Wednesday, February 4, 2009

WHEN SONG AND SMOKE FILLED YOUR TV SCREEN - PERRY COMO'S CHESTERFIELD SHOW FROM CBS-TV - CIRCA 1954

Starting in 1950, tens of millions of television viewers and radio listeners spent many of their evenings visiting an elegant, but imaginary, New York nightspot called The Chesterfield Supper Club.

For 15 minutes, three nights per week, the audience could enjoy hit songs from the top of the pop charts ,applaud the easy-going, musical stylings of Perry Como, plus his marquee guests on CBS, and never have to pay a two drink minimum.

Como, a personable, but laid-back crooner, had started his professional life as a barber in Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania. Once record producers heard his voice, he put down his clippers and picked-up a microphone. He rose to the pinnacle of showbiz, in the benign 1950's, on stax of wax with a warm, engaging sound, often singing novelty songs like Papa Loves Mambo and Juke Box Baby.

The Chesterfield show, which was a precursor to Como's, long running Kraft Music Hall on NBC-TV, featured songs,comedy,production numbers and heavy-handed commercials for the show's sponsor, Chesterfield cigarettes, manufactured by the Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company.

The program was, during it's CBS years, simulcast on the company's television and radio networks. From 1954, here are two clips of The Chesterfield Supper Club starring Perry Como. Enjoy!!!!!!




In the next clip, posted below, a young and vivacious Peggy Lee offers her sultry rendition of I Feel A Song Comin' On. Enjoy!!!!!

No comments:

Post a Comment