This black and white musical television film is an episode of the hit show Your Hit Parade. Your Hit Parade was an American radio and television music program that was broadcast from 1935 to 1953 on radio, and seen from 1950 to 1959 on television. It was sponsored by American Tobacco’s Lucky Strike Cigarettes. During its 24-year run, the show had 19 orchestra leaders and 52 singers or groups. The show sought to portray the week’s top radio hits through short choreographed scenes performed by famous singers and actors. This particular film, which aired some time in 1954 and is presented by radio personality André Baruch, is sponsored by Crosley Radio a subsidiary of ASCO manufacturing corporation as well as the show’s usual sponsor Lucky Strike and features commercials from the two throughout the program. Produced by Dan Lounsbery and directed by Clark Jones, this film also features choreography by Tony Charmoli and sets by Paul Barnes.
Two mallets play drums, horns, and cymbals (0:10). Title page (0:14). ASCO manufacturing corporation animated advertisement for electronics and kitchen appliances (0:28). Animation of musical notes dancing on a staff, along piano keys, and around a jukebox (1:08). Singers line up to be presented in animated TV screen (1:35). Dorothy Collins (1:37). Snooky Lanson (1:40). Gisele MacKenzie (1:44). Russell Arms (1:46). The Hit Parade raiders and dancers (1:47). Raymond Scott as orchestra leader with Hit Parade orchestra (1:49). Survey song number 5 “Ricochet”: Spaghetti Western saloon scene as backdrop for Snooky Lanson and dancers (1:57-4:15). Survey song number 7 “You You You”: Gisele MacKenzie performs in a bird shop as backdrop, lots of small birds in cages (4:21-6:45). Camera pans map of the United States starting from the East Coast and moving towards the Midwest (6:48). Crosley Extra segment: musical tour of Chicago with dancers doing coordinated dance number with Raymond Scott’s orchestra (6:57-8:50). Survey song number 4 “Rags to Riches”: Dorothy Collins performs in a humble cabin, uses wood furniture to heat her small fire (9:05-11:56). Crosley Radio intermission commercial with Dick Eastham – celebrate history of the radio dating back to 1921 (12:02). Animation of first Miss America getting crowned (12:09). Animation of Rudolph Valentino in The Sheik (12:13). Mock newspaper article about unprecedented Ford Model T sales (12:14). Close-up of 1921 Crosley Radio model (12:28). Ad for 24-inch Crosley (12:56). Survey song number 6 “Oh My Papa”: Russell Arms performs song in attic amongst his fathers prized possessions (13:48-16:38). Russell Arms holds up Hussar-style military jacket (15:24). Survey song number 6 “Heart of My Heart”: performers dance on stage wearing striped barber jackets and straw boat hats typical of 1920s music performances (16:41-19:12). Cover of girl’s diary and first written entry (19:20). Survey song number 2 “That’s Amore”: Gisele MacKenzie performs in scene where she is on a date at a fancy Italian restaurant (19:32-21:28). Extra: Snooky Lanson and dancers perform “Little Girl,” dancers wear elaborate feather headpieces and flowing chiffon gowns (21:39-23:48). Lucky Strike ad break: Poet Ogden Nash sits in his study while smoking and speaks to the viewer (23:52-25:00). Survey song number 2 “Stranger in Paradise”: Dorothy Collins performs as if she is princess at royal court, fashion typical of late Middle Ages; women wear hennins (25:05-28:02). Stars and dancers sing a farewell song to close-out the show (28:05). Closing credits (28:42).
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
