Ernie Kovacs - "Kovacs on the Corner" with Edie Adams 1/1

[From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - This is a very rare 1952 kinescope of one of Ernie's earliest TV shows, "Kovacs on the Corner". Shot at the old WPTZ studios on 1619 Walnut Street in Philadelphia (where "The Mike Douglas Show" also originated in the 60's and 70's), and broadcast over the fledgling NBC Television Network, it shows an early glimpse of some of the zany aspects of Kovacs' imagination. The dog costumed character is named "Alfred" and he is supposedly invisible. Only Ernie and the kids at home can see him. The stuffed characters that Ernie tosses around were actually made and sent to him by fans, and Ernie had no problem incorporating them as free props. Edie starts the show with a beautiful rendition of the George Gershwin classic "S' Wonderful". Also in this clip is Ernie's viewer participation sketch "Swap Time". Supposedly, two viewers come to the studio to swap blind gifts. There is no doubt that there was a bit of Ernie's creative input! The opening credits show one of the first collaborative efforts with director Joe Behar. He would continue to work with Ernie well into the productions over the ABC Television Network.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Ernie
• Kovacs
• Edie
• Adams
• Classic
• TV
• kinescope
• WPTZ
• NBC
• Alfred
• dog
• Swap
• Time
• Walnut
• Street
• Philadelphia
• The
• Mike
• Douglas
• Show
• Joe
• Behar
• Dave
• Appell
• Trio
• George
• Gershwin
• S'Wonderful

[moviejoe79]

This is really awesome, thanks so much for posting it. It's especially nice to see Edie singing "S' Wonderful" . She was such a great singer and nobody knows it today. It's really something to watch this considering how early it is. I think Ernie had the first morning show ever. It's amazing TV history.

[rolko52]

@moviejoe79 Thanks for the comment! You should catch her singing "Naughty Marietta" on my other Kovacs video posting. Even on that kinescope you can get a very good sense of her vocal ability. I also have a link to the great Anna Moffo singing the same aria. I think Edie did an excellent job in comparison!

[fromthesidelines]

This was Ernie's first network series after "3 TO GET READY", his early-morning show on WPTZ, was yanked in favor of NBC's "TODAY SHOW". This aired on weekdays at 11am(et), sustaining, for 13 weeks on the network [January-March 1952].

[duckman531]

Surreal. Very Ernie!

[wmbrown6]

The Philadelphia affiliate at the time was WPTZ; after the 1956 NBC/Westinghouse license swap between that city and Cleveland, the Philly station under NBC ownership was called WRCV-TV; after the swap was voided in 1965 (with NBC returning to Cleveland and Westinghouse back to Philly), the Philly station adopted the current calls of KYW-TV.