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The Swift Show Wagon with Horace Heidt and the American Way Season 1 Episodes

Season 1 Episode Guide

Season 1

39 Episodes 1955 - 1955

Episode 1

Premiere

Sat, Jan 8, 1955

Horace Heidt welcomes entertainment figures who received their first big break on his talent programs of the past: comedian Art Carney, pianist-band leader Frankie Carle, guitarist Alvino Rey, bandleader Frank DeVol and The King Sisters.

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Episode 2

Will Rogers, Jr.

Sat, Jan 15, 1955

Horace Heidt salutes Oklahoma. His guest is Will Rogers, Jr. The "Heidsters" appear.

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Episode 3

Gloria DeHaven, Leo Carrillo

Sat, Jan 22, 1955

Musical comedy star Gloria DeHaven and character actor Leo Carillo appear with Horace Heidt when he salutes the State of California. Local talent, the dancing Heidt Steppers and members of the Show Wagon perform.

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Episode 4

Bob Mathias, Suzan Ball

Sat, Jan 29, 1955

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Episode 5

Salute to Iowa

Sat, Feb 5, 1955

Horace's guest is William Frawley, known to viewers as Fred Mertz of "I Love Lucy." Frawley, local talent and regular members of the Show Wagon perform.

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Episode 6

Andy Devine

Sat, Feb 12, 1955

Gravel-voiced Andy Devine, who plays sidekick "Jingles" on the Wild Bill Hickock series, pays a visit to the Show Wagon in his home town of Tucson, Arizona. Horace highlights local talent and performances by the members of his troupe.

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Episode 7

Audie Murphy, Fred Lowery

Sat, Feb 19, 1955

Horace is in the wide open spaces. Besides cactus, there's plenty of home talent a'growin'. On hand are actor Audie Murphy, whistler Fred Lowery, comedian Doodles Weaver and local talent.

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Episode 8

Louis Armstrong, Faye Emerson

Sat, Feb 26, 1955

When it's Mardi Gras time in New Orleans, Horace Heidt is there with his guests, native Louisianans Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong and Faye Emerson. Local talent, as well as the regular members of the Show Wagon are prominently featured.

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Episode 9

March 5, 1955

Sat, Mar 5, 1955

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Episode 10

Eddy Arnold

Sat, Mar 12, 1955

The Show Wagon journeys to Chattanooga, Tennessee to salute the city and its local talent. Folk singer Eddy Arnold is Heidt's guest.

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Episode 11

Jack Carter

Sat, Mar 19, 1955

Comedian Jack Carter is Horace Heidt's special guest when the Show Wagon stops at Columbia, South Carolina. There'll also be performances by local talent and by members of the Heidi troupe.

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Episode 12

Larry Storch

Sat, Mar 26, 1955

Maestro Heidt has brought his Show Wagon down to Durham, North Carolina. His special guest is comedian Larry Storch. Also included are local entertainers in the national TV spotlight for the first time and members of the regular troupe.

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Episode 13

Marilyn Maxwell, The Ink Spots

Sat, Apr 2, 1955

Horace Heidt and troupe present "A Salute to the Services." They re-create the historic show they gave in 1953 at Korea's Freedom Village for repatriated American prisoners of war. The show highlights Marilyn Maxwell and The Ink Spots.

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Episode 14

The Step Brothers

Sat, Apr 9, 1955

Horace Heidt's Show Wagon lands in New York. Guests: the dancing Step Brothers. Among the show regulars: comedian Johnny ("It's In the Book") Standley; singers, Reita Green and Ralph Sigwald.

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Episode 15

April 16, 1955

Sat, Apr 16, 1955

The Show Wagon stops at Philadelphia as it salutes the Keystone State. Among the regulars: comedian Johnny Standley; singers Reita Green and Ralph Sigwald; the Musical Knights; and the Heidt Steppers.

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Episode 16

April 23, 1955

Sat, Apr 23, 1955

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Episode 17

April 30, 1955

Sat, Apr 30, 1955

Horace Heidt's Show Wagon stops at Cleveland, where local performers and a local hero will be saluted. Each week, Heidt honors a native of the state he's visiting who has performed an heroic act. They are given an award.

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Episode 18

Wally Cox

Sat, May 7, 1955

Horace Heidt's Show Wagon stops off in Detroit. Members of the troupe entertain and, in turn, are entertained by talented local performers. Heidt salutes a Detroit citizen who has done a deed beyond the call of duty. Wally Cox guests.

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Episode 19

May 14, 1955

Sat, May 14, 1955

Heidt's Show Wagon stops off at Bloomington, Indiana to highlight local talent and salute a local citizen.

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Episode 20

Groucho Marx

Sat, May 21, 1955

Groucho is the guest in Chicago, where the Wagon is saluting local talent, Illinois and Heidt's birthday. Also: comedians Doodles Weaver and Johnny Standley, singers Ralph Sigwald and Thomas Mosley and 3-year-old drummer Keith Thibodeaux

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Episode 21

May 28, 1955

Sat, May 28, 1955

Horace Heidt and his show wagon journey to Des Moines, Iowa. There they highlight local talent and salute a citizen who's performed a heroic deed.

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Episode 22

June 4, 1955

Sat, Jun 4, 1955

The Show Wagon travels to Denver, Colorado, where Heidt highlights local talent and a civic hero.

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Episode 23

June 11, 1955

Sat, Jun 11, 1955

Horace Heidt and his Show Wagon stop off at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to performances by the regulars, there's a salute to local talent and to a local civic hero.

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Episode 24

June 18, 1955

Sat, Jun 18, 1955

Horace Heidt and his Show Wagon gang have traveled out to California, where they'll be stopping for the next two months. Tonight the Wagon is in Los Angeles.

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Episode 25

June 25, 1955

Sat, Jun 25, 1955

Includes the permanent group of singers Reita Green and Ralph Sigwald; the Heidt Steppers; the Musical Knights; comedian Johny Stnadley; and the Horace Heidt band. The troupe continues its California stay and tonight salutes New Mexico.

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Episode 26

July 2, 1955

Sat, Jul 2, 1955

Heidt, his troupe and local talent entertain from Hollywood. Heidt presents a production featuring the dancers in "Artistry in Dance." Each dancer is introduced on TV for the first time. Reita Green is featured vocalist.

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Episode 27

Haleloke

Sat, Jul 9, 1955

Heidt and the Show Wagon pay tribute this week to Hawaii. Making her first appearance since the Godfrey show will be Haleloke. Featured members of the Wagon include Reita Green and Ralph Sigwald, the Heidt Steppers and Johnny Standley.

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Episode 28

July 16, 1955

Sat, Jul 16, 1955

The state of Kentucky is saluted. The Heidt Steppers contribute a Daniel Boone production number and a musical mountain feud.

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Episode 29

Lionel Hampton

Sat, Jul 23, 1955

Special guest on tonight's show will be jazzman Lionel Hampton, a hot man on the vibes. Horace and the Show Wagon present a salute to the state of New Jersey. The dancers perform "Jersey Bounce."

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Episode 30

Polly Bergen

Sat, Jul 30, 1955

Tonight's show features a salute to the state of Georgia. Guest Polly Bergen joins Heidt in a song-and-dance duet.

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Episode 31

August 6, 1955

Sat, Aug 6, 1955

A salute to the history of the dance, from the soft-shoe to the Viennese waltz, featuring the Heidt Steppers, Don Sky and dancer Lee Carter. From Hollywood.

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Episode 32

Patty Andrews

Sat, Aug 13, 1955

The Show Wagon salutes the city of San Francisco. Viewers are taken on a tour of the high spots, including Fisherman's Wharf, Nob Hill.

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Episode 33

Bobby Grayson

Sat, Aug 20, 1955

The Show Wagon stops at Portland to salute the state of Oregon. Featured are the Heidt Steppers, Reita Green and 3-year-old drummer Keith Thibodeaux. Keith's number will be the "Woodchoppers Ball." Bernie Jones and Bud Messinie of the Musical Knights present a comedy number, "Woodman Spare That Tree." Ralph Sigwald sings "On the Oregon Trail." The Don Sky production number salutes Portland, "The City of Roses," with "An American Beauty Rose." One of tonight's judges will be Bobby Grayson, three-time football All-American who was recently voted into the sport's "Hall of Fame."

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Episode 34

August 27, 1955

Sat, Aug 27, 1955

Seattle, Washington receives a visit from the Show Wagon for a salute to the state. The Musical Knights, the Heidt Steppers and Keith Thibodeaux perform.

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Episode 35

The Circus

Sat, Sep 3, 1955

The Show Wagon brings on the circus. Heidt presents Bozo the Clown; the juggling Johnson Brothers; Jackie the Lion; the Blair Sisters, acrobats; and a circus parade. Don Sky and the Heidt Steppers appear in a black-panther-training act. The ensemble of clowns offers "Be a Clown." Ralph Sigwald's number is "Pagliacci." Broadcast from Hollywood.

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Episode 36

September 10, 1955

Sat, Sep 10, 1955

Horace and the Show Wagon stop off in St. Paul, Minnesota. Three-year-old Keith Thibodeaux and Reita Green perform.

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Episode 37

September 17, 1955

Sat, Sep 17, 1955

The Show Wagon stops in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Heidt sings a new song especially written for him, "Hello, Nice People." Johnny Standley presents "Rock Around the Clock." As the finale, the cast sings "Auf Wiedersehn."

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Episode 38

September 24, 1955

Sat, Sep 24, 1955

Kansas City, Mo., gets a visit from the Show Wagon. The cast sings "Everything's Up to Date in Kansas City." Reita Green and Horace Heidt team up for a straw-hat and cane number. The finale features the entire cast in "The MIssouri Waltz."

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Episode 39

October 1, 1955

Sat, Oct 1, 1955

FINAL EPISODE OF SERIES: Horace Heidt presents the Grand Finals of the Professional Talent Contest from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Those competing in the finals are: teenage singer Marlene Willis, vocalist Thomas Mosley, accordionist Tony Lovello, 12-year-old singer Joan Proctor and saxophone player Bill McFarland.

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