Startime (1959)
Synopsis
Startime, an anthology of drama, comedy and variety, was one of the first American television shows broadcast in color.
First Air Date: 1959-10-06
Last Air Date: 1960-05-31
Number of Seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 33
Created By: Hubbell Robinson
Networks: NBC
Top Cast
- Marian Anderson as Self
- Polly Bergen as Self
- Richard Nixon as Self
- John F. Kennedy as Self
- Dean Martin as Self – Host
- Jack Paar as Self – Host
- William Hickey as Bill – A Bowler
- Ed Wynn as Amos Benedict
- Ethel Merman as Self
- Vincent Price as Sir Bors
Seasons
Season 1 (1959)
No overview available for this season.
Episodes:
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Ep. 1: The Wonderful World of Entertainment
A musical variety show revolving around the music of the 1930s through 1950s, in which the history of show business—including motion pictures, radio, television, and vaudeville—is used as a thread to hold together the songs, sketches, and dances.
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Ep. 2: The Jazz Singer
A young Jewish man is torn between tradition and individuality when his old-fashioned family objects to his career as a jazz singer.
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Ep. 3: The Turn of the Screw
In a mid-19th century Essex country house, a young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted by ghosts and that the children are being possessed.
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Ep. 4: The Secret World of Kids
Art Linkletter's variety episode pays tribute to children with guests Richard M. and his mother Hannah Nixon; comedian Ed Wynn; motion picture actors Ann Blyth and Vincent Price; child performers Jon Provost of Lassie, Teddy Rooney, and Angela Cartwright of The Danny Thomas Show; the Mitchell Boys Choir; and animal performers Lassie and Jerry. Includes a modern television version of Tom Sawyer, a skit on the importance of the first baby, musical and dance numbers, interviews with children and with Richard Nixon and his mother on the Vice President's childhood, and Vincent Price's talented chimpanzee.
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Ep. 5: The Dean Martin Show
An hour of songs, dances and comedy with Dean Martin as the host and his guests are Frank Sinatra, Mickey Rooney, and the dance team of Augie and Margo.
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Ep. 6: The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks
A disgruntled bank employee executes an elaborate corporate sabotage against his employers.
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Ep. 7: George Burns in the Big Time
A musical variety episode featuring comedians and performers George Burns, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, and George Jessel reliving their early days in vaudeville.
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Ep. 8: Merman on Broadway
Ethel Merman presents showtunes from her Broadway hits, with Hollywood stars Tab Hunter and Fess Parker, and comedian Tom Poston. Bobby Sherwood's trumpet accompanies one Merman number.
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Ep. 9: Something Special
Two lonely singles are paired by a matrimonial bureau.
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Ep. 10: My Three Angels
Three convicts escaping from Devil's Island take refuge with a struggling storekeeper and his family, and are able to help them out of their straits.
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Ep. 11: Cindy's Fella
Peddler Azel Dorsey and a drifter wander into a town and help young Cindy find her prince, in this old-west take on the Cinderella fable.
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Ep. 12: Christmas Startime with Leonard Bernstein
A musical Christmas celebration featuring Leonard Bernstein, the New York Philharmonic, Marian Anderson, the Schola Cantorum, the Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral in London and others.
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Ep. 13: Meet Cyd Charisse
A musical variety show starring dancer Cyd Charisse, with guest stars Eve Arden; James Mitchell; Charisse's husband, singer Tony Martin; and a company of over twenty dancers. Includes Charisse and Mitchell in a dramatic ballet set on the Hong Kong waterfront, involving an ill-fated romance between an Oriental entertainer and a thief; Charisse and Mitchell in a romantic dance story set to Gershwin's 'Love Walked In'; Martin in song and dance numbers with Charisse and two featured dancers; and Arden and Ray Kellogg educating coffeehouse beatniks on the culture of the flapper generation.
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Ep. 14: The Man
In a small town, elderly Mrs. Gillis, who in a large Victorian home, receives a visit from a man just out of the army. He's seeking a job and a place to stay, and he knew the woman's late son, so she gives him room and board and small tasks to do. Slowly though, he becomes more and more aggressive and paranoid until it's obvious he's a psychopath that wants to get rid of her and take over the house.
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Ep. 15: The Dean Martin Show
Dean Martin returns to host; appearing in this show: musical comedy star Nanette Fabray, pianist André Previn, and singer Fabian.
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Ep. 16: Crime, Inc.
A survey employing dramatic recreations show how organized crime has infiltrated legitimate business and labor organizations.
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Ep. 17: The Wonderful World of Jack Paar
Jack Paar hosts a show in the casual style of his late-hours stanza. Guests include singer Pat Suzuki, comics Jonathan Winters and Alice Pearce, dancer Betty Bruce, pantomimist Harry Minno, mimic singer Duke Hazlett, a novelty act called the Strong Brothers, and Jack's young daughter Randy.
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Ep. 18: The Greatest Man Alive
An elderly inhabitant of a dingy Manhattan apartment, decides that his life has been a failure and prepares to hang himself when a researcher calls.
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Ep. 19: The Swingin' Years
Ronald Reagan hosts a celebration of the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s.
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Ep. 20: Closed Set
Hollywood starlet Julie Forbes has used ruthless and vindictive tactics to reach the top and maintains her popularity in the same manner. After a succession of stereotyped films, she decides to make a 'quality' film and hires a young, sensitive director, Cliff Harriston. However, when he rebuffs her advances, she aims to ruin him by using her power and influence to turn the film into 'just another Julie Forbes picture'.
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Ep. 21: Talent Scouts
Dave Garroway hosts this showcase for several talented young show-business professionals, each 'sponsored' by an established performer.
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Ep. 22: Jeff McCleod, the Last Reb
Set within the twenty-four hours of April 17, 1865, in and around the Tressler farm in Missouri, Confederate soldier Captain Jeff McCleod has been wounded and left for dead on a small Missouri battlefield. He is found by 15-year-old Yankee boy Jannie, and brought home to a household of women who, reluctantly, hide McCleod in the cellar and lie about his presence to a search party of Union soldiers.
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Ep. 23: The Swingin', Singin' Years
Ronald Reagan returns to hosts anotjer celebration of the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s that recall the greatest recordings made during the swing era.
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Ep. 24: Academy Award Songs
Jane Wyman hosts a showcase of movie songs that won an Academy Award and features the five tunes nominated for this year's Oscar.
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Ep. 25: Dear Arthur
Sophisticated international rogue Fred Cortin has devoted a lifetime to the study and practice of imaginative confidence games. When he encounters his divorced, wealthy daughter, Edith Brooks, on the French Riviera, he devises a plan to protect her from a rash of unwanted suitors by creating a husband for her who doesn't exist. As the moneyed international set in Monaco and along the Riviera—led by Emerald Dane—tends to its fun and games, Cortin sets about achieving his greatest deception.
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Ep. 26: The Young Juggler
Medieval French monks find a freezing, ill juggler and take him in. Upon recovering, the impoverished man wishes to illustrate his tremendous gratitude.
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Ep. 27: Incident at a Corner
A school crossing guard reprimands the PTA president for careless driving. He is later dismissed from his job on the basis of an anonymous note accusing him of being too friendly with little schoolgirls.
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Ep. 28: Well, What About You?
Figures from politics and entertainment join forces to get people to vote in November. The parties are represented by Vice President Richard Nixon, as well as by Paul Butler, Democratic national chairman; Massachusetts Sen. John Kennedy. Thruston Morton of Kentucky, Butler's Republican counterpart; Gov. Nelson Rockefeller of New York; and Adlai Stevenson.
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Ep. 29: Soldiers in Greasepaint
A 20th anniversary tribute to the USO with host Bob Crosby and performances by singer Jane Morgan, comedian Don Adams, and the vocal group The Modernaires. Film clips are shown of USO entertainers doing shows behind the lines during WWII and in Korea.
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Ep. 30: Fun Fair
Celeste Holm hosts a salute to the American county fair. Her guests include Cliff Arquette as Charley Weaver, singers Marion Marlowe and Jaye P. Morgan, comedienne Hermione Gingold, character actress Margaret Hamilton, musical-comedy performer Peter Palmer, and magician Carl Ballantine.
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Ep. 31: Tennessee Ernie Ford Meets King Arthur
Tennessee Ernie Ford is transported back to England in the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
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Ep. 32: Sing Along with Mitch
Conductor-arranger Mitch Miller transfers his 'Sing Along with Mitch' format from records to television. In this program, he is joined by the vocal group Brothers Four, singers Leslie Uggams and Diana Trask, the Sing Along Chorus, and an aggregation of singing children. The studio audience is encouraged to participate.
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Ep. 33: The Nanette Fabray Show
An original musical, 'So Help Me, Aphrodite', with Nanette Fabray starring as Sally, a diner waitress owned by Ernest Jones, who earnestly wants to marry her. But Sally dreams of being famous — like Marie Antoinette or Pocahontas.
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