A CBS variety show that ran monthly from 1954-1958, broadcast in color. Stars appearing included Betty Grable, Mario Lanza, Jack Benny, Basil Rathbone, Fredric March, Shirley MacLaine and ...
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S1.E9
In this musical/comedy, the Brooklyn Hooligans ball club is having troubles. Its manager, Gabby Mullins, fears they'll go broke without a cash infusion. To the rescue comes opera star Dorothy Meadows...
Jack introduced his guests, bantering with each one. A courtroom skit has Jayne as Jack's defense lawyer. Vince shows up in shorts from a game show booth. Liberace plays classical piano.
S3.E2
Re-run of the Shower of Stars adaptation of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol", originally shown Dec. 23, 1954. Scrooge is redeemed through meeting with four ghosts.
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Title: Shower of Stars (1954–1958)
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Cast
| Series cast summary: | |||
| William Lundigan | ... | Self - Host / ... 21 episodes, 1954-1958 | |
| Jack Benny | ... | Self / ... 19 episodes, 1955-1958 | |
| Art Gilmore | ... | Announcer / ... 9 episodes, 1954-1958 | |
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A CBS variety show that ran monthly from 1954-1958, broadcast in color. Stars appearing included Betty Grable, Mario Lanza, Jack Benny, Basil Rathbone, Fredric March, Shirley MacLaine and Ed Wynn. Lanza and Grable appeared in an amusing episode with Fred Clark, featuring Grable as the unlikely replacement for Lanza in a show. Written by krbannerman
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
30 September 1954 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Chrysler Shower of Stars See more »Filming Locations:
Studio 43, CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USACompany Credits
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MonoAspect Ratio:
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This version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL puts me in mind of the 1910 Edison Company rendition, which is to say it's main virtue is it's historical kitsch value. Even viewers like me who track down every version of the CAROL that they can will likely be disappointed in this production.
Sadly, Maxwell Anderson and Bernard Herrman turn in work that is not up to their usual high standards. In addition to that a distractingly loooooong fake nose on Frederic March and the manner in which the Christmas Yet To Come segment is hopelessly rushed mar the presentation.
The little extras help make this worth having , though. Viewers can get the feel of what live single-sponsor television broadcasts were like in the 1950's and will certainly laugh at the ads for new automobiles with three-figure selling prices. The Roger Wagner Singers belt out a few obscure Holiday songs from time-to-time, presumably to allow time for the next scene to be set up by the stagehands.
Though the story is presented in a pretty soulless "paint-by-numbers" way and lacks the usual emotional appeal it does contain a few interesting touches, like having the same actress who portrays Scrooge's lost love Belle play The Ghost of Christmas Past and having the same actor who portrays Scrooge's nephew Fred (Ray Middleton, who would go on to be in 1776)play The Ghost of Christmas Present.
Overall, this adaptation of the Dickens classic is best for CHRISTMAS CAROL enthusiasts who can't live without every version of the story they can lay their hands on.