Gisele MacKenzie presents Randy Sparks 1958

Randy Sparks got one of his earliest and biggest breaks when he was selected to be a guest on "The Gisele MacKenzie Show", a big primetime entertainment program from Hollywood starring the hottest girl singer of the day, who bowed out of 4 year run as one of the stars of "Your Hit Parade" to star in her own program produced by Jack Benny. Before a fairly recent concert in Tucson, I presented Randy with a DVD of his appearances on Gisele's show...that evening he shared with the audience how wonderful it was to appear on a top television show so early in his career and how remarkable it was to see Jack Benny riding beneath a camera to make sure things were going well. Randy sings two of his own compositions, "Jamaica Fisherman" and his then new record release, "Walking the Low Road." I know randy was just starting out, but isn't that the same shirt in both clips? The shows were about a month apart. O well...it's a nice shirt!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gisele
• MacKenzie
• Randy
• Sparks
• Jack
• Benny
• Jamaica
• Fisherman
• Walking
• Low
• Road

[RIchardEPfeifer]

What a nice lady!!!!! I need to meet somebody like her!!!!

[khtyson1]

Randy Sparks is great

[fromthesidelines]

Schick was a co-sponsor of "THE GISELE MacKENZIE SHOW" during its only season (1957-'58). The only reason why it lasted a single season (on Saturday nights) was because more people were watching a new Western- "HAVE GUN- WILL TRAVEL"- on CBS...Tom Kennedy was also Betty White's announcer (for Plymouth) on "DATE WITH THE ANGELS" that season.

[okietoolman]

Wow, what a treat from the past! Who could guess from this clip the incredible musical carreer Randy would have with The New Christy Minstrels, in the 60s and even today (they're still doing concerts all over the country). Thank you, Jim!

[ALFAGOMMA]

I don't know this singer but it's great footage.