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Season 1 (CBS) (1954-55)
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox, Erich Wise [Updates Aug
2022]
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)
########### Chrysler Shower of Stars #########
############## season 1 1954-55 ##############
##############################################
CBS Thursdays 8:30pm-9:30pm Eastern (every 4th week)
time slot shared with "Climax!" anthology series
1.1 Chrysler Shower of Stars: (first telecast)
30Sep54 CBS Thur
starring
Betty Grable
Mario Lanza
Harry James
Marvin Kaplan
Fred Clark
King Donovan
Hayden Rorke
Dick Winslow
George Niese
Jimmy Cross
Robert Carson
Musical Selections:
"It’s Hollywood" Chorus
"Vesti la giubba (I Pagliacci)" Mario Lanza
"Dig A Dig A Do" Betty Grable, Chorus
"Jazz Jam Session" Harry James Sextet
"The Strawberry Blonde" Harry James
"I’m Just Wild About Harry" Betty Grable, Chorus
"Marechiare" Mario Lanza
"One For The Road" Betty Grable
"Be My Love" Mario Lanza
"Baby Won’t You Please Come Home" Betty Grable, Harry James
"It’s Hollywood" (Reprise) Chorus
This program marked Mario Lanza’s long awaited television debut. His salary for
the show was an astronomical
$40,000.00 and two Chrysler automobiles! Unfortunately his appearance also
created a tremendous amount of controversy
as it was found out after the show had aired that he had lip synched to old
recordings instead of singing live. While
commonplace in the movies it wasn’t the practice on TV although dancers who also
had to sing did it all the time.
Lanza also appears briefly as part of an ongoing sketch with the other actors
and is very animated when on screen.
The show was originally broadcast live and in color and a black and white
kinescope survives. [RF]
------------------------------------
1.01 [--] Climax!: THE LONG GOODBYE: 07Oct54
1.02 [--] Climax!: THE THIRTEENTH CHAIR : 14Oct54
1.03 [--] Climax!: CASINO ROYALE: 21Oct54
------------------------------------
1.2 [--] Chrysler Shower of Stars: LEND AN EAR [UCLA/RF]
28Oct54 CBS Thur
producer Nat Perrin
written by Charles Gaynor
directed by Seymour Berns
Music director, David Rose; choreography, Miriam Nelson.
Hosted by William Lundigan. Announcer: Art Gilmore.
starring
Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy
Gene Nelson
Sheree North
Beverly Tyler
Mario Lanza
A distillation of the 1948 Broadway hit Lend an ear, plus the song-stylings of
Mario Lanza. Mario Lanza joins
Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Gene Nelson and Sheree North for an exciting
evening of music, dance and comedy,
with Mario performing an aria from "Tosca" and "Someday" from the operetta,
``Vagabond King.'
Note * It was discovered that Mario had lip-synched the vocal selections of the
first telecast. Although a common
practice today, the media of 1954 took Mario to task for the alleged deception.
To defend himself, Mario appeared on this telecast and sang "live" beautifully.
[UCLA/RF]
------------------------------------
1.04 [--] Climax!: SORRY, WRONG NUMBER: 04Nov54
1.05 [--] Climax!: THE GIOCONDA SMILE: 11Nov54
------------------------------------
1.3 [--] Chrysler Shower of Stars: ENTERTAINMENT ON WHEELS [RF]
18Nov54 CBS Thur
host William Lundigan
starring
Betty Grable
Harry James
Groucho Marx
Danny Thomas
Eddie Mayehoff
James Dunn
Michael O'Shea
William Bishop
Gil Stratton Jr.
Rochelle Hudson
Ed Wynn
Groucho: "I had one line which was 'Let's get something that we can all enjoy.'
The idea was that Betty Grable
and Harry James were sitting in the front seat of a DeSoto and I was hiding in
the back, on the floor. Thus when
Betty Grable pressed the radio dial again, tuning to my show...the producer
asked me to eliminate the line...
the big surprise was supposed to be me bouncing into the scene...it occurred to
me that in Cocoanuts and
Animal Crackers I had about 90 sides of dialog. Here I had only one line and
they even clipped that.
Well, I guess that's show business. (from the Groucho Letters 1967) [RF]
------------------------------------
1.06 [--] Climax!: THE AFTER HOUSE: 25Nov54
1.07 [--] Climax!: AN ERROR IN CHEMISTRY: 02Dec54
1.08 [--] Climax!: EPITAPH FOR A SPY: 09Dec54
1.09 [--] Climax!: THE WHITE CARNATION: 16Dec54
------------------------------------
1.4 [--] Chrysler Shower of Stars: A CHRISTMAS CAROL (I) (hour-long TV
opera) [RF]
23Dec54 CBS Thur
Produced & Directed by Ralph Levy
adaptation and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson / story by Charles Dickens
music by Bernard Herrmann
Host: William Lundigan.
starring
Fredric March as Scrooge
Basil Rathbone as Marley's Ghost
Ray Middleton as Fred
Bob Sweeney as Bob Cratchit
------------------------------------
1.10 [--] Climax!: NIGHTMARE IN COPENHAGEN: 30Dec54
1.11 [--] Climax!: THE BIGGER THEY COME: 06Jan55
1.12 [--] Climax!: ESCAPE FROM FEAR: 13Jan55
------------------------------------
1.5 [--] Chrysler Shower Of Stars: SHOW STOPPERS (I) [UCLA/RF]
20Jan55 CBS Thur / Show no. 54-17
producer Nat Perrin
written by Herbert Baker
directed by Seymour Berns
supervised by Jule Styne ; Music director, David Rose;
choreography, Gene Nelson; orchestrations, Buddy Bregman
Hosted by William Lundigan / Announcer: Art Gilmore.
starring
Red Skelton
Bobby Van
Ethel Merman
Betty & Jane Kean
Ethel Merman, Red Skelton, Betty & Jane Kean and Bobby Van star in Show
stoppers, a review of song-and-dance
numbers which have 'stopped' famous shows. Included in the show-stopping lineup:
Eadie was a lady--Ethel
Merman; You're just in love--Skelton & Merman; South America, take it away!--the
Keans, Skelton; You're a grand
old flag, Mary is a grand old name, Yankee Doodle Dandy--Skelton, Van; Little
girl from Little Rock--Merman,
the Keans; Guzzler's gin--Skelton; Too darn hot--Bobby Van; Papa, won't you
dance with me--Skelton, Merman;
The old soft shoe--Skelton, the Keans; How girls prepare for bed--comedy,
Skelton; Alexander's Ragtime Band--Merman;
Cheek to cheek--Van; Topsy and Eva--the Keans; Baby, it's cold outside--Merman,
Skelton; There's no business like show
business--ensemble. [UCLA/RF]
------------------------------------
1.13 [--] Climax!: THE MOJAVE KID: 27Jan55
1.14 [--] Climax!: THE LEAF OUT OF THE BOOK: 03Feb55
1.15 [--] Climax!: THE VALIANT MEN: 10Feb55
------------------------------------
1.6 [--] Chrysler Shower of Stars: THAT'S LIFE
17Feb55 CBS Thur
starring
Shirley MacLaine (replaces Betty Grable)
Harry James
Johnny Ray (NOT
Johnnie Ray)[EW]
Larry Storch
Anna Maria Alberghetti
"Bright young newcomer" Shirley MacLaine fills in for the scheduled Betty Grable
(who was sidelined due
to a car accident), while Johnny Rae performs a medley of his hits. Also
features a performance of ``That's
Entertainment'' by the show's entire guest list, which included Anna Maria
Alberghetti, Harry James and the
inimitable Larry Storch. [RF]
------------------------------------
1.16 [--] Climax!: THE BOX OF CHOCOLATES: 24Feb55
1.17 [--] Climax!: SOUTH OF THE SUN: 03Mar55
1.18 [--] Climax!: THE GREAT IMPERSONATION: 10Mar55
------------------------------------
1.7 [--] Chrysler Shower Of Stars: BURLESQUE [RF]
17Mar55 CBS Thur
starring
Dan Dailey
Marilyn Maxwell
Jack Oakie
Joan Blondell
Dick Foran
-------------------------------------
1.19 [--] Climax!: THE DARKEST HOUR: 24Mar55
1.20 [--] Climax!: THE CHAMPION: 31Mar55
1.21 [--] Climax!: PRIVATE WORLDS: 07Apr55
-------------------------------------
1.8 [--] Chrysler Shower Of Stars: ETHEL MERMAN'S SHOW STOPPERS (II)
[UCLA/RF]
14Apr55 CBS Thur / Show no. 54-39
producer Nat Perrin
written by Hugh Wedlock & Howard Snyder
directed by Seymour Berns
supervised by Jule Styne
Music director, David Rose; choreography, Gene Nelson; orchestration and vocal
arrangements: Buddy Bregman.
Hosted by William Lundigan. Announcer: Art Gilmore.
starring
Ethel Merman
Red Skelton
Peter Lind Hayes
Mary Healy
Patti Wharton
Ethel Merman, Red Skelton, Peter Lind Hayes & Mary Healy, Harold Lang and Cindy
Robbins star in
Ethel Merman's Show stoppers. Included in the famous songs, dances and skits
which have 'stopped the show' are:
I got rhythm--Merman; All of you--Merman, Skelton; I still get jealous--Hayes &
Healy; I could write a book--Lang;
Doin' what comes natur'lly--Healy, Merman; The baritone--Skelton (Davis Rose at
the piano); Luck be a lady--Lang,
Robbins; 10 cents a dance--Merman, Skelton; Disc jockey--Hayes & Healy;
That's the kind of dame I am--Merman. [UCLA/RF] (Note: this is a different program
from the 20Jan55)
-------------------------------------
1.22 [--] Climax!: FLIGHT 951: 21Apr55
1.23 [--] Climax!: THE FIRST AND THE LAST: 28Apr55
1.24 [--] Climax!: THE DELIVERANCE OF SISTER CECILIA: 05May55
-------------------------------------
1.9 [--] Chrysler Shower Of Stars: HIGH PITCH [RF]
12May55 CBS Thur
starring
Marguerite Piazza
Tony Martin
Vivian Vance
William Frawley
In an original baseball "mini-musical", Tony Martin is the star slugger,
Marguerite Piazza the opera diva
who buys the team, and William Frawley and Vivian Vance are the gruff but
lovable manager and his wife.
Songs include "Let's Fall in Love" and "Dance with Me". [RF]
-------------------------------------
1.25 [--] Climax!: NO STONE UNTURNED: 19May55
1.26 [--] Climax!: A FAREWELL TO ARMS: 26May55
1.27 [--] Climax!: THE UNIMPORTANT MAN: 02Jun55
-------------------------------------
1.10 [--] Chrysler Shower Of Stars: (Final show of the season) (clip
show?) [UCLA]
09Jun55 CBS Thur
producer Nat Perrin
director Seymour Berns
Music director, David Rose; choreography, Gene Nelson.
starring
Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy
Dan Dailey
Betty Grable & Harry James
Tony Martin
Ethel Merman
Red Skelton
Dick Foran
Shirley MacLaine
Marilyn Maxwell
Gene Nelson and Jack Oakie.
Program: Opening--ensemble; Carmen boogie--Shirley MacLaine; Song of the
vagabonds--Tony Martin;
sketch--Bergen; Over the rainbow--Ethel Merman; All you gotta do is try--Gene
Nelson with Patricia Rosemond;
scene from Burlesque--Dan Dailey, Marilyn Maxwell, Dick Foran, Jack Oakie; You
forgot--Marilyn Maxwell;
Swinging the muses--Betty Grable; comedy sketch--The Irish tenor--Red Skelton;
Jam session--Harry James & combo;
You're the top--Martin & Merman; finale--ensemble. This is the final show of the
season
Summary: Summary continues: "Following the program, a preview of the next
Climax! program: "The Dark Fleece",
with Joan Bennett, Lloyd Bridges, Phyllis Thaxter. (Bennett, Bridges, Thaxter
all make appearances here.)"
--Archivist's notes. [UCLA/RF]
-------------------------------------
1.28 [--] Climax!: THE DARK FLEECE: 16Jun55
1.29 [--] Climax!: TO WAKE AT MIDNIGHT: 23Jun55
1.30 [--] Climax!: THE DANCE: 30Jun55
1.31 [--] Climax!: WILD STALLION: 07Jul55
1.32 [--] Climax!: THE ESCAPE AT MENDES-FRANCE: 14Jul55
1.33 [--] Climax!: THE HEALER: 21Jul55
1.34 [--] Climax!: DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE: 28Jul55
1.35 [--] Climax!: ONE NIGHT STAND: 04Aug55
1.36 [--] Climax!: EDGE OF TERROR: 11Aug55
1.37 [--] Climax!: FEAR STRIKES OUT: 18Aug55
1.38 [--] Climax!: DEAL A BLOW: 25Aug55 (final episode of season 1)
########### Chrysler Shower of Stars #########
############### end of season 1 ##############
##############################################
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