#Garry Blake and His Orchestra

[papermoonloveslucy]

CBS ON THE AIR: A CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS ~ Part 1

March 26 – April 1, 1978

The origins of CBS date back to January 27, 1927, with the creation of the "United Independent Broadcasters" network. The fledgling network soon needed additional investors though, and the Columbia Phonograph Company, manufacturers of Columbia Records, rescued it in April 1927; as a result, the new network was renamed the Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System on September 18 of that year. Columbia Phonographic went on the air on September 18, 1927, with a presentation by the Howard L. Barlow Orchestra from flagship station WOR in Newark, New Jersey, and fifteen affiliates. This was the birth of CBS radio.  

CBS's involvement in television dates back to the opening of experimental station W2XAB in New York City on July 21, 1931. Its initial broadcast featured New York Mayor Jimmy Walker, Kate Smith, and George Gershwin. The station boasted the first regular seven-day broadcasting schedule in American television, broadcasting 28 hours a week.

To celebrate its fiftieth year of broadcasting, CBS devoted seven nights to a celebration of their history – nine and a half hours of air time: “CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years.” The goal was to bring together more than 100 network stars, past and present, with Walter Cronkite and Mary Tyler Moore serving as overall hosts. Other stars and personalities stepped up to host nights they were associated with. The event was produced by Alexander H. Cohen and written by his wife, Hildy Parks.

The music for the event was written by some of the greatest theatre composers of the time with the main musical theme written by Leonard Bernstein. “Member of the Family” was written by Jerry Herman. “Cowboys and Clowns” was written by Jule Styne.

The event's announcer was Dick Tufeld.

The schedule:

Sunday, March 26 - “Night of 100 Stars” - co-hosted by Telly Savalas and Jean Stapleton

Monday, March 27 - “Have a Laugh on Us” - with Lucille Ball, George Burns, Arthur Godfrey, and Bea Arthur

Tuesday, March 28 - “Chills and Thrills with a Laugh Chaser” with Alan Alda, Garry Moore, and Phil Silvers

Wednesday, March 29 - “Dreams Come True” with Dick Van Dyke, Buddy Ebsen, Cicely Tyson, and Danny Kaye

Thursday, March 30 - “Join the Family” with Richard Thomas and the cast of “The Waltons”

Friday, March 30 - “We’re Getting Personal” with Lauren Bacall, Eve Arden, Bert Convy, Richard Crenna, Bonnie Franklin, Jim Nabors, and Linda Lavin

Saturday, April 1 - “A Rootin’, Tootin’, Hootin’ & Hollerin’ Salute to Cowboys and Clowns” with Carol Burnett, Carroll O’Connor, Art Carney, Isabel Sanford, Tony Randall, and Sherman Hemsley

Although CBS attempted to bring together as many of its stars as possible, a few were just unable–or unwilling–to be involved. According to TV Guide, Cher and Amanda Blake were sick, while ABC refused to allow Cloris Leachman to participate in a special on another network. Supposedly, Charlton Heston declined to give CBS permission to use his likeness.  

Lucille Ball, who helped bring the television network to prominence in the 1950s, was part of the celebrations on Sunday as one of the 100 stars, and on Monday, the night she ruled on CBS with her three sitcoms.

Like other network anniversary celebrations, “CBS: On the Air” has never been repeated nor has it been officially released on any format. However, The Paley Center for Media has more than 40 listings relating to the specials, including complete installments, clip compilations, and rough cut reels.

Although they are not near each other on stage due to the alphabetical order of entrances, this is the last time Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance would be on the same television show.  Vance would make one more appearance on her own before her death in 1979. 

Lucy Ricardo: “What are you? The Cuban television network?” Ricky Ricardo: “Yes. CBS. The Cuban Broadcasting System.”

Sunday, March 26 - “Night of 100 Stars”

The 115 (or so) stars were introduced to viewers by the night that they first enjoyed success, starting with Sunday. Lucille Ball enters during the second group (Monday) and is one of the first because the stars are introduced alphabetically. Vivian Vance ends the Monday night group. It takes nearly nine minutes to introduce all the “members of the CBS family.”  

Here are the CBS Stars with professional connections to Lucille Ball:

Sundays

Arlene Francis (“What's My Line?”) was a panelist for Lucille Ball's six appearances on “What's My Line?” from 1954 to 1965.

Alan Funt (“Candid Camera”) guest-starred as himself (and his evil doppelganger) on “Lucy and the Candid Camera” (HL S4;E14) in 1971.

Valerie Harper (“Rhoda”) was in the chorus of Wildcat (1960) on Broadway starring Lucille Ball. Harper joined Lucy on “Dinah!” singing “Hey Look Me Over” in 1976 and sang a musical tribute to Ball at “The Kennedy Center Honors” in 1987.  

Ann Sothern (“Private Secretary”) was one of Lucille Ball's closest friends from her days at RKO. Ball would always say that she would hang around the casting office asking if there were any roles Ann Sothern was too busy to do. She guest-starred as her “Private Secretary” character on the very first “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.”  In return, Lucy appeared on her next sitcom, “The Ann Sothern Show.” Sothern played Rosie, the Countess Frambois, in several episodes of “The Lucy Show.”

Nancy Walker (“Rhoda”) did the 1943 film Best Foot Forward with Lucille Ball. 

Mondays

Beatrice Arthur (“Maude”) starred opposite Lucille Ball in the 1974 musical film Mame, recreating the role she created on Broadway. Like Valerie Harper, she paid tribute to Ball in song at “The Kennedy Center Honors” in 1987.  

Lucille Ball (“I Love Lucy” / “The Lucy Show” / “Here's Lucy”)

Ken Berry (“Mayberry RFD”) was spotted by Lucille Ball performing on stage and put under contract to Desilu for the Desilu Workshop. He played himself on a 1968 episode of “The Lucy Show.”

George Burns (“Burns and Allen”) and Lucille Ball appeared on many TV variety and award shows together. In 1966 he played himself on “The Lucy Show” and did a cameo as himself on a 1970 episode of “Here's Lucy.”  

Arthur Godfrey (“The Arthur Godfrey Show”) also hosted “Talent Scouts” on which Lucile Ball did a guest appearance in 1963. After a career lull, Ball guest starred him on “The Lucy Show” as himself in March 1965.

Andy Griffith (“The Andy Griffith Show”) filmed his show on the Desilu backlot. Lucy interviewed Griffith on her radio show in 1965. In 1968, the two did a pantomime sketch on “The Tennessee Ernie Ford Special.” He finally teamed with Ball on “Here's Lucy” in 1973. 

Don Knotts (“The Andy Griffith Show”) played Lucy Carter's “last blind date” on a 1973 episode of “Here's Lucy.”  

Art Linkletter (“The Art Linkletter Show”) was first mentioned on “The Lucy Show” in 1962 and would appear as himself four years later. Lucille Ball was his guest on “House Party” in 1964. Linkletter will also play himself on a 1970 episode of “Here’s Lucy.”   

Danny Thomas (“Make Room for Daddy”) and Lucille Ball's careers are forever linked. “Make Room for Daddy” was filmed at Desilu Studios and when it moved to CBS the characters did a cross-over episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour,” exchanging homes with the Ricardos. In return, Lucy and Desi played Lucy and Ricky on an episode of “Make Room for Daddy.” When Thomas starred in a sequel titled “Make Room for Granddaddy” Ball guest-starred and did the same when he starred in the short-lived series “The Practice.” Thomas appeared as himself in a 1965 episode of “The Lucy Show” and as an eccentric artist on “Here's Lucy” in 1973.

Vivian Vance (“I Love Lucy” / “The Lucy Show” / “Here's Lucy”) is best remembered as Lucy's best pal Ethel Mertz on “I Love Lucy.”  She returned to play Vivian Bagley on “The Lucy Show” and Vivian Jones on “Here's Lucy.”  The pair also were seen together on CBS in “Lucy Calls The President” in 1977.

Tuesdays

Jamie Farr (“M*A*S*H”) was seen on “Lucy, The Rain Goddess” (TLS S4;E15) in 1966.

Garry Moore (“The Garry Moore Show”) was also the host of “I've Got A Secret” on which Lucille Ball appeared in 1956 and 1961. In between, she was a guest on “The Garry Moore Show” in 1960.

Phil Silvers (“The Phil Silvers Show”) played an efficiency expert on a 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show.” Lucy made a cameo appearance on “The Phil Silvers Show” in 1959.

Red Skelton (“The Red Skelton Hour”) did five films with Lucille Ball between 1938 and 1945, including DuBarry Was a Lady (1943). Skelton played himself on “Lucy Goes to Alaska” in 1959.

Wednesdays

Steve Allen (“The Steve Allen Show”) was the guest-host or panelist for three of Lucy's appearances on “What's My Line?” and “I've Got a Secret.”  He played himself on “Lucy Calls the President” (1977).

Eva Gabor (“Green Acres”) made two appearances on “Here's Lucy,” once playing herself.

Danny Kaye (“The Danny Kaye Show”) appeared as himself on a 1964 episode of “The Lucy Show.” Before that, Ball guest-starred on two “Danny Kaye Specials.”

Dick Van Dyke (“The Dick Van Dyke Show”) invited Lucille Ball to appear on his short-lived variety show “Van Dyke & Company” in 1976.

Thursdays

Ellen Corby (“The Waltons”) played Miss Hannah, Lucy Ricardo's high school drama teacher in “Lucy Meets Orson Welles” (ILL S6;E3) in 1956.  She also appeared in a 1963 episode of “The Lucy Show.”

Fridays

Eve Arden (“Our Miss Brooks”) did a one line cameo as herself in “Hollywood at Last!” (ILL S4;E16) in 1955. Arden and Ball did two films together at RKO in the late 1930s.  

Richard Crenna (“Our Miss Brooks”) played Arthur Morton, a variation on his character Walter Denton in “Our Miss Brooks,” on “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20) in 1952.  

Jim Nabors (“Gomer Pyle USMC”) did an uncredited cameo as Gomer Pyle in “Lucy Gets Caught Up in the Draft” (TLS S5;E9) in 1966. Both shows were shot at Desilu Studios.

Saturdays

Carol Burnett (“The Carol Burnett Show”) was a protege of Lucille Ball's.  In 1966 Lucille Ball and Zero Mostel were the stars of “Carol + 2”. Ball and Burnett would exchange appearances on each other's shows. Carol made seven appearances on “The Lucy Show” and “Here's Lucy,” while Ball did four installments of “The Carol Burnett Show.”

Art Carney (“The Honeymooners”) played Lucille Ball’s husband in the 1967 film A Guide for the Married Man. He also starred in Lucille Ball’s 1976 TV special, What Now, Catherine Curtis? As well as her first special, Happy Anniversary and Goodbye in 1974.

Mike Connors (“Mannix”) played his iconic detective Joe Mannix on an episode of “Here's Lucy” in 1971.  Lucille Ball was responsible for rescuing “Mannix” from being canceled early in its run.

Fred MacMurray (“My Three Sons”) played himself in “Lucy Hunts Uranium” in 1958.

Audrey Meadows (“The Honeymooners”) played Lucy's sister on one episode of “Life With Lucy” (1986).  

Tony Randall (“The Odd Couple”) played a mountain climbing executive on a 1971 “Here's Lucy.”  

Betty White (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) was a life-long friend of Lucille Ball's. The two made no dramatic appearances together, but did co-star on episodes of “Password.”  

On Saturday, April 1, the special ended with these same celebrities lined up on a elevated walkway outside CBS Television City. Lucille Ball appears behind the screen credit for director Clark Jones.

Next!  “Have a Laugh on Us!” ~ Part 2

[cheesylistening]

The IMPACT of Garry Blake - Garry Blake and his Orchestra

Long before Miley straddled a wrecking ball, there was something called the 1960s. It was populated by psychedelic lampshades and shaggy carpets and ladies frequently got their bits out in the name of music*.

It goes without saying that I bought this for the cover. It made me piss in the charity shop. Hearing me snigger, the lady behind the counter called out "Having fun, there?" Yes. Yes I am. Because this cover is nonsense. I suspect its target audience were/are the type of men who think lesbians were invented just for them. You cannot take a record cover like this seriously.

So what is the impact of Garry Blake and his orchestra on listening? Well, I didn't feel a sudden urge to writhe about on a beach in the nuddy, but that could just be me. It is definitely fun and frolicky, though, with a jolly 1960s sound that typifies TV and film soundtracks of the era. I actually love the bass sound. And there's some awesome guiro and bonkers drumming here. The back cover boasts: "This is not just another record, it is a new experience..." YOLO, Garry, mate.

Here are some more Studio 2 Stereo LPs from my cheese library - I feel they missed a naked lady opportunity with "Climax"

  Vital Statistics:

Released on EMI Records in 1967 Cover photo by Anthony Lloyd-Parker

Side One

1. If I Were A Rich Man 2. Strangers In The Night 3. A Man And A Woman 4. Zorba's Dance 5. Sunny 6. Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows

Side Two

1. Impact 2. Music To Watch Girls Go By 3. Blue Tango 4. For You 5. On The Road To Somewhere 6. Guantanamera

*sadly not that much has changed except perhaps women are objectified more frequently in videos than record covers these days. Yawn.