The Eddy Arnold Show

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The Eddy Arnold Show
GenreMusical variety
Directed byBen Park (1953)
Bryan T. Bisney (1956)
StarringEddy Arnold
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
Production
Executive producersSi Siman (1956)
John B. Mahaffey (1956)
ProducersCharlie Brown, Bryan T. Bisney (1956)
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time15 minutes (CBS, NBC)
30 minutes (ABC)
Production companyCrossroads TV Productions (1956)
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseJuly 14 (1952-07-14) –
August 22, 1952 (1952-08-22)
Related
The Eddy Arnold Show (1953, NBC)
The Eddy Arnold Show (1956, ABC)

The Eddy Arnold Show is the name of three similar American network television summer variety programs during the 1950s hosted by Eddy Arnold and featuring popular music stars of the day. It was also the name of a radio program starring Arnold.

CBS[edit]

The Eddy Arnold Show debuted on CBS-TV on July 14, 1952 from New York City, as a live 15-minute summer replacement for The Perry Como Show on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights from 7:45–8 pm ET. Arnold's guitarists Hank Garland and Roy Wiggins (steel guitar) appeared.[1] The program's final broadcast was August 22, 1952.

NBC[edit]

From July 7 to October 1, 1953,[citation needed] NBC-TV carried The Eddy Arnold Show as a live 15-minute summer replacement for The Dinah Shore Show. The program aired on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7:30–7:45 pm ET,[2] and featured Russ Case and the NBC Orchestra, as well as Garland and Wiggins. Guests included the Davis Sisters[citation needed] and the Dickens Sisters. Ben Park was the producer, Dave Parker was the director, and Marvin David was the writer.[2]

Critical response[edit]

A review in the trade publication Variety said, "Arnold is an easy-going host besides being one of the top country performers, and his music is simple and pleasant".[2] It also commended the show's "sets, camera work and other production trappings."[2]

ABC[edit]

The Eddy Arnold Show had its longest run on ABC-TV from April 26 to September 26, 1956, as a half-hour series. The live program aired from 8–8:30 pm ET on Thursdays as a summer replacement for Life is Worth Living, then on June 20 moved to 9:30–10 pm on Wednesdays.

This show featured a regular cast of Chet Atkins, Garland, Wiggins, and the instrumental Paul Mitchell (piano) Quartet. The Springfield News & Leader observed, "The show is plain and warm, utilizing virtually no sets but building its numbers around lighting effects."[3]

The program originated from the Jewell Theatre (before an audience of about 500) in Springfield, Missouri, which was equipped for live television production as the home of ABC's Ozark Jubilee. Its original producer and writer was Charlie Brown, who left in August 1956 after he had won the Democratic primary election on his way to becoming a US representative. Jubilee producer-director Bryan Bisney took over, with the Jubilee's Don Richardson becoming writer.[4] Guest stars included:[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Streissguth, Michael (1997). Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound. New York: Schirmer Books. ISBN 0-02-864719-X.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Eddy Arnold Show". Variety. July 15, 1953. p. 30. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "The Spectator" (May 6, 1956), Springfield News & Leader, p. B6
  4. ^ Sachs, Bill "Folk Talent and Tunes" (September 8, 1956), The Billboard, p. 55
  5. ^ Weekly program listings (1956), TV Guide, Vol. 4

Further reading[edit]

  • Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1992). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (5th ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-37792-3.
  • McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television (4th ed.). New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-024916-8.

External links[edit]