Startime Season 1 Episodes

Episode 1

The Wonderful World of Entertainment

Tue, Oct 6, 1959

Episode 2

The Jazz Singer

Tue, Oct 13, 1959

The conflict between the Rabbi father and the son who disappoints him by seeking a secular career instead of a religious touches a Jewish cord, although it has a universal aspect.

Episode 3

The Turn of the Screw

Tue, Oct 20, 195975 mins

A governess put in charge of two young children begins to see the ghost of her dead predecessor.

Episode 4

The Secret World of Kids

Tue, Oct 27, 1959

Art Linkletter hosts this episode organized around the theme of children. Jon Provost, Angela Cartwright and Teddy Rooney perform a musical version of Tom Sawyer; Ann Blyth portrays a new mother caring for infant with Ed Wynn voicing the baby's thoughts; and Vincent Price tries to prove that a chimp can learn more about art than a child.

Episode 5

The Dean Martin Variety Show I

Tue, Nov 3, 1959

"Startime" presents an hour of songs, dances and comedy with Dean Martin as the host and his guests are Frank Sinatra, Mickey Rooney and the dance team of Augie and Margo.

Episode 6

The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks

Tue, Nov 10, 195960 mins

A disgruntled bank employee executes an elaborate corporate sabotage against his employers.

Episode 7

George Burns in the Big Time

Tue, Nov 17, 195950 mins

Season 1, Episode 7 - Musical variety episode featuring comedians and performers George Burns, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, and George Jessel reliving their early days in vaudeville.

Episode 8

Merman on Broadway

Tue, Nov 24, 195960 mins

Ethel Merman presents show tunes from her Broadway hits, with Hollywood stars Tab Hunter and Fess Parker, and comedian Tom Poston. Bobby Sherwood's trumpet áccompanies one Merman number.

Episode 9

Something Special

Tue, Dec 1, 1959

Sol Saks wrote this comedy about two single and lonely people who are paired by Albert Madden, who runs a matrimonial bureau.

Episode 10

My Three Angels

Tue, Dec 8, 195990 mins

Three convicts hoping to escape from Devil's Island take refuge with a struggling storekeeper and his family, and are able to help them out of their difficulties.

Episode 11

Cindy's Fella

Tue, Dec 15, 1959

Peddler Azel Dorsey and a drifter wander into a town and help young Cindy find her prince, in this old- west take on the Cinderella fable.

Episode 12

Christmas Startime

Tue, Dec 22, 1959

A one-hour musical Christmas celebration featuring Leonard Bernstein, the New York Philharmonic, Marian Anderson, the Schola Cantorum, the Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral in London and others.

Episode 13

Meet Cyd Charisse

Tue, Dec 29, 1959

Episode 14

The Man

Tue, Jan 5, 196060 mins

In a small town, an old lady (Thelma Ritter) living in a large Victorian home has a visit from a man just out of the army (Audie Murphy).He's in town looking for a job and a place to stay, and he knew the woman's late son, so she gives him room and board and small tasks to do. Slowly though, he becomes more and more aggressive and paranoid until it's obvious he's a psychopath that wants to get rid of her and take over the house.

Episode 15

The Dean Martin Variety Show II

Tue, Jan 12, 196060 mins

Dean Martin is host for a second time this season; appearing in this show: musical comedy star Nanette Fabray, pianist Andre Previn and singer Fabian.

Episode 16

Crime, Inc.

Tue, Jan 19, 1960

A survey which employs dramatic re-creations to show how organized crime has infiltrated legitimate business and labor organizations is presented with Lloyd Nolan narrating.

Episode 17

The Jack Paar Variety Show

Tue, Jan 26, 1960

Jack Paar hosts a one-hour show the casual style of his late-hours stanza. Guests are singer Pat Suzuki, comics Jonathan Winters and Alice Pearce, dancer Betty Bruce, pantomimist Harry Minno, mimic singer Duke Hazlett, a novelty act called the Strong Brothers, and Jack's young daughter Randy.

Episode 18

The Greatest Man Alive

Tue, Feb 2, 1960

.An elderly inhabitant of a dingy Manhattan apartment, decides that his life has been a failure and prepares to hang himself when a researcher calls.. Tony Webster adapted this drama from his 1957 Broadway comedy.

Episode 19

The Swingin' Years

Tue, Feb 9, 196060 mins

Ronald Reagan hosts a celebration of the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s.

Episode 20

Closed Set

Tue, Feb 16, 1960

A Hollywood director struggles with the demands and egotism of a famous leading lady.

Episode 21

The Talent Scouts Program

Tue, Feb 23, 196060 mins

Dave Garroway hosts this installment of Startime serving as a showcase for several talented young show-business professionals, each "sponsored" by an established performer.

Episode 22

Jeff McCleod, the Last Reb

Tue, Mar 1, 196060 mins

Civil War drama that takes place within the twenty-four hours of April 17, 1865, in and around the Tressler farm in Missouri. There was scattered fighting in the closing days of the Civil War after Lee surrendered at Appomattox. A Confederate soldier, Captain Jeff McCleod, has been wounded and left for dead on a small Missouri battlefield. He is found by Jannie, a 15-year-old Yankee boy, and brought home to a household of women who, reluctantly, hide McCleod in the cellar and lie about his presence to a search party of Union soldiers led by Lt. Train. Also nearby, the tattered remains of McCleod's regiment search for him and finally discover his whereabouts. Although word reaches both sides that the war has ended, neither Confederate nor Union troops can avoid a last battle in the farmyard--a pointless skirmish that pits McCleod against his close friend Geraldi.

Episode 23

The Swingin' Singin' Years

Tue, Mar 8, 196060 mins

Ronald Reagan hosts a celebration of the big band era of the 1930s and 1940s that recall the greatest recordings made during the swing era.

Episode 24

Academy Award Songs

Tue, Mar 15, 1960

Jane Wyman hosts an hour of movie songs that won an Academy Award and features the five tunes nominated for this year's Oscar.

Episode 25

Dear Arthur

Tue, Mar 22, 196060 mins

Gore Vidal adapted this drama based on P.G. Wodehouse's adaptation of Ferenc Molnár's play "Jemand." about a mysterious countess in Monacco.

Episode 26

The Young Juggler

Tue, Mar 29, 196051 mins

This drama tells the story of an immoral juggler and how his faith in Hod is restored.

Episode 27

Incident at a Corner

Tue, Apr 5, 196060 mins

A school crossing guard reprimands the PTA president for careless driving. He is later dismissed from his job on the basis of an anonymous note accusing him of being too friendly with little schoolgirls. His daughter's boyfriend takes up his cause, assuming that the PTA president sent the note out of spite. It turns out that the note was sent by a woman living across the street from the school, who knew the guard from another city, and feared he would expose her past life. Story is told with the same incident repeated from several different viewpoints.

Episode 28

Well, What About You?

Tue, Apr 19, 196060 mins

Figures from the worlds of politics and entertainment join forces to get people to vote in November. The political parties are represented by Vice President Richard Nixon, as well as by Paul Butler, Democratic national chairman; Massachusetts Sen. John Kennedy. Thruston Morton of Kentucky, Butler's Republican counterpart; Gov. Nelson Rockefeller of New York; and Adlai Stevenson. The.program is nonpartisan, so instead of campaigning the men quote the words of other Americans on the subject of voting.

Episode 29

Soldiers in Greasepaint

Tue, Apr 26, 1960

A 20th anniversary tribute to the USO with host Bob Crosby and performances by performances by singer Jane Morgan, comedian Don Adams, and the vocal group The Modernaires. Film clips are shown of USO entertainers doing shows behind the lines during World War II and in Korea,

Episode 30

Fun Fair

Tue, May 3, 196060 mins

Celeste Holm hosts a salute to the American country fair. Her guests are Cliff Arquette as Charley Weaver, singers Marion Marlowe and Jaye P. Morgan, comedienne Hermione Gingold, character actress Margaret Hamilton, musical-comedy performer Peter Palmer and magician Carl Ballantine.

Episode 31

Tennessee Ernie Ford Meets King Arthur

Tue, May 10, 196060 mins

Tennessee Ernie Ford is transported back in time to the England of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and he is in trouble the moment he arrives. A comedy based on Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." andapted and produced by Roland Kibbee.

Episode 32

Sing Along with Mitch

Tue, May 24, 196060 mins

Conductor-arranger Mitch Miller transfers his "Sing Along with Mitch" format from records to television. In this program he is joined by the vocal group Brothers Four, singers Leslie Uggams and Diana Trask, the Sing Along Chorus and an aggregation of singing children. The audience in the studio is encouraged to sing along

Episode 33

The Nanette Fabray Show, or Help Me, Aphrodite

Tue, May 31, 196060 mins

An original musical, "So Help Me, Aphrodite" with Nanette Fabray playing Sally, a diner waitress owned by Ernest Jones, who earnestly wants to marry her. But Sally dreams of being famous - like Marie Antoinette or Pocahontas.