He was a courageous, groundbreaking and visionary pioneer who did a wonderful thing. Of course he had to get his hands dirty - the music industry is fraught with corruption.
Doesn't surprise me they would be out of touch, Kitty Carlisle was already well into her 40s by then as was Hy Gardner I believe, while Polly Bergen I believe was already in her 30s and Ralph Bellamy I think was in his 50s. There was no way they would be in touch with Rock 'n Roll, then just over a year old and at a time when other music still often topped the charts.
I will never forget Alan Freed. I grew up in NYC as a teenager in the fifties (I am now 72) and never missed listening to Freed on WINS and went to just about every one of his live shows at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater.
Freed truly was/is THE KING OF ROCK & ROLL. RIP ALAN FREED
Keep in mind the main audience for this show was probably adults rather than the teens that were the main fans of Alan Freed. The adults of this era pretty much ignored anything connected with rock and roll and hoped it would soon go away.
Teens in Cleveland and NYC knew Alan Freed by, at least, his voice (although I don't know if the locally produced WNEW Big Beat TV show was on the air yet) but his movies were geared strictly for teens, and received fairly limited distribution. I think it's fair to say, in an era of limited media choices and exposure, most adults would not know Alan Freed from Adam, even though his name might have sounded familiar. It would be a while before congressional blowhards gave Freed a national flogging
1. At some point they moved the panelists to the left and the contestants to the right. 2. "Rock and roll" was in use far before Alan Freed came along. 3. That "To Tell the Truth" logo is really good. 4. Polly Bergen must have been a hot mama despite her idiotic remark. 5. Did anyone ever think to cast Ralph Bellamy as a prosecutor? He's got the vibe. 6. Yeah, as someone here notes, the show biz establishment really was late to recognize the power of rock and roll.
It's a little known bit of vintage television trivia,but Miss Kitty Carlisle was awarded that expensive pearl necklace that she is wearing as a gift from wrestler Gorgeous George.
Great to see Alan Freed again. As for a couple of the comments: His picture really wasn't in the papers all that much until the payola scandal hit, obviously after this show; and there was no way on earth any of these panelists would have gone to those low-budget rock 'n' roll films.
Thanks very much for taking the time to post this.
The episode that featured Alan Freed was the first appearance of Kitty Carlisle as a "To Tell the Truth" panelist, way back during the show's early days in 1957.
And you can tell it was from those early days because, among other details, host Bud Collyer revealed the panel's votes; not too long after this episode, the panelists themselves revealed their votes...it was probably quicker that way.
Not to mention he'd appeared in three movies by that time! I can only surmise the panelist were completely squaresville and oblivious when it came to the Big Beat...not to disparage Miss Carlisle and co. 'cause I dig them a lot, but yeesh!
@roots66 Maybe not squaresville... What happened to Freed was like appearing in front of the House UnAmerican Activities committee. Anyone who associated with someone subpoenaed to appear in front of McCarthy was suspect and hence blackballed.
He was a courageous, groundbreaking and visionary pioneer who did a wonderful thing. Of course he had to get his hands dirty - the music industry is fraught with corruption.
jlbaker2000 1 month ago
Dont you feel a little guilty sometimes? wow how things have changed.
ff85258 1 month ago
Doesn't surprise me they would be out of touch, Kitty Carlisle was already well into her 40s by then as was Hy Gardner I believe, while Polly Bergen I believe was already in her 30s and Ralph Bellamy I think was in his 50s. There was no way they would be in touch with Rock 'n Roll, then just over a year old and at a time when other music still often topped the charts.
WaltGekko 2 months ago
I don't understand why everybody's astonished that they didn't know who Freed was. After all, the sponsor is Geritol.
SOLE2SOUL 5 months ago
Very few questions were even directed at 2.
hummelthekid 7 months ago
I swear they hardly asked him any questions :L
TheDogDover 8 months ago
I will never forget Alan Freed. I grew up in NYC as a teenager in the fifties (I am now 72) and never missed listening to Freed on WINS and went to just about every one of his live shows at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater.
Freed truly was/is THE KING OF ROCK & ROLL. RIP ALAN FREED
NEMstrodamus 8 months ago
Keep in mind the main audience for this show was probably adults rather than the teens that were the main fans of Alan Freed. The adults of this era pretty much ignored anything connected with rock and roll and hoped it would soon go away.
SMITHFRANK 9 months ago
Teens in Cleveland and NYC knew Alan Freed by, at least, his voice (although I don't know if the locally produced WNEW Big Beat TV show was on the air yet) but his movies were geared strictly for teens, and received fairly limited distribution. I think it's fair to say, in an era of limited media choices and exposure, most adults would not know Alan Freed from Adam, even though his name might have sounded familiar. It would be a while before congressional blowhards gave Freed a national flogging
RandBForThee 9 months ago
Cool upload!! Do you know the air date? Thanks for sharing.
RandBForThee 9 months ago
1. At some point they moved the panelists to the left and the contestants to the right. 2. "Rock and roll" was in use far before Alan Freed came along. 3. That "To Tell the Truth" logo is really good. 4. Polly Bergen must have been a hot mama despite her idiotic remark. 5. Did anyone ever think to cast Ralph Bellamy as a prosecutor? He's got the vibe. 6. Yeah, as someone here notes, the show biz establishment really was late to recognize the power of rock and roll.
thishereguitar 11 months ago
Although he also did some TV shows, I believe Alan Freed at the time was only doing radio and not doing a regular TV program.
altfactor 1 year ago
I *KNEW* IT!!!
whenaman 1 year ago
back then, we did not have the media explosion we have today, people were not exploited..
nilsdrew 1 year ago
how could 2 people vote for him ? they only asked him 2 questions !!
unclebillmusic 1 year ago
What year was this?
chamberl 1 year ago
"guilty-- for bringing about this whole terrible thing?" Boy-- she must have been sorry later on.
Jantv81 1 year ago 2
When did this episode of"To Tell The Truth"..with Mr.Freed air on CBS TV?
143AC 1 year ago
It's a little known bit of vintage television trivia,but Miss Kitty Carlisle was awarded that expensive pearl necklace that she is wearing as a gift from wrestler Gorgeous George.
keepingitrandom 1 year ago 3
Great to see Alan Freed again. As for a couple of the comments: His picture really wasn't in the papers all that much until the payola scandal hit, obviously after this show; and there was no way on earth any of these panelists would have gone to those low-budget rock 'n' roll films.
Thanks very much for taking the time to post this.
13loomisst 2 years ago
The episode that featured Alan Freed was the first appearance of Kitty Carlisle as a "To Tell the Truth" panelist, way back during the show's early days in 1957.
And you can tell it was from those early days because, among other details, host Bud Collyer revealed the panel's votes; not too long after this episode, the panelists themselves revealed their votes...it was probably quicker that way.
byrd56 2 years ago
How could anyone have not known what Allen Freed looked like? He was getting in the papers all the time for creating mayhem at early rock concerts?
bigred997 2 years ago 4
Not to mention he'd appeared in three movies by that time! I can only surmise the panelist were completely squaresville and oblivious when it came to the Big Beat...not to disparage Miss Carlisle and co. 'cause I dig them a lot, but yeesh!
roots66 2 years ago
@roots66 Maybe not squaresville... What happened to Freed was like appearing in front of the House UnAmerican Activities committee. Anyone who associated with someone subpoenaed to appear in front of McCarthy was suspect and hence blackballed.
MrLeatherman23 5 months ago
number 3 did a shocking job
whato1986 2 years ago