The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) Episode #4.44 (1954) User Reviews

This "Colgate Comedy Hour" was a pretty entertaining summer edition

[tavm · 7/10 · 17 February 2008]

On this "Colgate Summer Comedy Hour", after Don Wilson announces the night's cast lineup, comic Gene Sheldon (in pantomime for the whole show) wakes up in bed on stage in a spotlight which he puts out with a slingshot. Then singer Connie Russell warbles "One Arabian Night" in a harem outfit with appropriate backup from the Nita Bieber Dancers. After another bit from Sheldon (who keeps reappearing in a running gag with a banjo throughout), Don Wilson appears on stage to introduce stand-up Jay Lawrence who reads a Variety review of himself from two weeks before on the show that's not too flattering. He then does a British announcer with mumbled words. Then he impersonates a swimmer trying to break a record on the English Channel. Then The Gaylords sing about a shoemaker. Then The Will Maston Trio appear tap dancing with first Sammy Davis, Sr. and then Maston himself doing solos before Sammy Davis, Jr. sings "Because of You" imitating four (although he says five) vocalists: Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Vaughn Monroe, and Billy Eckstine. He then impersonates James Cagney, James Stewart, Cary Grant, himself, and Jerry Lewis before playing some drums. Then Connie Russell returns singing "You've Changed". Then Gene Sheldon plays his banjo and has some further trouble with the spotlight. Sammy Davis, Jr. then returns singing "Hey You" before The Gaylords come back with "I Love You". Then Don Wilson gets interrupted by Sheldon (with Davis on drums) starring at him after which Davis dances and sings "The Birth of the Blues" with his father and Uncle Will watching on stage and the Nita Bieber Dancers performing with him. Then after Gene pulls the rest of the night's cast and Connie sings one more song, it's good night from Hollywood...No host dominated from this late summer broadcast from 1954 but the lion's share of air time seems to come from the one whose star rose the highest here: Sammy Davis, Jr. He's in fine form throughout from his singing to his impressions to his drum playing to his dancing. If Mr. Sheldon seems familiar to you, you've probably seen him in such Disney projects like "Zorro" or Babes in Toyland with Ed Wynn and Annette Funicello. He's just a little amusing here. Special Guest Connie Russell, which probably made her the main attraction here, displays her feminine charms in abundance especially in the beginning number. Jay Lawrence is pretty funny though some of his material may be dated. The Gaylords were also entertainingly amusing especially when they warbled in other languages. And it's nice to see Don Wilson outside of his regular gig on "The Jack Benny Program". All in all, this was a reasonably entertaining live program from the '50s.