NZ didn't even have television till a year later in july 1960 and the yanks are already broadcasting a few of their programs in color!.
Sadly us Kiwi and the aussies didn't get color at all untill 1975. There were a few color tests in 1973 and some of the olympics were broadcast in color in 1974, but it shows how much NZ sucks tv wise.
This originally aired on NBC [virtually the ONLY network telecasting color shows back then] on November 21, 1959. Gene's other guests on this "PONTIAC STAR PARADE" special were Carol Lawrence and Donald O'Connor. Kelly, in fact, performed a similar "challenge dance" with Julie Andrews on his November 1965 NBC special.
May be way off but have to think this entire show exists in the vault somewhere between the Steve Allen and Fred Astaire early color shows you see on YouTube.
Spectacular piece of TV history: a rare color videotape from only the second year of the medium (that WASN'T erased over and is now more than 50 years old), and a rare capture of two cinematic legends whose dance fame was not only primarily on film, but actually preceded the "Dancing With The Stars" genre of economical, reality-esque television. Cannot thank you enough.
NZ didn't even have television till a year later in july 1960 and the yanks are already broadcasting a few of their programs in color!.
Sadly us Kiwi and the aussies didn't get color at all untill 1975. There were a few color tests in 1973 and some of the olympics were broadcast in color in 1974, but it shows how much NZ sucks tv wise.
CenaTv2 2 months ago
This originally aired on NBC [virtually the ONLY network telecasting color shows back then] on November 21, 1959. Gene's other guests on this "PONTIAC STAR PARADE" special were Carol Lawrence and Donald O'Connor. Kelly, in fact, performed a similar "challenge dance" with Julie Andrews on his November 1965 NBC special.
fromthesidelines 2 months ago in playlist More videos from oldtvhistory
May be way off but have to think this entire show exists in the vault somewhere between the Steve Allen and Fred Astaire early color shows you see on YouTube.
trivialtony 2 months ago
So you think YOU can dance?
Spectacular piece of TV history: a rare color videotape from only the second year of the medium (that WASN'T erased over and is now more than 50 years old), and a rare capture of two cinematic legends whose dance fame was not only primarily on film, but actually preceded the "Dancing With The Stars" genre of economical, reality-esque television. Cannot thank you enough.
mca1218 3 months ago
Was it difficult to identify this as "Pontiac Star Theater" just from the date and the stars?
tomservo56954 6 months ago
@tomservo56954 I had no idea what show it was until someone told me when I uploaded this a few years back on my old channel
oldtvhistory 6 months ago
I love those two Irish boys!
AngelskaSings 1 year ago 2
BOTH GREAT DANCERS , BUT GENE IS IN A MORE POLOSHED STYLE
sierria64 1 year ago