musicradio77
03-13-2004, 11:51 PM
I went to K-Mart and I bought the DVD of Disney's "Alice in Wonderland". On the second disc, they had bonus materials including the one that I saw is a variety show from the early 50's called "The Fred Waring Show" featuring a dramatization of "Alice in Wonderland" and it was aired during the Spring of 1951 to promote the release of Disney's timeless film. It showed a GE sponsor appeared on the screen (GE owns NBC long before the network purchase). Here's a description of the show according to the book "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows":
The Fred Waring Show
Premiered: 4/17/49
Ended: 5/30/54
Fred Waring and his orchestra and large chorus, had been an American insitution for several decades. when he first entered TV on a regular basis in 1949. Slotted right after the high-rated Ed Sullivan "Toast of the Town", he quickly became a Sunday night standby. The entire Waring organization made up the regular TV cast of more than 60 members. In addition to standard instrumental and vocal members. The show included dancing (during the 1949-50 season there was a dancing contest titled "Video Ballroom" as a regular feature); sketch material that was musically related; and interpetations of fairy tales. Although all the members of the Pennsylvanians had solos at one time or another during the show's 5-year-run. Those most frequently spotlighted were Jane Wilson, Joanne Textor, Hugh "Uncle Lumpy" Brannum, Virginia Monley and Livingston Gearhart, and poley McClintock (with whom Fred had founded his first band in 1915).
"The Fred Waring Show" was performed before a live studio audience during its first and last seasons, and without a live audience for the three season in between. In its last season it was cut back to alternate-week status, with "GE Theatre" airing on the alternate Sundays.
The Fred Waring Show
Premiered: 4/17/49
Ended: 5/30/54
Fred Waring and his orchestra and large chorus, had been an American insitution for several decades. when he first entered TV on a regular basis in 1949. Slotted right after the high-rated Ed Sullivan "Toast of the Town", he quickly became a Sunday night standby. The entire Waring organization made up the regular TV cast of more than 60 members. In addition to standard instrumental and vocal members. The show included dancing (during the 1949-50 season there was a dancing contest titled "Video Ballroom" as a regular feature); sketch material that was musically related; and interpetations of fairy tales. Although all the members of the Pennsylvanians had solos at one time or another during the show's 5-year-run. Those most frequently spotlighted were Jane Wilson, Joanne Textor, Hugh "Uncle Lumpy" Brannum, Virginia Monley and Livingston Gearhart, and poley McClintock (with whom Fred had founded his first band in 1915).
"The Fred Waring Show" was performed before a live studio audience during its first and last seasons, and without a live audience for the three season in between. In its last season it was cut back to alternate-week status, with "GE Theatre" airing on the alternate Sundays.