Oct1953 ABC Sun (East Coast) [Syracuse Herald]
30Oct1953 ABC Fri (West Coast) [Long Beach Press-Telegram] KECA 9:30pm
Guests:
Billie Holiday
Artie Shaw
Count Basie
Teddy Wilson
Mae Barnes
and Leonard Feather

[08] The George Jessel Show
01Nov1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Mannie Manheim, Sam Carlton.
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Jane Morgan
Pat Rooney
Joe E. Howard
Joe Smith and Charlie Dale (Smith & Dale).
Highlights:
Old-time vaudevillians Howard and Rooney sing. Howard sings Hello my baby, I wonder who’s kissing her now,
and Goodbye my love. Smith and Dale do their famous Dr. Cronkite comedy skit.

[09] The George Jessel Show
08Nov1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Mannie Manheim, Sam Carlton.
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Cab Calloway
Frank Fontaine
Monica Lewis
Highlights:
Calloway performs "Minnie the Moocher" on an episode highlighting "Showstoppers".

[10] The George Jessel Show
15Nov1953 ABC Sun  - no details

[11] The George Jessel Show
22Nov1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Mannie Manheim, Sam Carlton.
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Margaret Whiting
Lou Wills Jr.
Beverly White
Josh White Jr.
Jerrilyn Jessel
Zippy the monkey.
Highlights:
The theme of the show is sons and daughters of well-known show business parents. Dancer Lou Wills, Jr.,
is the son of dancer Lou Wills; Beverly and Josh White, Jr., are the children of African American folk
and blues singer Josh White. Jerrilyn Jessel is George Jessel’s daughter.

[12] The George Jessel Show
29Nov1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Mannie Manheim, Sam Carlton.
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Teresa Brewer
Richard Tucker
Diane Sinclair
Ken Spaulding
Amy Sedell
Highlights:
This week's show spotlights "culture in America". Jessel's guests are singer Teresa Brewer, Richard Tucker,
Ken Spaulding, Diane Sinclair, and Amy Sedell.

[13] The George Jessel Show
06Dec1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Nat 'King' Cole
Jane Morgan
The King's Jesters
Highlights:
This week's show highlights memories of Broadway.
Nat 'King' Cole performs "Lover Come Back" and "That's All".
Baseball star Tommy Heinrich does the Rol-Rite pen commercial.

[14] The George Jessel Show
13Dec1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Teresa Brewer

[15] The George Jessel Show
20Dec1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Yvette
Cass Franklin
Monica Lane
Joe Phillips
Joe Young
Sandy Solo
Highlights:
This week's show highlights USO shows. Jessel's guests are Yvette, Cass Franklin, Monica Lane,
Joe Young, Joe Phillips, and Sandy Solo.

[16] The George Jessel Show
27Dec1953 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Janis Paige
Cesare Siepi
Diane Sinclair
Ken Spaulding
Jerrilyn Jessel
Highlights:
This week's show highlights hometowns. Jessel's guests are vocalist Janis Paige, Cesare Siepi,
Diane Sinclair, Ken Spaulding, and his daughter Jerrilyn Jessel.

[17] The George Jessel Show
03Jan1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Denise Darcel
Romo Vincent
Lucienne & Ashour
Joe Young
Lew Hearn
Highlights:
This week's show spotlights nightclubs. Jessel's guests are Denise Darcel, singer Romo Vincent,
Lucienne & Ashour, Lew Hearn, and Joe Young.
Jessel recites "The Face on the Barroom Floor".

[18] The George Jessel Show
10Jan1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Pearl Bailey
Jerome Hines (of the Metropolitan Opera)
Elaine Dunn of "John Murray Anderson's Almanac".

[19] The George Jessel Show
17Jan1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
The King's Men Glee Club
Buddy and Cece Robinson
Shirley Harmon
Tommy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
Gordon Polk
Highlights:
In observance of the 200th anniversary of Columbia University, against the backdrop of a college dance,
George Jessel will have jazz greats Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey and their merry musicians, plus singer Gordon Polk,
collegiate dancers Bud and Cece Robinson and the King’s Men, a 16-man choral group from Columbia.

[20] The George Jessel Show
24Jan1954 ABC Sun
Yesterday and Today
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Dolores Gray
75 year old composer-vaudevillian Joe E. Howard

[21] The George Jessel Show
31Jan1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Burl Ives
Eleanor Steber

[22] The George Jessel Show
07Feb1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Vic Damone
Rose Marie
Lenny Kent

[23] The George Jessel Show
14Feb1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Toots Shor
golfer Jeanne Carmen
Joe Louis
Al Schacht
Bill Corum
Louis Prima

[24] The George Jessel Show
21Feb1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
The Gene Krupa Trio
The DeMarco Sisters
The Clark Brothers
Jerrilyn Jessel
Cleo Moore
Highlights:
The Clark Brothers are a black dance duo; Cleo Moore promos new film Bait.

[25] The George Jessel Show
28Feb1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Dorothy Dandridge
Diane Sinclair
Ken Spaulding
Highlights:
Jessel gives viewers a short tour of the studio and the show’s crew; Dandridge sings Just one of those things.

[26] The George Jessel Show
07Mar1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Teresa Brewer
Richard Tucker
dancer Joan Halloway

[27] The George Jessel Show
14Mar1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Phil Regan
Peggy Ryan
Ray McDonald
Highlights:
"The Toastmaster General celebrates St. Patrick’s Day of three different years--1894, 1925 and 1954".

[28] The George Jessel Show
21Mar1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
showbiz team Smith and Dale celebrating their 54th year as a team.
comic Fay DeWitt
singing daughter of Darryl F. Zanuck, Susan Zanuck.
NOTE: Susan Zanuck (Darryl F.'s daughter) was on George Jessel's show. Afterward Georgie said:
"It was the first professional appearance for her except when she worked with Gregory Ratoff in
Las Vegas acting as a shield for him so he wouldn't get shot".

[29] The George Jessel Show
28Mar1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Robert Merrill
Polly Bergen
Joe Young
Lew Hearn
Jerrilyn Jessel
Jeff Chandler (cameo).
Highlights:
Jeff Chandler is on hand to promote his new recording.
This week's show is set on a plane flying to Hollywood.

[30] The George Jessel Show
04Apr1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Joe E. Lewis
Diane Spaulding & Ken Sinclair
Paddy DeMarco
Austin Mack & Gene Courtney
Highlights:
Tonight is Jessel's birthday. Jessel announces that show announcer Ed Michael’s wife has just delivered
a baby girl. DeMarco, the world’s lightweight boxing champion, sings.

[31] The George Jessel Show (Final show of series)
11Apr1954 ABC Sun
director, Edward Nugent
writers, George Jessel, Sam Carlton
Announcer: Ed Michaels
Guests:
Roberta Peters
Cesare Siepi
Martha Wright
Highlights:
Broadcast from the US Naval Hospital at St. Albans, Long Island.

[--] The George Jessel Show
*Unknown airdate*
Guest
singer Lee Wiley
Lee sings "Who's Sorry Now", "I Love You So Much", "Thinking of You".

########### The George Jessel Show ###########
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