"PRODUCERS' SHOWCASE" returns on April 4th, with an adaptation of Robert E. Sherwood's 'Reunion in Vienna'- starring Peter Lorre, Greer Garson, Brian Aherne, Herbert Berghof...and an all-star cast."
The reason it was not shot on film was NBC was promoting their new color system. Yes, it's unfortunate a color kinescope was no preserved. In any case mounting a live Broadway musical on television was an incredible accomplishment.
The first perfromance was originally telecast on 'PRODUCERS' SHOWCASE" on March 7, 1955. Then, by "popular demand", it was restaged on January 9, 1956. The third and final perfomance was produced on color videotape, and presented on December 8, 1960.
Why weren't the initial productions preserved on color kinescope film? The cost, for one thing. It was cheaper to use black and white film stock for delayed broadcast and legal purposes. VERY few examples of color kinescope exist from the '50s...
This came on TV once a year. Always looked forward to seeing it. We didn't have color TV back then....for the most part, they weren't that great. Always breaking and losing their color. Mary Martin always did a great job in this, even on Broadway.
Julie.. "Almost" embarrassing?? What's that mean: "close" but not really? Mary's Peter Pan is part of treasured American Musical Theatre history. There was no need to attempt to hide the wire. That's not what this clip is about, nor what the show was about. It's a rare glimpse into what happened on the B'way stage & TV broadcast, way back in the 1950s. Try to envision sold-out audiences viewing spectacular performances of a heartfelt story about "the boy who wouldn't grow-up." ;-}
why didnt the idiots when doing kinescope copys of color broadcast befor videotape why didnt they shoot it 16 mm kodachrome? instead of btw you see those who saw the delayed broadcast saw it in black nwhite better print film if they had that 14 inch color set they would of seen it in black n white on the west coast knowing that they might of had those crude color tv sets they should of spent more money and shot the kinescope print on 16 mm color film so we would of seen it today in color
Rodanvideo: How did you get a copy of this kinescope? I've always wanted to see the full 1955 performance and the 1956 restaging, but all that's been commercially available is the 1960 version. :( Thanks for uploading this, and great job on the color!
The colorization is crude, but about par for what it must have looked like in 1954. This was NBC and RCA's big promotion of color TV.
Mary Martin was far more boy-like in 1954, but what a voice! And Cyril Ritchard... damn! No one else should ever be allowed to play Captain Hook.
For better or for worse, this production created the Baby Boom generation. Youth, Joy, Freedom of Spirit! If we could just remember to think lovely thoughts, we might still be able to fly.
Cyril Ritchard was soooo outrageous in this kinescope. Mary was totally on her game. Kathy Nolan was PERFECT!
They all just finished the Broadway run and performed the show LIVE in front of those new, clunky-obese color TV cameras: no do-overs, no retakes, no dubbing!
The 1960 version [that we most remember] was videotaped and edited.. and broadcast 5 years later. There is NO comparison to the energetic performances seen in this clip [1955].
Lol! I saw the color version when it was broadcast in the 60's, so I'm in your age group! Its just as charming as I remember it! Thanks for posting it!
@Juliaflo I also saw this in 1955 and then again a year later. I remember pretending I was Peter Pan for weeks. I liked this version better than the 1960 version. I think this Wendy was better than Mary's daughter Heller in the later version. But of course by 1960 this Wendy was just too grown up.
Bravo on the colorization treat! And thanks for posting this to remind each of us of our Youth, Joy, and Freedom of Spirit that dwells within us all forever.
"PRODUCERS' SHOWCASE" returns on April 4th, with an adaptation of Robert E. Sherwood's 'Reunion in Vienna'- starring Peter Lorre, Greer Garson, Brian Aherne, Herbert Berghof...and an all-star cast."
fromthesidelines 3 months ago
is the entire original broadcast available anywhere other than the museum of tv?
brabon1 3 months ago
hmm, thats cool
jedispaz2002 9 months ago
The reason it was not shot on film was NBC was promoting their new color system. Yes, it's unfortunate a color kinescope was no preserved. In any case mounting a live Broadway musical on television was an incredible accomplishment.
Rowby
rowbyrowby 9 months ago
The first perfromance was originally telecast on 'PRODUCERS' SHOWCASE" on March 7, 1955. Then, by "popular demand", it was restaged on January 9, 1956. The third and final perfomance was produced on color videotape, and presented on December 8, 1960.
Why weren't the initial productions preserved on color kinescope film? The cost, for one thing. It was cheaper to use black and white film stock for delayed broadcast and legal purposes. VERY few examples of color kinescope exist from the '50s...
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
@fromthesidelines im amazed that they took a break from 56 to 60...the original broadcast garnered 65 mil
amazing
brabon1 3 months ago
Any chance you know where I could find this version? I've only seen the more known 1960 rebroadcast...
bkev93 1 year ago
This came on TV once a year. Always looked forward to seeing it. We didn't have color TV back then....for the most part, they weren't that great. Always breaking and losing their color. Mary Martin always did a great job in this, even on Broadway.
sm9847 1 year ago
the wire is so obvious! it's almost embarrassing.
jooodlez 1 year ago
@jooodlez
Julie.. "Almost" embarrassing?? What's that mean: "close" but not really? Mary's Peter Pan is part of treasured American Musical Theatre history. There was no need to attempt to hide the wire. That's not what this clip is about, nor what the show was about. It's a rare glimpse into what happened on the B'way stage & TV broadcast, way back in the 1950s. Try to envision sold-out audiences viewing spectacular performances of a heartfelt story about "the boy who wouldn't grow-up." ;-}
leojrevlis 1 year ago
@leojrevlis i wasn't trying to insult it, i'm just comparing it to nowadays.
jooodlez 1 year ago
why didnt the idiots when doing kinescope copys of color broadcast befor videotape why didnt they shoot it 16 mm kodachrome? instead of btw you see those who saw the delayed broadcast saw it in black nwhite better print film if they had that 14 inch color set they would of seen it in black n white on the west coast knowing that they might of had those crude color tv sets they should of spent more money and shot the kinescope print on 16 mm color film so we would of seen it today in color
mikemcgee 1 year ago
Rodanvideo: How did you get a copy of this kinescope? I've always wanted to see the full 1955 performance and the 1956 restaging, but all that's been commercially available is the 1960 version. :( Thanks for uploading this, and great job on the color!
hillbillyprofane 2 years ago
what a wonderful film. I saw this when I was a child, wish I had seen it on broadway.
Sweetness and inasence are gone how sad.
squeekyrambler 2 years ago
Well done, rodanvideo!
DeanLeonard1 2 years ago
The colorization is crude, but about par for what it must have looked like in 1954. This was NBC and RCA's big promotion of color TV.
Mary Martin was far more boy-like in 1954, but what a voice! And Cyril Ritchard... damn! No one else should ever be allowed to play Captain Hook.
For better or for worse, this production created the Baby Boom generation. Youth, Joy, Freedom of Spirit! If we could just remember to think lovely thoughts, we might still be able to fly.
monkeyhawk 2 years ago
Crude? - Oh, I wrote that .. [foot in mouth]!
Cyril Ritchard was soooo outrageous in this kinescope. Mary was totally on her game. Kathy Nolan was PERFECT!
They all just finished the Broadway run and performed the show LIVE in front of those new, clunky-obese color TV cameras: no do-overs, no retakes, no dubbing!
The 1960 version [that we most remember] was videotaped and edited.. and broadcast 5 years later. There is NO comparison to the energetic performances seen in this clip [1955].
rodanvideo 2 years ago
..And I absolutely agree. Ritchard IS the one and only Captain Hook.. forever!!
It seems that Mary has reached right into my head and pulled-out my life's philosophy. It's scary and wonderful.
rodanvideo 2 years ago
@rodanvideo Well, maybe in a revival John Hurt could play Captain Hook.
Juliaflo 1 year ago
Wow this is an amazing video! Thanks Mary :D
Yoyobean5 2 years ago
Lol! I saw the color version when it was broadcast in the 60's, so I'm in your age group! Its just as charming as I remember it! Thanks for posting it!
Nierwen 2 years ago
I saw it in 1955 when I was 5 years old. I am sixty now and I never grew up...a lovely way to live life.
tirsdagen 2 years ago
i was born in 1987 and i wish i was dead
timmchap35 2 years ago
timmchap35: Why's that?
hillbillyprofane 2 years ago
I saw this in 1955.
(Don't even THINK about figuring out my age--My birthday is March 30).
Juliaflo 2 years ago
I saw it too!
Old farts UNITE!!
;-}
rodanvideo 2 years ago
@Juliaflo I also saw this in 1955 and then again a year later. I remember pretending I was Peter Pan for weeks. I liked this version better than the 1960 version. I think this Wendy was better than Mary's daughter Heller in the later version. But of course by 1960 this Wendy was just too grown up.
neonmoon82 1 year ago
@neonmoon82 Actually, Miss Martin's daughter Heller played nursemaid Liza. (Jacqueline Mayro played that part in 1960).
Juliaflo 1 year ago
Bravo on the colorization treat! And thanks for posting this to remind each of us of our Youth, Joy, and Freedom of Spirit that dwells within us all forever.
ShowBizComic 3 years ago