With the 2009 Oscars nominations just announced, the Hollywood, media machine moving at light speed and the multi-talented, Hugh Jackman preparing to host the upcoming,81st annual, Academy Awards, here is a flickering flashback to a more innocent and, perhaps, more interesting time in Oscar's long and checkered television history.
Perennial Academy Awards host , and global comedy icon, Bob Hope emcees the 1955 Oscars, which aired Live,from coast to coast on NBC-TV ,via coaxial cable. The gala event originated from the RKO Pantages Theater in Hollywood and the NBC Century Theater in New York City.
In the clip below, Hope, whose meticulous timing was exceeced only by his high velocity delivery ,welcomes brash, young comic Jerry Lewis , who in turn, introduces his then performing partner, a suave, self-assured Dean Martin, to sing one of the Oscar nominated songs.
Martin performed Three Coins in the Fountain , which was written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn as the title track for the dramatic , oscar-nominated film of the same name.
While the film lost the Best Picture Oscar to On The Waterfront, the song won Best Song honors.
A note about the telecast, itself. As television began to mature, creative teams worked to enrich production values, through innovations in staging and special effects.Notice the rear screen projection depicting scenes of the Trevi fountain in Rome, as Dean performs the number. Enjoy!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment