The Colgate Comedy Hour

1950 - 1955

Revenge with Music

10th September 1950

Episode 1

Eddie Cantor hosts the premiere episode of the series, joined by actor/dancer Tommy Wonder, opera soprano Yma Sumac, dancer Danny Daniels, Yiddish theatre star Joseph Buloff, Lew Hearn, Robert Gari, Jack Albertson, the ballet team of Val Buttingnol and Joy Williams, and Al Goodman and his Orchestra. The program was promoted in the NY Times as "a nostalgic review recalling the halcyon days of the New Amsterdam theater at Broadway and 42nd Street".

Let's Face It

17th September 1950

Episode 2

Hosted by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, has Dean and Jerry alongside gorgeous Marilyn Maxwell ("The Lemon Drop Kid") and comedian Leonard Barr. Sketches include a backstage bit with Martin and Lewis goofing around in their dressing room, and another with Jerry playing a little kid who goes to the movies with grown up Dean.

Fred Allen

24th September 1950

Episode 3

Fred Allen makes his hosting debut. His guests include actors Monte Woolley and Peter Donald; Risë Stevens from the Metropolitian Opera; ballet stars Sono Osato, Hugh Laing and Zachary Solov; Tony award winner David Burns; Fred Allen's radio co-horts Kenny Delmar, Minerva Pious, Parker Fennelly; with Al Goodman and his Orchestra.

10/1/1950

1st October 1950

Episode 4

In this episode sponsored by Frigidaire, Bobby Clark makes his debut as host. His guests include actress Joan Blondell and Broadway composer Sigmund Romberg. Clark appears in a comedy sketch about TV cameras in the courtroom.

Eddie Cantor

8th October 1950

Episode 5

Eddie Cantor returns as host with Al Goodman and his Orchestra. Cantor does a sketch with his character 'Maxi the Taxi', and performs 'Dinah' in a production number.

Martin & Lewis: Anything Goes

15th October 1950

Episode 6

Kitty Kallen; The Skylarks; Mayor Ralph Villani of Newark, N.J.; Mayor Walter Sterling of Steubenville, Ohio; and Dick Stabile and his Orchestra.

Fred Allen

22nd October 1950

Episode 7

Fred Allen hosts and welcomes guests Broadway actress/singer Ella Logan; dancers Anthony, Allyn and Hodges; comedians Mort and Art Havel; and from Allen's radio program comedian (and Allen's wife) Portland Hoffa, Parker Fennelly and Peter Donald.

Bobby Clark

29th October 1950

Episode 8

Vaudeville and film comedian Bobby Clark hosted this show sponsored by Frigidaire. Clark welcomes baseball announcer Mel Allen; singer/actress Frances Langford; tennis player Gussie Moran; Argentinian jugglers Atilio and Hector, The Peiro Brothers; and comedy act The Albins

Eddie Cantor

5th November 1950

Episode 9

Eddie Cantor hosts and is joined by his wife, Ida Cantor; his son-in law actor Robert Gari; radio comedian Charlie Cantor (no relation); dancers Fred and Sledge; Lesli Scott; Bil and Cora Baird's Marionettes; and Al Goodman and his Orchestra.

Martin & Lewis

12th November 1950

Episode 10

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis return with guests singer/actress Kitty Kallen; future 'Jackie Gleason Show' co-star Joyce Randoph; comic dancer Leonard Barr; comic actor Sammy Petrillo; the dance team of De May and Moore; singers The Skylarks; and Dick Stabile and his Orchestra.

Fred Allen

19th November 1950

Episode 11

Fred Allen hosts with guests humorist/author H. Allen Smith; Tony award winning actress Sheila Bond; and Broadway performer Billy Tabbert.

Bob Hope

26th November 1950

Episode 12

A nervous-looking Bob Hope makes his debut as host in this Frigidaire-sponsored episode. His guests include: Marilyn Maxwell; country singer Jimmy Wakely; vocalists The Taylor Maids; dance troupe The High Hatters; dancer Judy Kelly; Nelson Case; and Les Brown and his Band of Renown. This show is performed before an all-military audience.

Eddie Cantor

3rd December 1950

Episode 13

Eddie Cantor hosts and welcomes guests jazz pianist Joe Bushkin; actor Jack Albertson; co-star of the TV series 'Mama', Dick Van Patten; actress Connie Sawyer; acrobats The Amadis; June Keegan; and dancers Les Zoris.

Tickets Please!

10th December 1950

Episode 14

Comic dancers Paul and Grace (The Hartmans) star in this adaptation of their just-ended Broadway review, 'Tickets, Please!" Joining them are cast members from the show: Jack Albertson, Tommy Wonder, Dorothy Jarnac, Patricia Bright, Bill Norvas, Mildred Hughes, Warde Donovan, The Upstarts.

12/17/1950

17th December 1950

Episode 15

Fred Allen makes his final appearance as host. His guests include: comic Doc Rockwell; opera singer Eileen Farrell; The Christianis acrobat act; and from Allen's radio show Kenny Delmar, Minerva Pious, Peter Donald, and Parker Fennelly. Music is provided by Al Goodman and his orchestra.

Bob Hope

24th December 1950

Episode 16

Bob Hope hosts this episode, sponsored by Frigidaire. His guests include: His guests include: opera star Lily Pons; Elanor Roosevelt; Bob Cummings; harpist Robert Maxwell; New York Mayor Vincent Impellitteri; the Boys' Choir from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine; and Charles Sandford and his Orchestra.

Eddie Cantor

31st December 1950

Episode 17

Danny Thomas, Ed Wynn and Sigmund Romberg.

Abbot & Costello

7th January 1951

Episode 18

Abbott and Costello's first time as hosts. Several comedy routines including their classic: "Who's On First".

Jerry Lester

14th January 1951

Episode 19

Joan Bennett; Fred Allen; Pat O'Brien; Kukla, Fran & Ollie; The Mello-Larks the cast of Broadway Open House: Dagmar; David Street; Jack Adrian; Milton DeLugg; and Wayne Howell.

Bobby Clark

21st January 1951

Episode 20

Julie Wilson; Willie, West and McGinty; The Maxwells; Miriam Wakefield; Bobby Lane and Claire; Jack Mann; Dick Dana; and Tom Jones and his Orchestra.

Eddie Cantor

28th January 1951

Episode 21

Lee Fairfax, Basil O'Connor, Dave Powell, Joe Marks, and Estelle Sloan.

Martin & Lewis

4th February 1951

Episode 22

Polly Bergen, Mary Ann Niles, Bob Fosse, and Dick Stabile and his Orchestra. Note: Martin & Lewis had not hosted in nearly three months only because they were off in Hollywood making a movie.

The Spike Jones Show

11th February 1951

Episode 23

The City Slickers, George Rock, Sir Frederick Gas, Freddy and Dick Morgan, Bill King, The Wayne Marlin Trio, Lois Ray, Gale Robbins, and Laverne Pearson Note: There was also a cameo appearance by the Today Show's Dave Garroway and a look at a very young announcer, Mike Wallace.

Bobby Clark

18th February 1951

Episode 24

Basil Rathbone, Sarah Churchill, Walter Abel, Nelson Case, Mary Boland, Fran Warren, and Danny Scholl.

Eddie Cantor

25th February 1951

Episode 25

Lena Horne, Jack Albertson, Charlie Cantor, Bil and Cora Baird Marionettes, Landre and Verna, Phil Kramer, Marcia Walter, Chris Barbery, and Al Goodman and his Orchestra.

Tony Martin

Episode 26

Milton Berle, The Andrews Sisters, and Leonard Sues.

Abbot & Costello

11th March 1951

Episode 27

Lon Chaney Jr.; Sid Fields; Jarmila Novotna; Jesse, James & Carnell; Milton Frome; Ann Thomas; Gregg Sherwood; and Al Goodman and his Orchestra.

Beatrice Lillie

18th March 1951

Episode 28

Rex Harrison, Wally Cox, Nelson Case, Jean Sablon, Valerie Bettis.

Eddie Cantor

25th March 1951

Episode 29

Jimmy Durante, Eddie Jackson, and Al Goodman and his Orchestra.

Eddie Cantor

Episode 30

Eddie Fisher, Joel Grey, William Warfield, Evelyn Gould, Gehrig and Weismuller, Tony and Eddy, and Michell Auclair.

Bob Hope

Episode 31

Rex Harrison, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Cantor, Ed Wynn, Jimmy Durante, Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Lilli Palmer, Janis Paige, Arthur Treacher, Frank "Sugar Chile" Robinson, Tex and Jinx McCrary, Faye Emerson, Ken Murray, and Toots Shor.

Tony Martin

15th April 1951

Episode 32

Tony Martin hosts this installment. His guests include: comedian Fred Allen; actress Celeste Holm; ballet star Kathryn Lee; jazz clarinetist Peanuts Hucko; Broadway performer Joe Silver; character actor Richard Loo; actress Lynn Loring; comedians Art & Mort Havel; and Al Goodman and his Orchestra. Martin's songs include 'If', 'You', and 'For Every Man There's a Woman'. In comedy, Fred Allen portrays Chinese detective One Long Pan.

Eddie Cantor

22nd April 1951

Episode 33

Eddie Cantor hosts this weeks show. His guests include: actress Anne Jeffreys; Robert Gari; Charlie Cantor; dancers Gehrig and Weismuller, Hal Loman and Joan Field. Cantor performs a 'Maxi the Taxi' sketch, and joins Jeffreys for a comic bit from 'Taming of the Shrew'.

Martin & Lewis

29th April 1951

Episode 34

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis host this telecast from Chicago. Their guests include: singer Helen O'Connell; dance team Bob Fosse & Mary Ann Niles; Ladd Lyon; announcer Mike Wallace; and Dick Stabile and his Orchestra. Martin's songs include 'I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now.'

Phil Silvers

Episode 35

Phil Silvers hosts this week's edition. His guest list includes: Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis; singer Vivian Blaine; comic Joey Faye; and Al Goodman and his Orchestra. Blaine and Silvers duet on 'When You And I Were Young Maggie Blues', and so she does 'What Is This Thing Called Love?'

Beatrice Lillie

Episode 36

Beatrice Lillie hosts this episode sponsored by Frigidaire. Her guests include: singer Dick Haymes; comic actor Wally Cox; actor Victor Moore; singer/actor Harold Lang; and Broadway star Helen Gallagher. Music includes 'Without a Song' and 'Bye Bye Blackbird' from Haymes.

Martin & Lewis

Episode 37

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis host this week's show. Their guests include: singer Jane Morgan; the dance team of Bob Fosse & Mary Ann Niles; a cameo by Eddie Cantor; and Dick Stabile and his Orchestra.

Eddie Cantor

Episode 38

Eddie Cantor hosts this week's show. His guests include: a teen-aged Joel Grey; big band vocalist Connie Haines; Charlie Cantor; Herbert Coleman; Monsieur Crayone; TV actor Joe Silver; Lou Wills Jr.; and a cameo from active Army member Eddie Fisher. Cantor performs another 'Maxi the Taxi' sketch.

Martin & Lewis

Episode 39

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis host this week's episode. Their guests include: The DeMarco Sisters; comedian/singer Sonny King; actor Tommy Farrell; Rosette Shaw; comic actor and 'Colgate' writer Danny Arnold; The Johnny Conrad Dancers; cameo by Tony Curtis; and Dick Stabile and his Orchestra. Dean's songs include 'Isle of Capri' and 'Too Young' The DeMarco Sisters perform 'I'm Late.'

Jackie Gleason and Fred Allen

Episode 40

Jackie Gleason, starring on DuMont's 'Cavalcade of Stars', hosts this episode sponsored by Frigidaire. His guests include: Fred Allen; Vivian Blaine and actress Joan Carroll.

Eddie Cantor

Episode 41

Eddie Cantor is the host and welcomes guests including: 'Mr. Television' Milton Berle; comics Jack E. Leonard and Phil Foster, bombshell Dagmar; Junie Keegan; and Ida Cantor. Also, appearances by Cantor's daughter Marilyn and Berle's daughter Vicki. Cantor performs another 'Maxi the Taxi' comedy sketch with Foster. Also, there's a musical salute to songwriter Irving Berlin.

Martin & Lewis

Episode 42

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis host this first season closer. Their guests include: singer Janis Paige; comic and show writer Danny Arnold; The Johnny Conrad Dancers; cameos by Tony Martin and Joe Louis; and Dick Stabile and his Orchestra. Music includes Paige doing 'Those Old Phonograph Records'.

Top Cast

The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC network from 1950 to 1955. The show starred many notable comedians and entertainers of the era, including Eddie Cantor, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Fred Allen, Donald O'Connor, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante, Ray Bolger, Gordon MacRae, Ben Blue, Robert Paige, Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Broadway dancer Wayne Lamb and Spike Jones and His City Slickers.

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