Category Archives: Television 1950s

‘Requiem for a Heavyweight’ episode airs on ‘Playhouse 90’ 60 years ago this hour (Oct 11 1956)


Video: 'RESTORED: Requiem for a Heavyweight - Playhouse 90 (1956)'

(Thursday, October 11, 1956, 9:30-11:00 p.m. EDT) — An over-the-hill heavyweight boxing champion is exploited by his manager, despite the efforts of a compassionate young woman who tries to help him recover his self-respect on tonight’s episode of the CBS television anthology drama series Playhouse 90.

In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode number 30 on its “100 Greatest Episodes of All Time” list.

Phil Silvers fills in for injured Ed Sullivan 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 12 1956)


Video: 'The Ed Sullivan Show - Vol. 2 (Hosted by Burt Reynolds)' (August 6, 1956, at 57:51)

(Sunday, August 12, 1956, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT) — Comedian Phil Silvers hosted The Ed Sullivan Show tonight on CBS-TV, filling in for Ed Sullivan, 54, who was injured in a head-on collision on Aug. 6, 1956, in Seymour, Connecticut. Continue reading Phil Silvers fills in for injured Ed Sullivan 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 12 1956)

TV host Ed Sullivan injured in head-on collision 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 6 1956)


Video: 'The Ed Sullivan Show - Vol. 2 (Hosted by Burt Reynolds)' (August 6, 1956, at 57:31)

(Monday, August 6, 1956, at about 2:00 a.m. EDT) — Television host Ed Sullivan, 54, narrowly escaped with his life early today when the car he was driving crashed head-on into another automobile on a narrow, winding country road in Seymour, Connecticut. Continue reading TV host Ed Sullivan injured in head-on collision 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 6 1956)

Julie Andrews performs on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 60 years ago this hour (July 15 1956)


Video: 'The Ed Sullivan Show - Vol. 1 (Hosted by Carol Burnett)' (July 15, 1956, at 59:09)

(Sunday, July 15, 1956, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT) — Julie Andrews performed “I Could Have Danced All Night” on tonight’s live edition of the CBS-TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show from CBS Studio No. 50 in New York City.

Elvis Presley performs on ‘The Steve Allen Show ’ 60 years ago this hour (July 1 1956)


Video: 'ELVIS PRELSEY on THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW 1956 "I Want You I Need You"'

(Sunday, July 1, 1956, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT) — Elvis Presley performed “Hound Dog” singing to an actual hound dog live tonight on NBC’s The Steve Allen Show at the Hudson Theater in New York City. Continue reading Elvis Presley performs on ‘The Steve Allen Show ’ 60 years ago this hour (July 1 1956)

Elvis Presley performs on final ‘Milton Berle Show ’ 60 years ago this hour (June 5 1956)


Video: 'Elvis - Hound Dog & Dialogue - Milton Berle Show - 5 June 1956'

(Tuesday, June 5, 1956, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT) — Elvis Presley performed “Hound Dog” doing his hip-gyrating act live tonight on the the final episode of the original The Milton Berle Show in Los Angeles. From then on, cameras would only show him from the waist up.

Tony Curtis’ birthday celebrated on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 60 years ago this hour (June 3 1956)


Video: 'TONY CURTIS on The Ed Sullivan Show - RIP'

(Sunday, June 3, 1956, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT) — Film actor Tony Curtis celebrated his 31st birthday tonight with Ed Sullivan and Burt Lancaster (during a promotional spot for the film Trapeze) on tonight’s live edition of The Ed Sullivan Show from CBS Studio No. 50 in New York City.

‘Lucy’s Italian Movie’ episode airs on ‘I Love Lucy’ 60 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1956)


Video: 'Lucy grape fight scene'

(Monday, April 16, 1956, 9:00-9:30 p.m. EST) — En route to Rome by train, Lucy is spotted by a famous Italian cinema director and chosen to play a part in his new movie Bitter Grapes on tonight’s episode of the CBS sitcom television series I Love Lucy.

In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode number 18 on its “100 Greatest Episodes of All Time” list.