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The Frank Sinatra Show (1950 TV series)

April 12, 2024

The Frank Sinatra Show (also known as Bulova Watch Time[1]) is an American television musical variety series hosted by Frank Sinatra from October 7, 1950, to April 1, 1952.[2] The series aired on CBS on Saturdays the first season and on Tuesdays for the second year.[3] As with many variety shows of the time, the show was broadcast live and was recorded via kinescope. Some episodes were 30 minutes long while others lasted for 60 minutes. At least one episode aired in a 45-minute time-slot.[4]

The Frank Sinatra Show
Sinatra on the set in 1950.
Also known asBulova Watch Time
GenreVariety
Directed byJack Donohue
Presented byFrank Sinatra
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
Production
Executive producerMarlo Lewis
ProducerJack Donohue
Production locationsNew York City, New York
Running time25 minutes/48-50 minutes
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseOctober 7, 1950 (1950-10-07) –
November 13, 1952 (1952-11-13)

Overview edit

The show was hosted by Frank Sinatra, with Ben Blue, Erin O'Brien, Sidney Fields, Joey Walsh, Pat Gaye, Roberta Lee, The Whipoorwills, and The Blue Family as regulars. Axel Stordahl led the orchestra, and Ken Roberts was the announcer.[5]

The series was initially sponsored by Bulova Watches, which ended the relationship after 13 weeks.[6] Sinatra would perform songs and sketches with his guests. The series is reportedly in the public domain.[citation needed]

In its first season, the show's competition included Your Show of Shows ("then a red-hot sensation"), and in the second season it included Texaco Star Theater ("the number-one show in television"),[3] making the series "arguably doomed to failure".[6] In his book The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television (2004), David Weinstein claims that the surprise popularity of the DuMont Television Network series Life Is Worth Living in 1952 was the final blow that led to the cancellation of The Frank Sinatra Show. He notes that controversy surrounding Sinatra's affair with Ava Gardner, along with several unpopular singles, had caused ratings to slip.[7] Other sponsors came and went, but low ratings led to Sinatra's contract being terminated early.[6]

Life Is Worth Living, which averaged about 10 million viewers at a time when there were four major television networks in the United States, eroded the ratings of the show even further, to the point that The Frank Sinatra Show finally left the air.[8]

Guest stars edit

Production edit

Marlo Lewis was the executive producer of The Frank Sinatra Show, which originated from WCBS. The show's last broadcast was on April 1, 1952. It was replaced by Out There.[9]

After the show's first episode, John Peyser was brought in to be the director, remaining in that position for 32 weeks. He pointed out that Sinatra's schedule affected the quality of the show, as the star arrived from Los Angeles each Friday morning and returned home immediately after the Saturday broadcast. Lack of access to Sinatra during the week hampered planning of sketches and songs.[10]

Critical response edit

A review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Variety said that "CBS video entrepreneurs did practically everything to checkmate the star", citing "bad pacing, bad scripting, bad tempo, poor camera work and overall jerky presentation".[11] Despite those problems, the review said that Sinatra had "bigtime TV potential", noting his "considerable charm, ease, and the ability to sell a song".[11] The review questioned use of Sinatra as a straightman for Blue and the song selected to close the episode. Highlights that it singled out were the opening song and a skit that Sinatra did with guest J. Carroll Naish.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ Seymour, Alan (June 17, 2023). "Ahead of the Pack: For the icons of A-lister cool, sartorial savoir faire extended to their wristwear". The Daily Telegraph. p. 9. ProQuest 2826551864. Bulova, which at the time was still based in the US, was the watch brand of choice for Ol' Blue Eyes himself, although he also sported pieces by Gruen, Audemars Piguet, Cartier and Lucien Piccard. Bulova even sponsored The Frank Sinatra Show (also known as Bulova Watch Time), a US musical variety series hosted by the singer from 1950 to 1952. The brand continues its association with the late Sinatra to this day with a watch named and designed in his honour, which features his signature fedora hat at the 12 o'clock position.
  2. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 300. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  3. ^ a b Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 498. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  4. ^ "The Frank Sinatra Show - May 5, 1951". 1951.
  5. ^ Terrace, Vincent (January 10, 2014). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 363. ISBN 978-0-7864-8641-0. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c McNally, Karen (April 20, 2015). When Frankie Went to Hollywood: Frank Sinatra and American Male Identity. University of Illinois Press. pp. 21–22. ISBN 978-0-252-09820-8. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Weinstein, David (2004). The Forgotten Network: Dumont and the Birth of American Television. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press. ISBN 1-59213-245-6.
  8. ^ Weinstein, David (2004). The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television. Philadephia, PA: Temple University Press. p. 156. ISBN 1-59213-245-6.
  9. ^ "This Week - Network Debuts, Highlights, Changes". Ross Reports. March 30, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  10. ^ Hyatt, Wesley (October 6, 2015). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-4766-0515-9. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c "Frank Sinatra Show". Variety. October 11, 1950. p. 31. Retrieved February 15, 2024.

External links edit

  • The Frank Sinatra Show at IMDb  
  • A film clip of The Frank Sinatra Show is available for viewing at the Internet Archive
  • The Frank Sinatra Show (1950–52)

April 12, 2024
frank, sinatra, show, 1950, series, frank, sinatra, show, also, known, bulova, watch, time, american, television, musical, variety, series, hosted, frank, sinatra, from, october, 1950, april, 1952, series, aired, saturdays, first, season, tuesdays, second, yea. The Frank Sinatra Show also known as Bulova Watch Time 1 is an American television musical variety series hosted by Frank Sinatra from October 7 1950 to April 1 1952 2 The series aired on CBS on Saturdays the first season and on Tuesdays for the second year 3 As with many variety shows of the time the show was broadcast live and was recorded via kinescope Some episodes were 30 minutes long while others lasted for 60 minutes At least one episode aired in a 45 minute time slot 4 The Frank Sinatra ShowSinatra on the set in 1950 Also known asBulova Watch TimeGenreVarietyDirected byJack DonohuePresented byFrank SinatraCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishNo of seasons2ProductionExecutive producerMarlo LewisProducerJack DonohueProduction locationsNew York City New YorkRunning time25 minutes 48 50 minutesOriginal releaseNetworkCBSReleaseOctober 7 1950 1950 10 07 November 13 1952 1952 11 13 Contents 1 Overview 2 Guest stars 3 Production 4 Critical response 5 References 6 External linksOverview editThe show was hosted by Frank Sinatra with Ben Blue Erin O Brien Sidney Fields Joey Walsh Pat Gaye Roberta Lee The Whipoorwills and The Blue Family as regulars Axel Stordahl led the orchestra and Ken Roberts was the announcer 5 The series was initially sponsored by Bulova Watches which ended the relationship after 13 weeks 6 Sinatra would perform songs and sketches with his guests The series is reportedly in the public domain citation needed In its first season the show s competition included Your Show of Shows then a red hot sensation and in the second season it included Texaco Star Theater the number one show in television 3 making the series arguably doomed to failure 6 In his book The Forgotten Network DuMont and the Birth of American Television 2004 David Weinstein claims that the surprise popularity of the DuMont Television Network series Life Is Worth Living in 1952 was the final blow that led to the cancellation of The Frank Sinatra Show He notes that controversy surrounding Sinatra s affair with Ava Gardner along with several unpopular singles had caused ratings to slip 7 Other sponsors came and went but low ratings led to Sinatra s contract being terminated early 6 Life Is Worth Living which averaged about 10 million viewers at a time when there were four major television networks in the United States eroded the ratings of the show even further to the point that The Frank Sinatra Show finally left the air 8 Guest stars editBrian Aherne Don Ameche Eddie Rochester Anderson The Andrews Sisters Toni Arden Louis Armstrong Eileen Barton Jack Benny Milton Berle Larry J Blake Mari Blanchard Joan Blondell Eric Blore Victor Borge Jimmy Boyd Joe Bushkin Jean Carroll Perry Como Jackie Coogan Broderick Crawford Arlene Dahl Dagmar Cass Daley Denise Darcel Laraine Day Yvonne De Carlo George DeWitt Leo Durocher Faye Emerson Douglas Fairbanks Jr Sidney Fields Frank Fontaine Tennessee Ernie Ford Phil Foster Zsa Zsa Gabor Jack Gilford Jackie Gleason Larry Griswold Edmund Gwenn Toni Harper Dick Haymes Skitch Henderson June Hutton regular performer Beatrice Kay Betty and Jane Kean Buster Keaton Pert Kelton Irv Kupcinet Frankie Laine Muriel Landers Joe Laurie Jr Peggy Lee Ben Lessy Liberace Diana Lynn Hal March and Bob Sweeney James Mason Pamela Mason Marilyn Maxwell Mike Mazurki George McManus Borrah Minevitch Garry Moore Patricia Morison Alan Mowbray Jan Murray J Carrol Naish Conrad Nagel The Pied Pipers Roger Price Basil Rathbone John Serry Sr accordion accompanist Phil Silvers Walter Slezak Smith amp Dale Harold J Stone Yma Sumac Grady Sutton George Tobias The Three Stooges Rudy Vallee Sarah Vaughan Nancy Walker Marie Wilson Alan YoungProduction editMarlo Lewis was the executive producer of The Frank Sinatra Show which originated from WCBS The show s last broadcast was on April 1 1952 It was replaced by Out There 9 After the show s first episode John Peyser was brought in to be the director remaining in that position for 32 weeks He pointed out that Sinatra s schedule affected the quality of the show as the star arrived from Los Angeles each Friday morning and returned home immediately after the Saturday broadcast Lack of access to Sinatra during the week hampered planning of sketches and songs 10 Critical response editA review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Variety said that CBS video entrepreneurs did practically everything to checkmate the star citing bad pacing bad scripting bad tempo poor camera work and overall jerky presentation 11 Despite those problems the review said that Sinatra had bigtime TV potential noting his considerable charm ease and the ability to sell a song 11 The review questioned use of Sinatra as a straightman for Blue and the song selected to close the episode Highlights that it singled out were the opening song and a skit that Sinatra did with guest J Carroll Naish 11 References edit Seymour Alan June 17 2023 Ahead of the Pack For the icons of A lister cool sartorial savoir faire extended to their wristwear The Daily Telegraph p 9 ProQuest 2826551864 Bulova which at the time was still based in the US was the watch brand of choice for Ol Blue Eyes himself although he also sported pieces by Gruen Audemars Piguet Cartier and Lucien Piccard Bulova even sponsored The Frank Sinatra Show also known as Bulova Watch Time a US musical variety series hosted by the singer from 1950 to 1952 The brand continues its association with the late Sinatra to this day with a watch named and designed in his honour which features his signature fedora hat at the 12 o clock position McNeil Alex 1996 Total Television the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present 4th ed New York New York Penguin Books USA Inc p 300 ISBN 0 14 02 4916 8 a b Brooks Tim Marsh Earle F June 24 2009 The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 Present Random House Publishing Group p 498 ISBN 978 0 307 48320 1 Retrieved February 15 2024 The Frank Sinatra Show May 5 1951 1951 Terrace Vincent January 10 2014 Encyclopedia of Television Shows 1925 through 2010 2d ed McFarland p 363 ISBN 978 0 7864 8641 0 Retrieved February 15 2024 a b c McNally Karen April 20 2015 When Frankie Went to Hollywood Frank Sinatra and American Male Identity University of Illinois Press pp 21 22 ISBN 978 0 252 09820 8 Retrieved February 14 2024 Weinstein David 2004 The Forgotten Network Dumont and the Birth of American Television Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple University Press ISBN 1 59213 245 6 Weinstein David 2004 The Forgotten Network DuMont and the Birth of American Television Philadephia PA Temple University Press p 156 ISBN 1 59213 245 6 This Week Network Debuts Highlights Changes Ross Reports March 30 1952 p 1 Retrieved December 27 2023 Hyatt Wesley October 6 2015 Short Lived Television Series 1948 1978 Thirty Years of More Than 1 000 Flops McFarland p 85 ISBN 978 1 4766 0515 9 Retrieved February 15 2024 a b c Frank Sinatra Show Variety October 11 1950 p 31 Retrieved February 15 2024 External links editThe Frank Sinatra Show at IMDb nbsp A film clip of The Frank Sinatra Show is available for viewing at the Internet Archive The Frank Sinatra Show 1950 52 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Frank Sinatra Show 1950 TV series amp oldid 1212553585, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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