Well, back in 1962 the major component of the Mary Lee Tucker charity program was still the benefit show that featured local talent on the bill. As I noted back on this post, there was usually some well-known regional and even national talent as master of ceremonies, such as Lynn Sheldon (TV’s “Barnaby") (1950), Leo DeLyon (1954), Bob McFadden (1955), Frank Fontaine (better known to many as Crazy Guggenheim on the Jackie Gleason Show) (1957), Don Webster (1964), and Houlihan and Big Chuck (1968).
And to add to this pantheon of talented performers, we can add Mike Douglas for the 1962 edition of the show. The front page of the Journal of November 20, 1962 tells the story.
"Roll out the carpet, Lorainites, one of Cleveland's most personable TV stars will hit Lorain for a one-night stand early in December.
"Show time is nearing, Dec. 5 showtime that is, when Lorain will play host to everyone's favorite at The Journal's Mary Lee Tucker Christmas Show.
"A Chicago-born Irishman with a gift of song, Mike Douglas, well-known Cleveland TV star, was named today as master of ceremonies for the Christmas benefit show, produced and directed by The City Club of Lorain.
"Douglas, the star of a 90-minute variety show each day, was signed by members of the City Club last week to emcee the Christmas extravaganza on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. at the Palace Theater.
"Formerly a featured singer with the Kay Kyser Orchestra, this polished professional is well known to the people of Lorain.
"He is ready with a quip. a question or a song at the drop of a hat and is at ease with a local housewife or a famed guest star.
"Douglas' show, which has been on the air less than a year, has been called "the most ambitious programming ever attempted by an individual station."
Elsewhere on that front page of the Journal is an update on the tensions between the United States and Cuba, and a story about a Minnesota man who claimed to have the biggest ball of twine in the world.
3 comments:
We watched Mike Douglas during the entire run of his program ; I remember turning on the show back in 1978 and discovering that the musical guests for that morning were Todd Rundgren and Utopia.
Of course, Ghoulardi had great fun with Mr. Douglas back when he was still in Cleveland.
Us, too, Alan.
My gramma *adored* Mike Douglas and watched him every day.
After her "stories" were over. of course. The soaps, that is.
Secret Storm.
Guiding Light.
As the World Turn.
And... Like Sands Through the Hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives.
I can still hear the organ music that played on those shows!
I can remember a couple of soaps still being on the radio in the early Sixties.
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