Fri, Jun 15, 1951
For the first show of Wonderful Town, U.S.A. Faye explores Boston. Her first guest is artist Al Capp who discusses the monuments in the city. Composer, and Boston native, Leroy Anderson plays an original composition. Then Faye meets up with actors Ezra Stone, dressed as a Minuteman, and Jeffrey Lynn. Finally, Faye visits with actress/singer Georgia Gibbs who sings a Gershwin song about Boston and then closes the show by singing the song "Skylark."
Fri, Jul 6, 1951
Faye talks to newspapers journalist and publisher Barry Bingham Sr. about the history of Louisville. Mayor Charlie Farnsley tells Faye about his famous weekly "beef sessions" where residents get to meet and discuss with him what they're not happy about. Singer/actress Rosalind Marquis, who has her own TV talk show in Louisville, provides a musical interlude by singing the song "Wonderful." Then, Faye goes to the fair and talks to actress Jane Darwell about food at the fair before meeting Dickie Moore, a teenager who won a tobacco auctioneer competition, who demonstrates how to call an auction. The show ends with champion fiddler Morris Wayne "Sleepy" Marlin playing for some square dancers.
Fri, Jul 13, 1951
Faye Emerson honors the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her guests include Senator Hubert H. Humphey (the future Vice-President of the United States).
Fri, Aug 10, 1951
Faye takes viewers on a trip to Atlanta, Georgia. Jane Pickens, star of the opera Regina, performs an emotional scene from the opera. Then, Faye reads a Joel Chandler Harris story to a group of children. After talking about the morals of the story, Faye tells viewers about the eternal flame of the confederacy. She then asks broadcaster John Tillman for some help as they pretend to provide a news broadcast depicting the end of the Civil War; footage from the film Birth of a Nation is used to "illustrate" their broadcast. A more comical approach is taken when Faye performs a scene from the play Light Up the Sky with actor Lee Tracy. Jane Pickens closed the show by performing another song.
Fri, Aug 31, 1951
St. Louis is the setting for this show. Faye meets Sally Benson, a St. Louis author, who wrote the short stories the film "Meet Me in St. Louis" was based on. Nancy Reed and Andy Roberts sing the songs "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "The Boy Next Door" from the film. Next, legendary St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Browns pitcher and now baseball broadcaster Dizzy Dean talks about his favorite places in St. Louis including the zoo and Forest Park. Then a choir sings "Sunday in the Park", the Pepsi-Cola man, dressed as a hot dog vendor, drops in and a chimp riding a motorcycle makes an appearance. Finally, Faye talks to jazz legend W.C. Handy who speaks about his life in St. Louis and how he wrote the song "St. Louis Blues". Thelma Carpenter sings the song to close the show.
Fri, Sep 21, 1951
Faye hosts a music filled tribute to the city of Pittsburgh. Maxine Sullivan starts the show by singing "Loch Lomond". Next, William Eythe and Jenny Lou Law, original cast members of the musical revue "Lend an Ear" perform the song "Neurotic You and Psychopathic Me" from the show. Jazz pianist, and Pittsburgh native, Erroll Garner plays a piano solo. Jack Heller, owner of Pittsburgh's Club Carousel, talks with Faye before singing "I Whistle a Happy Tune." The show closes with a musical tribute to the steel workers, miners, and other hardworking people of Pittsburgh who have helped shape the country.
Fri, Oct 5, 1951
Faye "visits" Westport, Connecticut and talks about the commuters who live in Westport and work in New York City. The Honey Dreamers sing a song about the morning commute. Then, Faye meets a very punctual man, who she delays, played by Eddie Mayehoff. Next, she visits the theater in town where she sees Lillian Gish in a scene from the play "Miss Mabel". Faye visits the county fair with artist/illustrator Stevan Dohanos. She enjoy some Pepsi-Cola and then the show ends with another visit from Eddie Mayehoff and The Honey Dreamers.
Fri, Oct 12, 1951
Faye starts her look at the city of Baltimore by talking to the "technical advisor" Mayor Tommy D'Alesandro. Faye sees the sights and sounds of Baltimore which include a songs from June Carroll and Baltimore native Earl Wrightson. Afterwards, Faye is joined by The Ink Spots who sing the song "Maybe". Next, Garry Moore, also a Baltimore native, professes his love of oysters through a poem. Earl Wrightson returns to sing "That's America for Me". The show closes with everyone enjoying a Pepsi-Cola and The Ink Spots singing "If I Didn't Care".
Fri, Oct 19, 1951
Faye introduces the audience to the sights and sounds of San Francisco. She visits Fisherman's Wharf where a sailor performs an interpretive dance to Chinatown where Faye narrates a traditional Chinese fable. Faye goes to the opera and watches David Poleri perform an aria from Tosca by Puccini. Then, she has a Pepsi-Cola and dances the tango with San Francisco native actor Paul Hartman who accuses fellow actor Robert Q. Lewis of stalking Faye. Another native of San Francisco, Benay Venuta, sings "Yankee Doodle Blues" for the troops in Korea.
Fri, Oct 26, 1951
This show is all about the Bronx and begins with a piano song about the borough. Then, Faye shows the audience how the music on the show is created by taking them backstage to hear from the orchestra. Next, Faye rides the subway where she starts up a conversation with a fellow rider (possibly Alice Pearce) before getting off to get a Pepsi-Cola and watch a talented dancer (possibly Nora Kaye) perform in the street. The show ends with a man (possibly Abe Burrows) singing about the tenement he owns in the Bronx and how diverse and wonderful it is.
Fri, Nov 2, 1951
While at the beach, Faye takes time to talk about all the attractions in Miami. She interviews a citizen on the beach. Afterwards, Faye and Andy Russell go "fishing" (they sit on a boat in the studio and pretend the fish) and he talks about the fishing industry in Miami. Then, Joan Edwards sings and plays a song on the piano. The show ends with Faye dancing in a nightclub.
Fri, Nov 9, 1951
Faye takes viewers to Tombstone, Arizona. The town's history and rich culture is reflected through songs performed by The Honey Dreamers, Tito Gazar, Caroline King and Betty and Jane Kean. John McGovern shares some of the colorful history of some of the legendary outlaws who passed through Tombstone.
Fri, Nov 23, 1951
Faye takes viewers to the always busy town of Detroit. The show starts in a factory with a song about working and a comical dance by Tommy Rall. Then, Johnny Desmond plays a customs officer on the U.S./Canada border who has a comical interaction with a difficult citizen played by Margaret Whiting. Desmond sings a song. The ghost of Thomas Edison talks to Faye about inventors in the 1950s doing good for the world. Mary Boland performs a song written by her father. The show ends with Faye, Desmond and Boland performing the song "Old Soft Shoe."
Fri, Nov 30, 1951
College Towns, UCLA, Southern Methodist, Smith College and Dartmouth.
Fri, Dec 7, 1951
The show starts with four sailors singing a song about San Diego which turns into an intricate dance routine. Faye talks to two famous San Diego natives (possibly Florence Chadwick and Mary Sinclair) about the city, their accomplishments and how they represent the city. A Spanish dance is performed and then Faye talks to an actor from San Diego. Faye also performs a piece from a show she appeared in when she lived in San Diego.
Fri, Dec 14, 1951
Faye starts the show by giving the audience some interesting facts about Brooklyn, its famous landmarks, people and sports teams. She then does a song and dance routine. Next, Faye spends time interviewing a baseball fan and a blues singer about Brooklyn. She goes on to tell the Steve Brody story.
Fri, Dec 21, 1951
Features an original Christmas play.
Fri, Dec 28, 1951
It's New Year's Eve in Wonderful Town. Faye talks with the ghost of Father Duffy about the celebrations in Times Square following the ends of the wars. Comedian Alice Pearce plays the role of the 4th runner-up in the famous bake-off contest with her brandy seed cake complete with bird seed and a dash of ethanol unleaded. Rosemary Clooney sings "Come On-A My House" for Faye. Nora Kaye and Tommy Rall do some dances representing different resolutions such as not be late, no cigarettes before breakfast, only buy sensible hats, no pre lunch cocktails, and no more falling in love. Faye also talks to Skitch about their own resolutions.