Show # 113   May 28, 1959

Ernie's Guest: Adolph Menjou

Script Notes: Making his second Ford Show appearance, classic character actor Adolph Menjou drops by for a few lessons in 'gentleman farming' from the old master, himself. Unfortunately, the old master wasn't around, so Ol' Ern had to do.

Musical Numbers: Along Came Jones: Ernie and The Top Twenty / The Battle Of New Orleans: Ernie and The Top Twenty / Rock Of Ages: Ernie

Cast: Ernie Ford, Adolph Menjou, The Top Twenty

Show # 114   June 4, 1959

Ernie's Guest: Tommy Sands

Script Notes: Ernie gives Tommy some needed lessons on marriage. (In real life, Sands married Nancy Sinatra only months after this show).

Musical Numbers: John Henry / Sinner Man: Ernie / The Soft Shoe Song: The Top Twenty / Home: Tommy / His Eye Is On The Sparrow: Ernie

Cast: Ernie Ford, Tommy Sands, The Top Twenty

Show # 115   June 11, 1959

Ernie's Guest: Rosemary Clooney

Script Notes: At the time of this visit, The Ford Show was the number one half-hour variety show, and Rosie's Lux Show (sponsored by Lever Bros.) was number two. A fact that raised a few eyebrows on Madison Avenue, when she joined Ernie for this show's Ford commercial! A Classic!

Musical Numbers: Personality: Ernie and the Top Twenty / I'm Old Fashioned: Ernie / June Is Bustin' Out All Over: The Top Twenty / Lazy Afternoon: Rosie / Catfish Take A Look At That Worm/Row, Row, Row Your Boat/Paddlin' Madeline Home: Ernie and Rosemary / Nine Hundred Pages Of Sixty-Six Books: Ernie and The Top Twenty

Cast: Ernie Ford, Rosemary Clooney, The Top Twenty

Show # 116   June 18, 1959

Ernie's Guest: Cliff Arquette (Charlie Weaver)

Script Notes: Charlie convinces Ernie to call Mama Weaver back home in Mt. Idy.

Musical Numbers: Blackberry Boogie: Ernie / Stardust: The Top Twenty / Doodle Dee Doo: Cliff and Ernie / God Put A Rainbow In The Cloud: Ernie and The Top Twenty

Cast: Ernie Ford, Cliff Arquette, The Top Twenty

Show # 117   June 25, 1959

Ernie's Guests: Andre Previn and Danny Arnold

Script Notes: Of the 191 Ford Shows broadcast live every Thursday night from October 4th of '56 to June 29, 1961, five stand out among the most memorable; the season closers. And among those five, this  June 25, 1959 airing, closing the third season (with Nielsens placing it as the fourth highest-rated show in the country that week) qualifies unconditionally as a Ford Show Classic. Ernie's genuine affection and admiration for those behind the scenes, as well as the ever-present Top Twenty, comes out from the very beginning of this season closer. Taking the spotlight off himself, Ernie shines it brightly on the Ford Show production team throughout the entire half-hour, without whom, he says, he'd be "...as lost as a bull in an empty dairy." (We'll pause just a sec, while you folks picture that...). Helping bring the curtain down for this classic Ford show is composer and pianist Andre Previn, who performs his newest record, "Like Young", and Ford Show writer and comic Danny Arnold (who would go on to develop Barney Miller and other smash hits).

Musical Numbers: Bless Your Peapickin' Hearts: Ernie and The Top Twenty / Like Young: Andre / Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home: Ernie and Andre / God Be With You: Ernie and The Top Twenty

Cast: Ernie Ford, Andre Previn, Danny Arnold, The Top Twenty

 

àNext: Season Four