a.k.a.
Texaco Star Theater
June 8, 1948 - June 1956
NBC Comedy/Variety series
Hosts:
Milton Berle
Jimmy Durante
Mitzi Gaynor
Announcers:
Sid Stone
Jimmy Nelson
Jack Lescoulie
Regulars:
Fatso Marco as Marko Marcelle
Ruth Gilbert
Bobby Sherwood
Arnold Stang
Jack Collins
Milton Frome
Orchestra:
Alan Roth
Victor Young
Billy May
The most popular hour of the week during the early years
of television was Milton Berle's, on Tuesday night. He
fast developed into something of a national institution,
"Mr. Television," and it is said that he sold more TV sets
than any advertising campaign. People bought the newfangled
thing just to see this crazy comedian everyone was talking
about. The original Texaco Star Theater was built along
the lines of an old-fashioned vaudeville variety hour, with
half a dozen guests each week, including singers, comedians,
ventriloquists, and acrobats. But the star was Berle, and
he involved himself in many of the acts, adding comedy
counterpoint. Soon the basic format was set. Each show
opened with four Texaco Service Men, singing the Texaco
jingle and then working into a musical introduction of
Berle, who came on dressed in some outlandish costume.
And each show would end with Berle singing his
theme song, "Near You."
Click HERE for Milton Berle's obituary.
Click above to purchase The Milton Berle Collection on DVD!
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From TV.com
The Milton Berle Show
From The Museum of Broadcast Communications
These links were last tested February 2004.
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