1956 NBC Studios ,Burbank June 5th - Milton Berle

 

 

 

1956 NBC Studios ,Burbank June 5th - Milton Berle

NBC Studios,Burbank 1955.

NBC-TV Milton Berle - Comedy
June 5th 8.00 to 9.00pm (Est)
Elvis Presley - the new singing sensation
Debra Paget - who will sing and dance
Arnold Stang - as Francis (comedian)
Irish McCalla - who plays in the Sheena series
Les Baxter and Orchestra - with his No.1 hit 'The Poor People of Paris'
Barry Gordon
Victor Young conductor
Sponsored by RCA



 Arnold Stang,Irish McCalla,Milton Berle,Barry Gordon,Elvis,Debra Paget, Les Baxter.

Barry Gordon was seven years old when he entered the ranks of the record industry, singing the novelty hit "I'm Gettin' Nuthin for Christmas" (1955). Gordon followed this triumph with "Rock N Roll Mother Goose," which was no chart-buster but did land him a spot in the 1956 Frank Tashlin-directed feature The Girl Can't Help It ,though his song was cut from the final release version, he can be seen as a wise-beyond-his-years paper boy, ogling Jayne Mansfield as she swivels by. By the late 1950s, Gordon was best known for his guest appearances on The Jack Benny Program, expertly impersonating that series' venerable star. Gordon has carved himself a niche as one of the busiest and most versatile voiceover artists in the TV animation industry, Barry Gordon is a past president of the Screen Actors Guild.

Barry Gordon

Irish McCalla the exotic looking star the of TV series 'Sheenah Queen Of The Jungle' jokes with Elvis Presley backstage.

The guests on Berle's show attended several days of rehearsals in preparation for the live broadcast but Presley was unable to attend the first day because he was performing somewhere on the East Coast. Debra Paget, was also appearing on the show, and when Elvis arrived she and Irish sat out front in the audience with all of the dancers to watch as he came in. Irish's immediate impression was that he didn't look any different from the guys back home in Nebraska where she grew up ("I thought he was another 'in-joke' or something.") When Presley smiled, however, she saw something boyish and shy in that smile that reminded her of James Dean and she said that it made her want to "ruffle his hair". When the music started and Presley began singing Irish turned to Debra Paget and said, "It's a good beat, but what's he singing about... a hound dog?" Paget, obviously a fan, was entranced and replied laughingly, "Who cares!" Irish said that it was obvious to her even then that Presley could sing the first page of the dictionary and the girls would still go wild. Over the next couple of days she got to know him better and learned to love the rhythmic music and Presley's voice as well. She was somewhat astonished and delighted when Presley told her that he was a big fan of hers because he had seen Sheena on television ("I showed him Tahitian dancing and how it differed from his rock and roll. He was a real nice kid"). Irish also remembered that the dancers were all over him and he loved it.

 

Irish McCalla and Elvis backstage.

Colonel Tom Parker speaks to Elvis during a break in rehearsals. Irish McCalla is sitting behind Elvis

PHOTOGRAPHER : Stewart Sawyer

June 5th 1956
N.B.C Studios,Burbank,California
Musicians
Guitar : Scotty Moore
Bass : Bill Black
Drums : D.J. Fontana
Vocal : Elvis Presley
Back up Vocals : The Jordanaires - Gordon Stoker,Hoyt Hawkins,Hugh Jarrett,Neal Matthews

Released on RCA 'A Golden Celebration'

"His performance of 'Hound Dog' on the June 5th 1956 edition of 'The Milton Berle Show' stands out as one of the greatest moments of his whole career,Elvis in his prime".*

'HOUND DOG'

above photographs are from the 'dress rehearsal' performance, on the 5th June 1956, and not from the actual broadcast.

'I WANT YOU,I NEED YOU,I LOVE YOU'

Milton Berle presents Elvis with a 'Billboard' double Triple Crown Award for his RCA Victor recording of 'Heartbreak Hotel'.




Note: NBC used Color Camera's for this broadcast -Burbank Studio 2 (Spring 1955)
Color City, Burbank. RCA TK 40/41 Color Camera's were used.

Debra Paget talking to Elvis during a break in rehearsal's,with the RCA TK 40/41 Color Camera in the background