Show # 102 March 12, 1959

Ernie's Guest: Liberace

Script Notes: Consummate showman Liberace makes his first visit to The Ford Show, and in a hilarious skit, demonstrates why Ernie Ford never became a concert pianist. Lee's stunning performances highlight this Ford Show Classic, including "Slaughter On 10th Avenue" and the Cole Porter classic, "Night And Day". The 12th Ford Show to close without a hymn.

Musical Numbers: MacNamara's Band: Ernie and The Top Twenty / Lolly Too Dum: The Top Twenty / Slaughter On 10th Avenue / Night And Day: Liberace / There'll Be No New Tunes On This Old Piano: Ernie and Liberace

Cast: Ernie Ford, Lee Liberace, The Top Twenty

Show # 103  March 19, 1959

Ernie's Guest: Robert Horton

Script Notes: Cowboy Bob's second time at the ranch. 

Musical Numbers: Black-Eyed Susie: Ernie and The Top Twenty / Hawaiian Medley: Hawaiian War Chant/Keep Your Eyes On The Hands/Ukelele Lady/Hawaiian Wedding Song/Aloha Oe: The Top Twenty / The Hanging Tree: Robert / Covered Wagon Roll Right Along: Ernie and Robert / Just A Closer Walk With Thee: Ernie and The Top Twenty

Cast: Ernie Ford, Robert Horton, The Top Twenty

Show # 104   March 26, 1959

Ernie's Guest: Actor Lloyd Nolan

Script Notes: Fresh from his award-winning turn on Broadway as 'Queeg' in "The Caine Mutiny", actor Lloyd Nolan reluctantly agrees to let Ernie try out for the play -- providing the Ford Show crew doesn't jump ship!

Musical Numbers: Some Of These Days: Ernie and The Top Twenty / Easter Medley: Easter Bonnet/Steppin' Out With My Baby/On Puttin On My Top Hat/In My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown/You Oughta Be In Pictures/When Orchids Bloom In The Moonlight/I've Got A Pocketful Of Dreams: Ernie and the gang / Christ Arose: Ernie

Cast: Ernie Ford, Lloyd Nolan, The Top Twenty

Show # 105   April 2, 1959

Ernie's Guest: Elsa Lanchester

Script Notes: One of Britain's most celebrated actresses, and the devoted wife of Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester may forever be associated with the role that became synonymous with a name that would frighten moviegoers for decades: 'The Bride Of Frankenstein'. Out of character, she earned an equally widespread reputation of being one of the bawdiest ladies in show business. She's here on her first (and only) visit with Ernie for this April, '59 broadcast.

Musical Numbers: Banjo Picker's Ball: The Top Twenty / The Code Of The Mountains: Ernie / With A Little Bit Of Luck: Ernie and Elsa / Eternal Life: Ernie

Cast: Ernie Ford, Elsa Lanchester, The Top Twenty

Show # 106   April 9, 1959

Ernie's Guests: Piano virtuoso Roger Williams and 'Queen For A Day's' Jack Bailey

Script Notes: In one of  television's truly Classic moments, Ernie and Roger Williams are joined by Jack Bailey, who introduces the newest Queen For A Day, Mabel Butterworth, whose lifelong dream comes true, when she gets to sing on The Ford Show. It could only happen on live TV!

Musical Numbers: When Payday Rolls Around: The Top Twenty / Near You: Ernie / Autumn Leaves: Roger / Darktown Strutters Ball/June Night/Drum Solo/June Night (reprise): Roger and The Harry Geller Orchestra / Now The Day Is Over: Ernie

Cast: Ernie Ford, Roger Williams, Jack Bailey, The Top Twenty

Show 107  April 16, 1959 ▪ THE MIKADO

Script Notes: This Ford Show Classic began as  an idea for a musical sketch, built around a three-song medley arranged for The Top Twenty- from Gilbert & Sullivan's classic Opera, 'The Mikado'. As  production discussions progressed,  however, the sketch continued to expand and eventually, Ernie himself suggested that they consider doing their own version of the Opera, with full costumes and sets. The idea took hold and within days, storyboards and a rough draft of a condensed script was ready. But while Ernie, The Top  Twenty and The Ford Show crew were becoming more excited over the concept, others at the network and at Ford Motor Company were not. The Ford Show was holding the number one spot for half-hour variety shows in the Nielsens  and was consistently higher in the ratings than its closest competitor over at CBS -- 'Playhouse 90'. An operetta? Set in Japan? Starring ...Ernie Ford? "Obviously, we'd never done anything like this before", Ernie said. "It was an experiment we all knew could blow up in our faces...we were fooling with our own success and we knew we could hurt ourselves". It didn't matter that Ernie himself was covering every dollar over The Ford Show's usual line, or that he was familiar with the Opera, having done the show while at music school in Cincinnati. To the brass in Madison Avenue and Detroit, this wasn't the time to experiment--and for that matter--not the show to experiment with. On top of it, the press had learned of the planned show, and was also questioning whether or not Ernie and The Top Twenty were up to the task. It didn't take long for that question to be answered.

Dateline - New York Times ~ April 17, 1959: "Tennessee Ernie Ford came up last night with a charming little sleeper; a thirty-minute version of the Gilbert  and Sullivan operetta "The Mikado". (The result was a delightful sampling of G&H, presented with professional taste and style worthy of a major production. The Top Twenty, regular singing group on Mr. Ford's program, showed themselves to be much more versatile than might be expected. The costumes and sets can only be described as absolutely beguiling. The only complaint  about last night's 'Mikado' was that it didn't last twice as long. Mr. Ford certainly fooled those who might tend to think of him only as a Peapicker."

Dateline - Variety ~ April 17, 1959: "Viewing a half-hour version of "The Mikado" is like making a  one-week tour of Europe; it leaves one thirsting for the rest of it. Tennessee Ernie Ford managed to compress the Gilbert & Sullivan into thirty minutes, and to Ford's credit, it was one of the most entertaining half-hours of this season."

To the paper, every single review was a rave. 'The Mikado' was an unqualified success and went on to earn the second-highest numbers for the series' entire five-year run.

Cast: KoKo/Narrator: Ernie Ford / Nanki-Poo: Ken Remo / Yum Yum: Deltra Kamsler / Katisha: Karen Wessler / Mikado: Ted Wills / Peep Bo: Donna Cooke / Pitti-Sing: Joanne Burgin / Chorus: The Top Twenty

Musical Numbers: If You Want To Know Who We Are: Nanki-Poo and the Gentlemen / A Wandering Minstrel, I: Nanki-Poo and Chorus / Three Little Maids From School Are We: Yum Yum, Peep Bo and Pitti-Sing / Behold, The Lord High Executioner: Chorus /They'll None Of 'Em Be Missed: KoKo and Chorus / Were You Not To KoKo Plighted?: Yum Yum and Nanki-Poo / Ye Torrents Roar: Orchestra / The Sun Whose Rays: Yum Yum / Here's A How -De - Do: Yum Yum, Nanki- Poo and KoKo / A More Humane Mikado: Mikado and Chorus / Finale: All

Musical Director: Harry Geller / Choreography: Ward Ellis / Art Direction: Ed Stephenson / Costumes: Ret Turner / Adaptation by Howard Leeds and Norman Paul / Directed by Selwyn Touber

 

àNext: Season Three Cont.