The Patrice Munsel Show is an American television variety show that was broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1957, until June 13, 1958.[1]

Program

Soprano Patrice Munsel, known for her performances with the Metropolitan Opera, starred in this live program. Other regulars were The Martins Quartet and the Charles Sanford Orchestra.[2] Episodes also featured guest stars. Munsel sang popular songs, show tunes, and excerpts from operas and did comedy sketches with guests.[3] She said: "We wanted a show with a basic theme each week, a show with a thread that the audience could follow. It's a matter of giving a viewer not what we think he should get at a specific moment, but what he naturally would want at that moment."[4]

Guests on the show included Robert Merrill, Buddy Hackett,[5] Vic Damone,[6] Martha Raye,[7] Kay Thompson,[8] Eddie Albert, Tony Bennett, John Raitt, and Andy Williams.[9] Nanette Fabray replaced Munsel on the November 8, 1957, episode.[10]

Production

Robert Shuler (Munsel's husband) was the executive producer for M-S Productions, which was founded by Munsel and Shuler.[11] Clark Jones was the producer and director. Writers included Larry Gelbart.[2] Hugh Martin arranged vocal numbers and was the show's musical director.[12]

Broadcast live,[13] the show initially was seen on Fridays from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time;[3] on January 3, 1958,[14] it was moved to 9:30 to 10 p.m. E.T., still on Fridays.[3] It originated from WABC-TV in New York City.[15]

The theme was "Breezy and Easy", composed by Martin.[1] Buick and Frigidaire were the sponsors.[16]

The Patrice Munsel Show replaced Crossroads.[15] The program's competition initially included Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre and The Life of Riley. After the time shift, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and The Thin Man competed with it.[2]

Critical response

A review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Variety called it "probably the best" of all of "the avalanche of varieties this season."[17] The review complimented Munsel's singing, dancing, banter, and wardrobe. It also praised the work of the show's off-camera personnel and concluded by saying that the show was "a Munsel menu to brighten any home."[17]

References

  1. 1 2 McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 645. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. 1 2 3 Hyatt, Wesley (October 6, 2015). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. pp. 85–87. ISBN 978-1-4766-0515-9. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 1060. ISBN 978-0-307-48320-1. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  4. ↑ Mercer, Charles (December 1, 1957). "Patrice Munsel Mixes TV, Opera on Schedule". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma, Oklahoma City. Associated Press. p. 139. Retrieved September 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Friday, November 22". Ross Reports. November 18, 1957. p. C. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Friday November 1". Ross Reports. October 28, 1957. p. C. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  7. ↑ Tucker, David C. (June 24, 2016). Martha Raye: Film and Television Clown. McFarland. p. 173. ISBN 978-0-7864-9583-2. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  8. ↑ Irvin, Sam (November 15, 2011). Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise. Simon and Schuster. p. 297. ISBN 978-1-4391-7654-2. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  9. ↑ Shattuck, Kathryn (August 11, 2016). "Patrice Munsel, a Soprano Who Made Her Met Debut As a Teenager, Dies at 91". The New York Times. p. A 17. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Friday November 8". Ross Reports. November 11, 1957. p. A. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  11. ↑ "All Ingredients Under One Roof Is TV Panacea". Billboard. November 4, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  12. ↑ "City's Hugh Martin Is Musical Show Arranger". Birmingham Post-Herald. February 6, 1958. p. 6. Retrieved September 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Patrice Munsel Show (Live)". Billboard. August 12, 1957. p. 56. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  14. ↑ "A.B.C. Reverses Film Show Trend". The New York Times. December 16, 1957. p. 51. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  15. 1 2 "This Week — Network Debuts & Highlights". Ross Reports. October 14, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Scoreboard on TV Fall Plans". Billboard. June 2, 1958. p. 9. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  17. 1 2 "Patrice Munsel Show". Variety. October 23, 1957. p. 37. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
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