BROADWAY OPEN HOUSE Part 1 JERRY LESTER ESTATE

[WSenator1]

My mother used to watch BOH, the forerunner of "The Tonight Show." She used to sing the "beanbag" song all over the house. The open shot, facing the audience is a very interesting perspective.

[LittleJimmySouthern]

I remember the series. I saw nearly all of them, tho I didn't like Morey Amsterdam. I was watching the night Jerry walked off. It didn't last very long. I guess the problem was that I thought it was funny....and maybe we needed something a little more advanced than humor for an 11 year old... And there weren't many TVs around.....and very few folks stayed up that late.......But this is history folks. It's where it started. Thanks Gallen for posting this. Brought back the memories....!

[logancody05]

@LittleJimmySouthern I only have a vague memory of the show, but I can tell you that although I was only about eight years old at the time, I distinctly remember Dagmar. I don't remember Jerry's walking off the show, did he do it in the middle of the broadcast? Did you know he had a brother, Buddy Lester, who was his spitting image? I'd appreciate if you could tell me what you remember about the walk-off.

[ottolink1]

I saw the first shows in 1950,I was 10 at the time. He was so funny my mother let me stay up and watch. I joined the official 'Jerry Lester Beanbag Club' and received my very own Beanbag. Wish I had it today.

[67nairb]

The dialogue is not in sync.

[67nairb]

Pity, I would woulv'e loved to see more of Dagmar. She was pretty. I've always found women actresses from the 40s and 50s era very glamorous and pretty. Not that there aren't pretty and glamorous women today. Didn't Jerry Lester & Dagmar appear on the COLGATE COMEDY HOUR?

[OrganCat]

Great timing and craziness. Like Jerry Lewis with an assortment of straightmen.

I'm watching this because Carlin geve him credit for the first version of a Tonight Show format, even before Steve Allen.

[maxedwell]

I'm a pup born in 1972, & it's incredible to see this stuff. I've heard stories for years from folks about the pre-TV days of radio and Vaudeville acts, and the later transitions of many artists like Red Skeleton into the world of TV. It's important that these parts of history are preserved. Remnants and offshoots of these seemingly forgotten art forms permeate society and it's awesome to be able to hearken back to our roots. Plus, it's just plain funny ;-D

Thanks 4 the upload.

[BuckRNaked]

Kinescope is film shot directly off the TV set.

[fiftiesflashback1953]

Is this film or kinescope?

[tvdays]

kinescope

[Cris43130]

The thing that strikes me about this show, despite its name, is it's lack of sophistication. Not that it isn't charming, but I think Vaudeville Open House would probably have been a more accurate name for it.

[tvdays]

it was later called The Tonight Show

[Cris43130]

But under a slightly different format.

It was revamped by Pat Weaver when Steve Allen took over as host.

[blondex21]

Where was Dagmar and Cow Eyes ? I was 10 years old when this was on and I remember it well..

[agnostikus]

blondex21, you must be 69 today.

[blondex21]

Iwas born May 3, 1940 and you are right I am 69 years old..and led quite a life..when my dad first bought a TV it was 1949 and I was nine..before that we listened to the radio and heard Life With Luigi and Lights Out..

[tvdays]

cool

[fromthesidelines]

Disappointing to hear this, Ira. I know NBC NEVER saved their copies, so this is a very bittersweet piece of news [to me]. People talk about efforts to preserve early TV, but in Lester's case...who knows?

[67nairb]

Do you mean to say that nearly all of the episodes of the JERRY LESTER SHOW can never be seen by today's audiences.

[fromthesidelines]

Supposedly, Lester saved virtually all of his "BROADWAY OPEN HOUSE" kinescopes and had them put in storage....what happened to them, I don't know.

[TVNETWORKS]

They were all ruined. These were the last. His storage sucked worse then mine. He had major water damage. Someone before me got to the good stuff and thats lost forever. I had delt wit hhis wife twenty odd years ago. I have 5o prints that without major restoration will never be seen - major shrinkage.

[67nairb]

That really stinks. I would've like to see more of BROADWAY OPEN HOUSE Since I love old tv show of the 50s.

[fromthesidelines]

"BROADWAY OPEN HOUSE" was network television's first informal late-night variety program, seen on NBC weeknights at 11pm(et), alternately hosted by Jerry Lester and Morey Amsterdam during the 1950-'51 season. This is from a December 1950 broadcast, fronted by Lester- the "dark screen" from 1:32 to 2:02 was a "window" for local affiliates to present their own commercials...

[dookykins]

Milton DeLugg was the music conductor, later went on to conduct the NBC orchestra between Skitch Henderson and Doc Severinsen.

He later was the musical direct for Chuck Barris and "The Gong Show."

He now is the musical director emeritus for the NBC Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.