Perry Como television and radio shows
Encyclopedia
Perry Como was an American singer, radio and television performer whose career covered more than fifty years. He is probably best-known for his television shows and specials over a period of almost thirty years. Como came to television in 1948 when his radio show was selected by NBC for experimental television broadcasts. His television programs were seen in more than a dozen countries, making Como a familiar presence outside of the United States and Canada.
He received five Emmys
from 1955–1959, a Christopher Award
(1956) and shared a Peabody Award
with good friend Jackie Gleason in the same year. Como was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1990 and received a Kennedy Center Honor
in 1987. Como has the distinction of having three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
for his work in radio, television, and music.
began performing on radio in 1936 when he became a member of the Ted Weems
Orchestra. The band had its own weekly radio show on the Mutual Broadcasting System
from 1936 to 1937. They were also part of the regularly featured cast of Fibber McGee and Molly
. Ted Weems and his Orchestra were cast members for the first season of the radio show Beat the Band
, which was a musical quiz show; they were weekly performers from 1940 – 1941. Como left the Ted Weems Orchestra for his home in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
with the intention of returning to his trade as a barber
in late 1942. Before he could sign a lease for a barber shop, Como was offered an opportunity to host his own sustaining (non-sponsored) radio show on CBS
from New York City
. He began working for CBS March 12, 1943.
Doug Storer
, then an advertising executive with the Blackman Company, was a listener of Como's CBS radio show. Storer believed Como's ability and style would be ideal for a new radio variety program he was planning. He created an audition recording of the proposed program with Como and the Mitchell Ayres
Orchestra and brought it to the advertising agency that handled the Chesterfield cigarettes account. The agency liked the concept of the radio show, but had someone else in mind as its host. The singer of their choice was under contract with someone else, so the agency asked Storer to obtain a release from his contract for their new program. Storer believed that Perry Como was the right host for the new radio show and did not do anything about the singer's release from his contract. Weeks later, he received a call from Chesterfield's advertising agency, asking about the status of the singer's contract, since the show was scheduled to begin on NBC
in about one week. Storer told the agency that the right person for their new program was the man on the audition recording. The agency had no time to spare and agreed to sign Perry Como. At the end of 1944, Como became the host of The Chesterfield Supper Club
.
The Chesterfield Supper Club had a main theme song, "Smoke Dreams", composed by John Klenner, Lloyd Shaffer and Ted Steele. Another musical theme that was also used on the broadcasts was Roy Ringwald's "A Cigarette, Sweet Music and You". These themes were also used when the Chesterfield Supper Club television shows began in 1948. Como was joined by Jo Stafford
in 1946, with Perry hosting the 15 minute program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. By 1948, Peggy Lee
and the Fontane Sisters
had joined the cast, with the Fontane Sisters moving to television with Como. The radio show continued and was simulcast
after the "Supper Club" television broadcasts began; Como was heard on radio until he left NBC in 1950 for CBS with The Perry Como Chesterfield Show. Mutual began simulcasting his CBS television show on radio in 1953; it was the first instance of a simulcast between two different networks. The radio show continued until June 1955, when Como left CBS to return to NBC.
Como did not return to a regularly broadcast radio program until 1989 when he began a syndicated radio show co-hosted with John Knox called Weekend With Perry. He continued with this program until his death in 2001.
As a guest
Perry and his sponsor moved to CBS in 1950; the show was re-titled The Perry Como Chesterfield Show and the schedule returned to one similar to the "Supper Club" radio shows: a 15 minute program three times a week. J. Fred Muggs
, who rose to fame on the NBC Today show, made his debut on Perry Como's CBS program. Pat Weaver of Today saw the baby chimp on the show and thought he would be able to help his still-floundering morning program. NBC offered Como a long-term contract to host a weekly hour-long television show that would beginning in the fall of 1955. Como signed a 12 year contract with the network in April 1955.
The Perry Como Show made its debut September 17, 1955, with the following announcement from annnouncer Frank Gallop
: "We assume everyone can read, so we will not shout at you." Initially, only Gallop's voice was heard because there was not enough room for him to appear onstage. Clad in his well-known cardigan sweaters, Como welcomed guest stars to his musical-comedy variety program. The "Sing to me, Mr. C." segment of the show was where Como responded to letters of viewer song requests. Como was seated on a stool as he sang some of the music of the weekly requests. The setting for this segment had its beginnings in the first television broadcasts of the Chesterfield Supper Club. Como and his guests did the radio show sitting on stools behind music stands; this is what was seen by the cameras when they initially came into the radio studio. The opening theme song for Como's shows from 1955-1963 was "Dream Along with Me (I'm On My Way to a Star)". The closing theme was "You Are Never Far Away From Me". "We Get Letters", composed by Ray Charles, was the musical beginning of the "Sing to me, Mr. C." segment of Como's weekly shows. It was revived by the Late Show with David Letterman
.
The Perry Como Show was rated as number seven in the Nielsen Top Ten after it had been on the air for two months. The program became one of the first color television
programs with its 1956 season premiere; it was also the only NBC television show in the Nielsen ratings
top ten for the 1956-1957 season. During this time, a ratings war developed between the Como show and that of entertainer Jackie Gleason
. Off-screen, Gleason and Como were long-time friends; Como had been one of those who filled in for Gleason in 1954, when he suffered a broken leg and ankle in an on-air fall. While both men were eager to win, neither wanted to do so at all costs. They kept their friendship intact with phone calls the day after the show; the winner of the weekly ratings battle phoned the loser for some good-natured joking.
Kraft Foods
had been the sponsor of a long-running radio program called Kraft Music Hall
. The company decided to develop the show for television in 1958, hosted by Milton Berle
. Kraft approached Perry Como regarding becoming the program's new host in early 1959. Como signed what was then a record-breaking deal with Kraft, receiving $25 million dollars to host the show for the next two years with another contract to serve as the company's spokesman for the next seven years. The agreement also put Como in charge of his television show's production, as well as for the shows replacing it during the summer hiatus. Como's production company, Roncom, named for his son, Ronnie Como, handled the transactions. Como also had control of the show which would replace his during the summer television hiatus. Como then moved from Saturday evenings to Wednesday evenings with Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall.
Como, who had done a regularly scheduled television show since 1949, began taking a slower pace by 1963. From 1963 to 1967, he appeared on television only on a monthly basis. The Como show was rotated with three other Kraft-sponsored programs: Kraft Suspense Theatre
, The Andy Williams Show
, and The Road West
. After 1967, his television appearances mainly came in the form of specials at holidays, especially Christmas. Como actually began doing specials in 1960 while he was still hosting Kraft Music Hall. Perry Como Comes To London was the first of these programs which would eventually span over twenty-five years. He continued with the television specials, which were filmed in countries like Austria
, France
, Mexico
and the United States until 1987, when an angry Como canceled the Christmas special after being offered a non-prime time
slot for it on ABC
. Como's final Christmas special, Perry Como's Irish Christmas, was seen on PBS
in 1994.
He made five films, but felt that his roles and his personality were a poor match. Como expressed his discomfort with the medium, saying in 1949, "Television is going to do me a lot more personal good than the movies ever have...The reason should be obvious. On television, I'm allowed to be myself; in pictures, I was always some other guy. I come over like just another bum in a tuxedo." Though his last movie, Words and Music, was a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
production, the change wasn't helpful. Shortly before the film's debut, columnist Walter Winchell
reported the following in his column: "Someone at MGM must have been dozing when they wrote the script for Words and Music. In most of the film Perry Como is called Eddie Anders and toward the end (for no reason) they start calling him Perry Como." He then asked for and received a release from the remainder of his contract, saying, "I was wasting their time and they were wasting mine.".
He received five Emmys
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
from 1955–1959, a Christopher Award
Christopher Award
The Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit"...
(1956) and shared a Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
with good friend Jackie Gleason in the same year. Como was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1990 and received a Kennedy Center Honor
Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. The Honors have been presented annually since 1978 in Washington, D.C., during gala weekend-long events which culminate in a performance for—and...
in 1987. Como has the distinction of having three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
for his work in radio, television, and music.
Radio
Perry ComoPerry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
began performing on radio in 1936 when he became a member of the Ted Weems
Ted Weems
Wilfred Theodore Weems was an American bandleader and musician. Weems' work in music was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.- Biography :...
Orchestra. The band had its own weekly radio show on the Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
from 1936 to 1937. They were also part of the regularly featured cast of Fibber McGee and Molly
Fibber McGee and Molly
Fibber McGee and Molly was an American radio comedy series which maintained its popularity over decades. It premiered on NBC in 1935 and continued until its demise in 1959, long after radio had ceased to be the dominant form of entertainment in American popular culture.-Husband and wife in real...
. Ted Weems and his Orchestra were cast members for the first season of the radio show Beat the Band
Beat the Band
Beat the Band was a musical quiz show heard on NBC radio from 1940 to 1944 in two distinctly different series. The program popularized the show business catch phrase, "Give me a little traveling music," often uttered on TV a decade later by Jackie Gleason....
, which was a musical quiz show; they were weekly performers from 1940 – 1941. Como left the Ted Weems Orchestra for his home in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Canonsburg is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. Canonsburg was laid out by Colonel John Canon in 1789 and incorporated in 1802....
with the intention of returning to his trade as a barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
in late 1942. Before he could sign a lease for a barber shop, Como was offered an opportunity to host his own sustaining (non-sponsored) radio show on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He began working for CBS March 12, 1943.
Doug Storer
Doug Storer
Doug Storer was a radio producer, talent agent, and writer responsible for creating and producing radio programs from the 1930s to the 1960s, including Ripley's Believe It or Not and Renfrew of the Royal Mounted.-External links:...
, then an advertising executive with the Blackman Company, was a listener of Como's CBS radio show. Storer believed Como's ability and style would be ideal for a new radio variety program he was planning. He created an audition recording of the proposed program with Como and the Mitchell Ayres
Mitchell Ayres
Mitchell Ayres was an orchestra leader, music arranger, composer and performer. He is best known for his many years of work with Perry Como on radio, records, and television and as the musical conductor for The Hollywood Palace.-Early years:Born Mitchell Agress in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he...
Orchestra and brought it to the advertising agency that handled the Chesterfield cigarettes account. The agency liked the concept of the radio show, but had someone else in mind as its host. The singer of their choice was under contract with someone else, so the agency asked Storer to obtain a release from his contract for their new program. Storer believed that Perry Como was the right host for the new radio show and did not do anything about the singer's release from his contract. Weeks later, he received a call from Chesterfield's advertising agency, asking about the status of the singer's contract, since the show was scheduled to begin on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in about one week. Storer told the agency that the right person for their new program was the man on the audition recording. The agency had no time to spare and agreed to sign Perry Como. At the end of 1944, Como became the host of The Chesterfield Supper Club
The Chesterfield Supper Club
The Chesterfield Supper Club, an NBC musical variety radio program , was also telecast by NBC from 1948 to 1950.-Radio:The Chesterfield Supper Club began on December 11, 1944, as a 15-minute radio program, airing at 7pm weeknights on the NBC Radio Network. This musical variety show was sponsored by...
.
The Chesterfield Supper Club had a main theme song, "Smoke Dreams", composed by John Klenner, Lloyd Shaffer and Ted Steele. Another musical theme that was also used on the broadcasts was Roy Ringwald's "A Cigarette, Sweet Music and You". These themes were also used when the Chesterfield Supper Club television shows began in 1948. Como was joined by Jo Stafford
Jo Stafford
Jo Elizabeth Stafford was an American singer of traditional pop music and jazz standards and occasional actress whose career ran from the late 1930s to the early 1960s...
in 1946, with Perry hosting the 15 minute program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. By 1948, Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee
Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
and the Fontane Sisters
The Fontane Sisters
The Fontane Sisters were a trio from New Milford, New Jersey.-Early years:Their mother, Louise Rosse, was both a soloist and the leader of the St. Joseph's Church choir in New Milford. Bea and Marge started out singing for local functions, doing so well, they were urged to audition in New York City...
had joined the cast, with the Fontane Sisters moving to television with Como. The radio show continued and was simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
after the "Supper Club" television broadcasts began; Como was heard on radio until he left NBC in 1950 for CBS with The Perry Como Chesterfield Show. Mutual began simulcasting his CBS television show on radio in 1953; it was the first instance of a simulcast between two different networks. The radio show continued until June 1955, when Como left CBS to return to NBC.
Como did not return to a regularly broadcast radio program until 1989 when he began a syndicated radio show co-hosted with John Knox called Weekend With Perry. He continued with this program until his death in 2001.
Radio shows
As host or cast member- Columbia Presents Como (1943) (host)
- The Perry Como Chesterfield Supper Club (1944–1950) (host)
- The Perry Como Chesterfield Show (1950–1955) (host)
- Ted Weems and his Orchestra (1936–1937) as part of the Ted Weems Orchestra
- Fibber McGee and Molly (1937) as part of the Ted Weems Orchestra
- Beat the Band (1940–1941) as part of the Ted Weems Orchestra
- Weekend With Perry (1989–2001) (host)
As a guest
- For The Record--July 31, 1944
- Bill Stern--June 20, 1946
- The Bing Crosby Chesterfield Show (1949–1952)--April 5, 1950, May 24, 1950 (with Bob HopeBob HopeBob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
) - The Big Show (1950–1952)--November 19, 1950
- Recollect At 30--February 20, 1957
- Ted LewisTed LewisTed Lewis may refer to:*Ted Lewis , Edward Morgan Lewis*Ted Lewis , US bandleader, musician, entertainer, singer*Ted Lewis , English crime novelist...
--from San Francisco-date unknown - Guard Session--dates unknown
- Pop Chronicles the 40s--1972
Television
Como's life on television began when NBC decided to experiment with televising his Chesterfield Supper Club radio show on December 24, 1948. The cameras were simply brought into the radio studio to televise the radio broadcast of the show. NBC initially planned to televise three Friday evening "Supper Club" radio shows; the network was pleased enough with the results that the experimental period was extended into August 1949. Como admitted that he felt awkward and unsure at first, but was able to relax enough to perform on the television show in the same manner as he did for normal radio broadcasts. On September 8, 1949, Chesterfield Supper Club became an officially scheduled television program airing on Sunday nights for a half-hour.Perry and his sponsor moved to CBS in 1950; the show was re-titled The Perry Como Chesterfield Show and the schedule returned to one similar to the "Supper Club" radio shows: a 15 minute program three times a week. J. Fred Muggs
J. Fred Muggs
J. Fred Muggs is a chimpanzee that was the mascot for NBC's Today Show from 1953 to 1957.The show debuted in 1952, with amiable host Dave Garroway. The show was in trouble initially; the addition of J. Fred Muggs boosted ratings and helped win advertisers...
, who rose to fame on the NBC Today show, made his debut on Perry Como's CBS program. Pat Weaver of Today saw the baby chimp on the show and thought he would be able to help his still-floundering morning program. NBC offered Como a long-term contract to host a weekly hour-long television show that would beginning in the fall of 1955. Como signed a 12 year contract with the network in April 1955.
The Perry Como Show made its debut September 17, 1955, with the following announcement from annnouncer Frank Gallop
Frank Gallop
Frank Gallop was an American radio and television personality.-Radio:Frank Gallop went into broadcasting by chance...
: "We assume everyone can read, so we will not shout at you." Initially, only Gallop's voice was heard because there was not enough room for him to appear onstage. Clad in his well-known cardigan sweaters, Como welcomed guest stars to his musical-comedy variety program. The "Sing to me, Mr. C." segment of the show was where Como responded to letters of viewer song requests. Como was seated on a stool as he sang some of the music of the weekly requests. The setting for this segment had its beginnings in the first television broadcasts of the Chesterfield Supper Club. Como and his guests did the radio show sitting on stools behind music stands; this is what was seen by the cameras when they initially came into the radio studio. The opening theme song for Como's shows from 1955-1963 was "Dream Along with Me (I'm On My Way to a Star)". The closing theme was "You Are Never Far Away From Me". "We Get Letters", composed by Ray Charles, was the musical beginning of the "Sing to me, Mr. C." segment of Como's weekly shows. It was revived by the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
.
The Perry Como Show was rated as number seven in the Nielsen Top Ten after it had been on the air for two months. The program became one of the first color television
Color television
Color television is part of the history of television, the technology of television and practices associated with television's transmission of moving images in color video....
programs with its 1956 season premiere; it was also the only NBC television show in the Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
top ten for the 1956-1957 season. During this time, a ratings war developed between the Como show and that of entertainer Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
. Off-screen, Gleason and Como were long-time friends; Como had been one of those who filled in for Gleason in 1954, when he suffered a broken leg and ankle in an on-air fall. While both men were eager to win, neither wanted to do so at all costs. They kept their friendship intact with phone calls the day after the show; the winner of the weekly ratings battle phoned the loser for some good-natured joking.
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
had been the sponsor of a long-running radio program called Kraft Music Hall
Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Kraft Music Hall is an umbrella title for several television series aired by NBC in the United States from the 1950s to the 1970s in the musical variety genre, sponsored by Kraft Foods, the producers of a well-known line of cheeses and related dairy products...
. The company decided to develop the show for television in 1958, hosted by Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
. Kraft approached Perry Como regarding becoming the program's new host in early 1959. Como signed what was then a record-breaking deal with Kraft, receiving $25 million dollars to host the show for the next two years with another contract to serve as the company's spokesman for the next seven years. The agreement also put Como in charge of his television show's production, as well as for the shows replacing it during the summer hiatus. Como's production company, Roncom, named for his son, Ronnie Como, handled the transactions. Como also had control of the show which would replace his during the summer television hiatus. Como then moved from Saturday evenings to Wednesday evenings with Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall.
Como, who had done a regularly scheduled television show since 1949, began taking a slower pace by 1963. From 1963 to 1967, he appeared on television only on a monthly basis. The Como show was rotated with three other Kraft-sponsored programs: Kraft Suspense Theatre
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Kraft Suspense Theatre, an anthology series, was telecast from 1963 to 1965 on NBC. Sponsored by Kraft Foods, it was seen three weeks out of every four and was pre-empted for Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall specials once monthly...
, The Andy Williams Show
The Andy Williams Show
The Andy Williams Show is a television variety show which ran from 1959 to 1971 , and a short-lived run in syndication, beginning in the fall of 1976...
, and The Road West
The Road West
The Road West is an American Western television series that aired on NBC from September 12, 1966 to May 1, 1967 for twenty-nine episodes with rebroadcasts continuing until August 28. The hour-long series, sponsored by Kraft Foods, aired in the 9 p.m...
. After 1967, his television appearances mainly came in the form of specials at holidays, especially Christmas. Como actually began doing specials in 1960 while he was still hosting Kraft Music Hall. Perry Como Comes To London was the first of these programs which would eventually span over twenty-five years. He continued with the television specials, which were filmed in countries like Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the United States until 1987, when an angry Como canceled the Christmas special after being offered a non-prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
slot for it on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. Como's final Christmas special, Perry Como's Irish Christmas, was seen on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
in 1994.
Television shows
Regularly scheduled television shows- The Perry Como Chesterfield Supper Club (1948–1950).
- The Perry Como Chesterfield Show (1950–1955)
- The Perry Como Show (1955–1959)
- Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (1959–1967)
Television specials
- Perry Como Comes To London (1960)
- The Perry Como Holiday Special (1967)
- Perry Como Special - In Hollywood (1968)
- Academy of Professional Sports Awards (February 21, 1969)
- Christmas At The Hollywood Palace (1969)
- The Many Moods Of Perry Como (1970)
- Perry Como - In Person (1971)
- Perry Como's Winter Show (1971)
- The Perry Como Winter Show (1972)
- Cole Porter In Paris (1973)
- The Perry Como Winter Show (1973)
- The Perry Como Sunshine Show (1974)
- Perry Como's Summer of '74 (1974)
- Perry Como's Christmas Show (1974)
- Como Country: Perry And His Nashville Friends (1975)
- Perry Como's Springtime Special (1975)
- Perry Como's Lake Tahoe Holiday (1975)
- Perry Como's Christmas In Mexico (1975)
- Perry Como's Hawaiian Holiday (1976)
- Perry Como's Spring In New Orleans (1976)
- Perry Como: Las Vegas Style (1976)
- Perry Como's Christmas In Austria (1976)
- Perry Como's Music From Hollywood (1977)
- Perry Como's Olde Englishe Christmas (1977)
- Perry Como's Easter By The Sea (1978)
- Perry Como's Early American Christmas (1978)
- Perry Como's Springtime Special (1979)
- Perry Como's Christmas In New Mexico (1979)
- Perry Como's Bahamas Holiday (1980)
- Perry Como's Christmas In The Holy Land (1980)
- Perry Como's Spring In San Francisco (1981)
- Perry Como's French-Canadian Christmas (1981)
- Perry Como's Easter In Guadalajara (1982)
- Perry Como's Christmas In Paris (1982)
- Perry Como's Christmas In New York (1983)
- Perry Como's Christmas In England (1984)
- Perry Como's Christmas In Hawaii (1985)
- The Perry Como Christmas Special (1986)
- Perry Como in Japan (March 1993-Japanese TV)
- Perry Como's Irish Christmas (1994)
Guest appearances
- The Frank Sinatra Show (March 10, 1951)
- Texaco Star Theater (December 27, 1949), (January 9, 1951),
(January 16, 1951) - Arthur Godfrey and Friends (March 29, 1950), (April 5, 1950)
- Treasury Open House (June 2, 1950)
- The Frank Sinatra Show (October 19, 1951)
- The U. S. Royal Showcase (February 23, 1952)
- New York Hospital Cardiac Telethon (March 14/15, 1952)
- Strike It Rich (December 17, 1952)
- The Stork Club (January 10, 1953)
- Stars On Parade (military-1953-1954-date unk.)
- The All-Star Revue (February 14, 1953)
- Colgate Comedy Hour (December 13, 1953)
- Rosalia Home Fund Telethon (April 24, 1954 WDTV, Pittsburgh)
- Dateline (December 13, 1954)
- Max Leibman's Variety (January 30, 1955)
- Some Of Manie's Friends ~ Tribute To RCA/NBC Executive Manie Saks (March 3, 1959)
- The Bob Hope Show (November 18, 1956)
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (January 31, 1957)
- Il Musichiere (September 14, 1958)
- Pontiac Star Special (March 24, 1959)
- The Bing Crosby Show (February 28, 1960)
- Bob Hope Special ~ "Potomac Madness" (October 21, 1960)
- Celebrity Golf (October 9, 1960)
- The Bob Hope Show (November 8, 1967)
- Ethel Kennedy's Telethon (February 11, 1968)
- Laugh-In (November 25, 1968)
- The Carol Burnett Show (January 20, 1969)
- Laugh-In (January 13, 1969)
- Laugh-In (March 24, 1969)
- Laugh-In (February 16, 1970)
- Jimmy Durante Presents The Lennon Sisters (March 28, 1970)
- The Tom Jones Show (November 6, 1970)
- Evening at Pops (August 14, 1970)
- The Doris Mary Anne Kapplehoff Special ~ The Doris Day Special (March 14, 1971)
- The Pearl Bailey Show (December 26, 1971)
- The Flip Wilson Show (October 6, 1971)
- Julie Andrews On Sesame Street (November 23, 1973)
- The Royal Variety Performance (November 24, 1974)
- The Barber Comes To Town (December 14, 1975-BBC)
- Ann-Margret: Rhinestone Cowgirl (April 26, 1977)
- Parkinson (November 26, 1977) (UK)
- Christmas With Nationwide:Journey to Bethlehem (December 21, 1977-BBC)
- Bob Hope's Christmas Show (December 19, 1977)
- Entertainment Tonight ~ On Perry Como's 40th Anniversary With RCA Records (1983)
- The Today Show (July 5, 6, 7, 1983)
- Bob Hope's Salute to NASA: 25 Years of Reaching for the Stars (July 5, 1983)
- Emmy Awards (September 25, 1983)
- The Kennedy Center Honors (December 27, 1983)
- The Arlene Herson Show (June 6, 1984)
- Good Company (Minneapolis TV Interview) (June 19, 1984)
- AM Cleveland (July 31, 1984))
- Regis Philbin's Life Styles (August, 1984)
- Duke Children's Classic (May 1986-ESPN)
- The Kennedy Center Honors (December 6, 1987)
- Val Doonican's Very Special Christmas (December 24, 1987-BBC)
- Evening At Pops ~ A Tribute To Bing Crosby (August 20, 1988)
- Regis & Kathy Lee Live (December 12, 1988)
- Duke Children's Classic (May 15, 1989-ESPN)
- Regis & Kathy Lee Live (July 7, 1989)
- Gala Concert For President Ronald Reagan (October 22, 1989)
- The 6th Annual Television Academy of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame
(January 24, 1990) - Sinatra 75: The Best is Yet to Come (Frank Sinatra 75th Birthday Celebration) (1990)
- Night of 100 Stars III (1990)
- Broadcast Hall of Fame (January 7, 1990)
- Sammy Davis Jr. Variety Club Telethon (St. Louis TV) (March 2–3, 1990)
- Regis & Kathy Lee Live (December 4, 1990)
- Regis & Kathy Lee Live (December 5, 1990)
- Hard Copy ~ Perry Como - The King of Crooners (June 14, 1991)
- CBS - This Morning (December 20, 1991)
- National Memorial Day Concert, Washington D.C. (May 22, 1992)
- Kenny Live (January 15, 1994-RTE)
- Sammy Davis, Jr. Variety Club Telethon (KMOV-St. Louis) (March 5–6, 1994)
- Regis & Kathy Lee Live (November 15, 1994)
- Duke Children's Classic (May 1995)
Filmography - including shorts
Perry Como was signed to a seven year 20th Century-Fox contract in 1943, prior to his becoming the host of the Chesterfield Supper Club. Como wound up in a stock company, where actors were called for work only if the studio needed to make a film to complete a schedule. For the filming of Something for the Boys in 1944, Como was told to report immediately to the Fox Studio Hollywood lot. It was five weeks from Como's arrival to his being called onto the set. When he came on the movie set, the director did not know who he was.He made five films, but felt that his roles and his personality were a poor match. Como expressed his discomfort with the medium, saying in 1949, "Television is going to do me a lot more personal good than the movies ever have...The reason should be obvious. On television, I'm allowed to be myself; in pictures, I was always some other guy. I come over like just another bum in a tuxedo." Though his last movie, Words and Music, was a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
production, the change wasn't helpful. Shortly before the film's debut, columnist Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell was an American newspaper and radio gossip commentator.-Professional career:Born Walter Weinschel in New York City, he left school in the sixth grade and started performing in a vaudeville troupe known as Gus Edwards' "Newsboys Sextet."His career in journalism was begun by posting...
reported the following in his column: "Someone at MGM must have been dozing when they wrote the script for Words and Music. In most of the film Perry Como is called Eddie Anders and toward the end (for no reason) they start calling him Perry Como." He then asked for and received a release from the remainder of his contract, saying, "I was wasting their time and they were wasting mine.".
Films
Films-including shorts- Something for the Boys (1944)
- Doll FaceDoll FaceDoll Face is a 1946 American film directed by Lewis Seiler starring Vivian Blaine as "Doll Face" Carroll. The film is also known as Come Back to Me in the United Kingdom.- Plot summary :...
(1945) - March of Time (1945)
- If I'm Lucky (1946)
- Words and MusicWords and Music (1948 film)Words and Music is a 1948 movie loosely based on the creative partnership of the composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. The film starred Mickey Rooney, Tom Drake, Janet Leigh, Betty Garrett, and Ann Sothern, It is best remembered for the final screen pairing between Rooney and Judy...
(1948) - Tobaccoland on Parade (1950)
- The Fifth Freedom (1951).
See also
- Perry Como discography
- Perry Como albums
- List of songs recorded by Perry Como
- Best selling music artists
- List of popular music performers
External links
- A Perry Como Discography & CD Companion
- The Perry Como Home on the Internet
- Perry Como Filmography-Internet Movie Database
- Perry Como Collection 1955-1994-University of Colorado at Boulder Archives created by Perry Como, Mickey Glass, and Nick Perito
- Complete List of Perry Como Shows-1948-1955
- Complete List of Perry Como Shows-1955-1959
- Complete List of Perry Como-Kraft Music Hall Shows-1959-1963
Listen
- Beat the Band April 7, 1940 episode at Old Time Radio Catalog
- Audio Files-Songs from the Chesterfield Supper Club Radio Show Internet Archive