Script Notes: One of folk music's most stunningly original
performers is Ernie's guest for this March 10, 1960 show. In one of only two network television
appearances in five years, Odetta graces this Ford Show with some of the most
awesome music and powerful performances ever captured on kinescope. At a time
when folk was on the cusp of completely changing the American cultural
landscape, every other prime-time variety show out there was playing it
decidedly safe and definitely conservative; booking The Kingston Trio, The
Dillards or The Smothers Brothers. "Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley" was about
about as controversial as the Big Three wanted to be. Odetta, however, was
anything but conservative. A major voice among the rising ranks of folk artists
in Boston, Connecticut and The Village, she had become, by 1960, one of
the principal influences and architects of the new wave of social protest. ...On
the Ernie FordShow!?!
...One of the best, most incredible
Ford Shows ever produced, and a Ford Show Classic from curtain to curtain.
Musical Numbers: Little Coco Palm: Ernie and the group
/ Square Checkers (Skip To My Lou): The Top Twenty / Another Man Done Gone / Muleskinner Blues /
Pastures Of Plenty: Odetta / Nine Pound Hammer: Ernie (w/Odetta on
guitar) / The Great Historical Bum: Ernie and Odetta / Church In The
Wildwood: Ernie and The Top Twenty / What
A Friend We Have In Jesus: Ernie, Odetta, The Top Twenty
Script Notes: Bob Horton meets Ernie's
cousin, Ferd, on Ferd's first airplane flight...and more or less wings it from
there in this hilarious airing from March of 1960.
Musical Numbers: Clancy Lowered The Boom: Ernie and
the gang / Shenandoah: Robert and The Top Twenty / The Old Rugged Cross: Ernie
and The Top Twenty
Script Notes: Just two
weeks after his much-publicized marriage to Nancy Sinatra,
singer Tommy Sands gives Ernie a crash course in improvisational
acting.
Musical Numbers: John Henry: Ernie / That's
Love:
Tommy / Medley: In The Good Old Summertime/I'll Be Back A'Sunday/Have I Told You
Lately That I Love You/Fat Gal: Tommy, Ernie, The Top Twenty / Movin' On: Tommy
/ This World Is Not My Home: Ernie
Script Notes: Making
their first appearance on The Ford Show, Shari Lewis grudgingly
lets Lambchop negotiate Ernie's deal for his next big
production.
Musical Numbers: Jambalaya: Ernie and The Top Twenty /
Baciare, Baciare: The Top Twenty / Waitin' For The Robert E. Lee: Ernie, Shari,
Lambchop / Nine Hundred Pages Of Sixty-Six Books: Ernie
Script Notes: Williams' second Ford Show appearance
for this 1960 Easter show.
Musical Numbers: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah: Ernie and The Top
Twenty / Medley: Easter Parade/Steppin' Out With My Baby/Top Hat, White Tie
& Tails/In My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown/You Oughta Be In Pictures/Orchids
In The Moonlight/I've Got A Pocketful Of Dreams: The Top Twenty / Liza: Roger /
The Resurrection: Ernie
Script Notes: A regular on the dinner club and radio
circuit for years, Joanie was a regular with Ernie's '55-'56 daily Tennessee
Ernie Ford Show (also on NBC). One of the best pop voices in the business, and a
classy guest for this April, '60 broadcast.
Musical Numbers: El Rancho Grande: Ernie and The Top
Twenty / Medley: My Favorite Things/Do-Re-Mi/Climb Every Mountain: The Top
Twenty / I've Got A Right To Sing The Blues: Joanie / But Yours: Ernie and
Joanie / Wayfaring Pilgrim: Ernie (with Bobby Gibbons, guitar)
Cast: Ernie Ford, Joanie O'Brien, The Top Twenty
Show #
148 April 28, 1960
No Guest
~ Remote from Drury College in Springfield, Mo.
Script Notes:
One of only five Ford Shows shot remote
on location.
Musical Numbers: Gee But It's Good To Be Here: Ernie
and The Top Twenty / Spring, Spring, Spring: The Top Twenty / Sixteen Tons:
Ernie / Take My Hand, Precious Lord: Ernie and The Top Twenty
Cast: Ernie Ford, The Top Twenty
Show #
149 May 5, 1960 ▪ H.M.S. PINAFORE (Repeat)
Script Notes: The first of only three Ford Show
reruns.
Ernie's Guests:
Johnny Cash and country comics Homer
& Jethro
Script Notes: Remember the
June Carter Ford
Show appearance from February of 1959? Well, here's her future man, Johnny, in tow with two of country music's reigning
wierdos, Homer & Jethro. One of the funniest Ford Shows on record, with some
of Cash's most incredible performances on video.
Musical Numbers: Cotton Candy And A Toy
Balloon: Ernie
and the gang / You Belong To Me: The Top Twenty / The Battle Of Kookamonga:
Homer & Jethro / Reuben, Reuben: The Top Twenty / Big River/Don't Take Your
Guns To Town: Johnny / Pickin' Time: Ernie, Johnny, Homer & Jethro / May The
Good Lord Bless And Keep You: Ernie and The Top Twenty
Ernie's Guest: Odetta
Ernie's Guest:
Robert Horton
Ernie's Guest: Singer Tommy Sands
Ernie's Guest: Shari Lewis
Ernie's Guest: Pianist Roger Williams
Ernie's Guest: Singer Joanie O'Brien
No Guest
~ Remote from Drury College in Springfield, Mo.