Sweevil
2004-05-11 03:28:03 UTC
Researching a project I recently discovered that in the 1950s a series of
mostly 90 minute TV shows were broadcast, called PRODCUERS' SHOWCASE. Some
were adaptations of current or classic musicals, others original musicals
and plays written for TV by big names such as Jule Styne who, with Leo
Robin, scored an original musical for the series. Has anyone seen any of
these? They don't appear to be available on DVD or video, but some look
like they sure should be.
Their website seems to indicate that they are trying to prepare these
programs for sale or cable broadcast. Some info from the site:
The budgets for Showcase, across the board, were so enormous, that there was
first-rate talent involved at every stage of every production; the disparity
between the one-hour shows and the 90-minute and 120-minute shows on the
Producers' Showcase series, with one exception, was even greater. Many of
the programs were restagings of successful Broadway dramas and musicals.
Even though technical capabilities of the day were primitive compared to
today, no expense was spared for the Producers' Showcase programs, and as a
result, they are very entertaining even now. Directors such as Arthur Penn,
Sidney Lumet, Kirk Browning, and Clark Jones knew even then how to create
visually interesting television; the world-class authors who were adapted by
writers at the top of the talent ladder, and the successful writers who
created programs specifically for this series, all knew how to create an
interesting story, with excellent plotting and character development; the
actors were literally the best that there ever were, and their performances
are first-rate by any standard; the legendary performing artists outdid
themselves to dazzle the world's largest audiences; the composers and
lyricists who created music and songs were already successful. As just one
illustration of the quality of these programs, James van Heusen and Sammy
Cahn wrote the classic song "Love and Marriage" specifically for the musical
version of "OUR TOWN" from the Producer's Showcase series; Thornton Wilder's
play remains the most performed American stage play. Overall, these programs
still have the power to dazzle an audience.
Past Ratings as a Guide to Present Audience Potential
The programs were broadcast "live" and have not been seen since their
original broadcasts, although NBC and Showcase have, from time to time,
licensed clips from individual programs. Even making allowance for the
limited number of programming choices available to audiences at the time,
Producers' Shocase drew phenomenal "Nielsen" ratings and audiences -- the 23
programs for which we have records, averaged a 36.5% audience share. The
very highest ratings were garnered by the original March 7, 1955 broadcast
of "PETER PAN (68.3 share, estimated at a total audience of between
65,000,000 and 75,000,000 people), the March 30, 1955 broadcast of "THE
PETRIFIED FOREST" (50.6 share), and the January 9, 1956 repeat of "PETER
PAN" (54.9 share). The "Trendex" ratings were even higher, with,
respectively, shares of 69.2 for the first "PETER PAN" and of 51.2 for "THE
PETRIFIED FOREST." (We have been told by many inerviewees that it was almost
impossible to hail a taxicab in New York City on the nights of the "PETER
PAN" broadcasts!) It should be remembered that this success was generally
achieved in head-to-head combat with the most consistently popular program
in TV history, "I LOVE LUCY," running on CBS.
mostly 90 minute TV shows were broadcast, called PRODCUERS' SHOWCASE. Some
were adaptations of current or classic musicals, others original musicals
and plays written for TV by big names such as Jule Styne who, with Leo
Robin, scored an original musical for the series. Has anyone seen any of
these? They don't appear to be available on DVD or video, but some look
like they sure should be.
Their website seems to indicate that they are trying to prepare these
programs for sale or cable broadcast. Some info from the site:
The budgets for Showcase, across the board, were so enormous, that there was
first-rate talent involved at every stage of every production; the disparity
between the one-hour shows and the 90-minute and 120-minute shows on the
Producers' Showcase series, with one exception, was even greater. Many of
the programs were restagings of successful Broadway dramas and musicals.
Even though technical capabilities of the day were primitive compared to
today, no expense was spared for the Producers' Showcase programs, and as a
result, they are very entertaining even now. Directors such as Arthur Penn,
Sidney Lumet, Kirk Browning, and Clark Jones knew even then how to create
visually interesting television; the world-class authors who were adapted by
writers at the top of the talent ladder, and the successful writers who
created programs specifically for this series, all knew how to create an
interesting story, with excellent plotting and character development; the
actors were literally the best that there ever were, and their performances
are first-rate by any standard; the legendary performing artists outdid
themselves to dazzle the world's largest audiences; the composers and
lyricists who created music and songs were already successful. As just one
illustration of the quality of these programs, James van Heusen and Sammy
Cahn wrote the classic song "Love and Marriage" specifically for the musical
version of "OUR TOWN" from the Producer's Showcase series; Thornton Wilder's
play remains the most performed American stage play. Overall, these programs
still have the power to dazzle an audience.
Past Ratings as a Guide to Present Audience Potential
The programs were broadcast "live" and have not been seen since their
original broadcasts, although NBC and Showcase have, from time to time,
licensed clips from individual programs. Even making allowance for the
limited number of programming choices available to audiences at the time,
Producers' Shocase drew phenomenal "Nielsen" ratings and audiences -- the 23
programs for which we have records, averaged a 36.5% audience share. The
very highest ratings were garnered by the original March 7, 1955 broadcast
of "PETER PAN (68.3 share, estimated at a total audience of between
65,000,000 and 75,000,000 people), the March 30, 1955 broadcast of "THE
PETRIFIED FOREST" (50.6 share), and the January 9, 1956 repeat of "PETER
PAN" (54.9 share). The "Trendex" ratings were even higher, with,
respectively, shares of 69.2 for the first "PETER PAN" and of 51.2 for "THE
PETRIFIED FOREST." (We have been told by many inerviewees that it was almost
impossible to hail a taxicab in New York City on the nights of the "PETER
PAN" broadcasts!) It should be remembered that this success was generally
achieved in head-to-head combat with the most consistently popular program
in TV history, "I LOVE LUCY," running on CBS.