KLCS-TV to Air Frank Sinatra Shows

(This came up in one of the music threads, but I thought it deserved one of it's own.)

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013KLCS/05FrankSinatra/prweb10707751.htm?PID=6146857

http://www.klcs.org/special/2013/sinatra_043013.asp

 

This material has long been available (in less than stellar quality) from "unofficial" sources, but this is the first authorized release of complete programs restored by the Sinatra family. Individual DVDs of six shows are being offered (to PBS donors) with these guest stars:

1. Elvis Presley, Sammy Davis Jr., Nancy Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop
2. Ella Fitzgerald, Peter Lawford
3. Lena Horne, Eleamor Roosevelt
4. Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Mitzi Gaynor
5. Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong
6. Dagmar, June Hutton

More info for donors: KLCS Sinatra Fundraising Levels

 

Well, KLCS has gotten a nice $500 donation from me.... Too bad it couldn't have gone to my local PBS station (although they pretty much suck since they don't have any unique programming on their digital sub-channels).

 

Thanks for the tip. Will set my DVR accordingly.

 

I have only one question. Does he duet with Dagmar on Mama Will Bark?
By the way I think Dagmar was hotter than a two dollar pistol!

 

No, if it's one of the programs I think it is, from April 7 or May 5, 1951. Those predated the Columbia recording of "Mama Will Bark" on May 10. I think that Mitch Miller got the idea for the song from the TV shows. There were no singing duets, just comedy sketches, with Frank and Dagmar. One of the programs may be viewed online here; not sure if it's the one offered by KLCS:

http://archive.org/details/FrankSinatra1951​

(Dagmar does perform a solo of "Ballin' the Jack." Intro patter with Sinatra starts at 33:33.)

The number two certainly comes to my mind...

​

 

that's great! I really would have loved to see some Dino!

 

Tomorrow (Mother's Day) is the best day to DVR these. All six hourly episodes will be airing beginning at 9 A.M., followed by the hour-and-a-half "Sinatra Sings" special hosted by Tina Sinatra at 3 P.M.

 

Thanks. DVR set.

 

Excellent. Thanks again.

 

FWIW I just noticed it's on here in SoCal on 58 KLCS

 

I posted elsewhere but shall also do it here...the quality of these old shows is very poor. Thye did nothing to restore them. In fact, I think some of the copies I have (especially the Palm Springs one) are of better quality! Even on the "Sinatra Sings" special which appears to be mostly cuts from the "Man & His Music" specials are of lesser visual quality than the recents DVD re-releases.

 

For Steve, Matt, Martin, Bob et al...

Just watched the CBS taping of "Very Good Year" at United Studios as part of the "Sinatra Sings" special and have a question. Mr. S is recording "out in the open" right next to Gordon Jenkins on the conductor's stand. He is not in his "shell" at the back of the studio as he normally is seen in photos of sessions there. Was this done just for show because of the filming? Obviously it did not compromise the sound isolation of his mike as the recording is a beauty.

Any ideas guys????

 

That's a disappointment. I was expecting/hoping for better quality in an "official" release, such as what was shown on some of the bonus disc clips in the recent Frank Sinatra: Concert Collection DVD box set.

It's been reported that the master videotapes for the Timex specials (e.g. "Welcome Home Elvis") were destroyed by ABC-TV in the mid-1970s to free up storage space, and what survives are inferior broadcast copies. Nevertheless, I've seen some decent restorations of small portions of these. It's a shame if these PBS versions have not received the best treatment that today's technology can provide.

 

Dunno, Paul. I haven't seem the new "Sinatra Sings" special, but I went back to my VHS tape of SINATRA: OFF THE RECORD with the same studio footage, and he's definitely singing "out in the open" as you say. Perhaps they did a take just for the CBS cameras? (This was originally a Walter Cronkite TV special in 1965; rebroadcast in edited form in 1998, a week after Sinatra's passing, with an intro by Dan Rather.) Here's a photo which shows the CBS cameraman filming producer Sonny Burke, conductor Gordon Jenkins, and FS in United Studio A:



BTW, that VHS program from CBS News is one which screams out for a DVD release. Recommended, if you have a working VCR and can find a copy.

 

Paul, could you confirm some of the musical numbers from the show with Dagmar, so that I can pin down the date? That would have to be a kinescope from the first Frank Sinatra Show series of 1950-52 (not from the 1957-60 time period). I would expect poorest quality on that one.

 

Sure will Bob. When I get home this evening.

 

There are tons of photos from that session, and none of them show the shell. I think it's safe to say Frank's vocal was not isolated that way. I especially like these "hat-on-the-mic-stand" shots:



As for my comment about the take, I must be getting old. ("How Old Am I"? ) The video is the same as the final (released) take 7. I remember doing an A/B comparison once to confirm that. It's been discussed at length before:

FRANK SINATRA recording "It Was a Very Good Year" (1965)
CBS source for Sinatra's "Very Good Year" on 1965 Walter Cronkite special​

 

Is it possible the shell was removed to accommodate Sinatra's live audience ("cheering section") sitting directly behind him?

 

5-5-51

Songs:
When You're Smiling
My Romance
Hello Young Lovers
If
Medley: What Do You Think I Am/Oh Look at Me Now

Still not as poor a copy as the Palm Springs one.

 

Thanks, Paul. So it's the same program I linked above in post #6:

http://archive.org/details/FrankSinatra1951​

That's a very fuzzy kinescope. I wonder if the one you DVR'd is any better quality or more complete? The website states that 15 minutes are missing.

BTW, as I mentioned above, that was broadcast just five days before "Mama Will Bark" was recorded. Mitch Miller was probably "inspired" by that very show. Woof!

 

Paul, another question, about this particular program: Is it The Bing Crosby Edsel Show from 1957 (with Rosemary Clooney and Bob Hope), or The Bing Crosby Oldsmobile Show from 1959 (with Peggy Lee)?

I'm mystified about the provenance of these programs. Many years ago, Nancy Sinatra posted at the SFF:

And in response to questions such as, "Do you think they will be released on DVD for the fans?" :

So when these programs were announced on the same bill with a Tina Sinatra-hosted program for PBS, I made the assumption that these were newly-restored copies from the Sinatra family vault. Guess not, based on what's been reported here.

 

It's indeed the Edsel Show, Bob.