Museum of Television & Radio Presents Musicals on Television
in Wonderful Town
(© Friedman/Abeles, collection of Ellis Nassour)
In conjunction with the New York Musical Theatre Festival, the Museum of Television & Radio is presenting a sampler of rare live telecasts from the 1950s that were preserved on black and white kinescopes. Included are television productions of the Broadway musicals Annie Get Your Gun, One Touch of Venus, and Wonderful Town. Following is the schedule of screenings; for further information, call 212-621-6800 or click here.
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Saturday, September 16, 1pm:
Omnibus: The Ballad of Baby Doe
Scenes from the Douglas Moore-John Latouche musical drama, starring Virginia Copeland, William Johnson, and Martha Lipton, hosted by Alistair Cooke. After the opera’s 1956 premiere in Central City, Colorado, it was optioned for Broadway; this abridged version was presented on the Omnibus series in February 1957 as a teaser for the Broadway production, which never came to be. Instead, The Ballad of Baby Doe was mounted in 1958 by the New York City Opera, with Beverly Sills in the title role. (1957, ABC, 65 minutes)
Saturday, September 16, 2:15pm:
Annie Get Your Gun
The classic Irving Berlin musical, featuring such songs as “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “They Say It’s Wonderful,” and “You Can’t Get a Man With a Gun,” was telecast after the completion of a national tour. With Mary Martin, John Raitt, Reta Shaw, and Donald Burr. (1957, NBC, 105 minutes)
Saturday, September 16, 4pm:
A Salute to Broadway’s Dorothy Loudon
Including performances from the Tony Awards and The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, a “New York medley” with Loudon and Eileen Farrell from The Garry Moore Show, and more. (1959-1993; 60 minutes)
Sunday, September 17, 1pm:
One Touch of Venus
The Dallas State Fair Musicals production of the Kurt Weill-Ogden Nash musical, with a score that includes such songs as “I’m a Stranger Here Myself” and “Speak Low.” With Janet Blair, Russell Nype, and George Gaynes. (1955, NBC, 90 minutes)
Sunday, September 17, 2:30pm:
Wonderful Town
The Bernstein-Comden & Green musical in a lavish TV presentation starring Rosalind Russell (reprising her Broadway role), Sydney Chaplin, and Jacquelyn McKeever. Several actors who appeared in both the original Broadway production and this television adaptation, including Cris Alexander (Frank Lippencott), Ted Beniades (Speedy Valenti), and Michele Burk (Helen), plan to attend the screening. Also on hand will be Jac Venza, who designed the sets for the TV production. (1958; CBS; 120 minutes)
