Jump to content

Doorway to Fame: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
 
(33 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| image =
| show_name = Doorway to Fame
| image =
| caption =
⚫
| runtime = 30 minutes
| caption =
⚫
| creator =
| format = [[Talent show]]
| presenter = [[Johnny Olson]]<br>Ned Harvey Orchestra
⚫
| runtime = 30 minutes
⚫
| narrated = [[Joe Bolton (TV personality)|Joe Bolton]]
⚫
| creator =
| country = United States
⚫
| starring = [[Johnny Olson]] (host)<br>Ned Harvey Orchestra<br>[[Joe Bolton (TV personality)|Joe Bolton]]
⚫
| network = [[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]]
| country = {{USA}}
⚫
| first_aired = {{start date|1947|05|02}}
⚫
| network = [[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]]
⚫
| last_aired = {{end date|1949|07|04}}
⚫
| first_aired = May 2, 1947
⚫
| num_episodes =
⚫
| last_aired = July 4, 1949
⚫
}}
⚫
| num_episodes =

⚫
}}
'''''Doorway to Fame''''' is an early American [[television program]] broadcast on the now defunct [[DuMont Television Network]].
'''''Doorway to Fame''''' is an American [[talent show]] broadcast on the now defunct [[DuMont Television Network]]. The series ran from May 2, [[1947 in television|1947]], to July 11, [[1949 in television|1949]].<ref name=BM/>

==Overview==
⚫
The series used early television scene-blending technology to project the performers into cleverly constructed miniature sets or backdrops.<ref name="McNeil">McNeil, Alex (1980). ''Total Television'' (4th ed.). New York: Penguin Books. {{ISBN|0-14-024916-8}}.</ref> Although 20,000 performers appeared on the series, it is widely reported that, contrary to the show's name, very few of the contestants went on to become famous. The series was cancelled in 1949.<ref name="BM"/>


==Broadcast history==
==Broadcast history==
The series was hosted by [[Johnny Olson]],<ref>{{cite news|title=WGN-TV Preems DuMont Web Show|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-Radio-Daily-IDX/RD-48/Radio-Daily-1948-September-2-0041.pdf|accessdate=7 September 2017|work=Television Daily|date=September 14, 1948}}</ref><ref group=note>The December 11,
The series ran from May [[1947 in television|1947]] to July [[1949 in television|1949]]. It was a [[talent show]] hosted by [[Johnny Olson]], who would go on to host the DuMont daytime variety show ''[[Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room]]'' from 1949 to 1952, and many other television series and [[game show]]s. Announcer [[Joe Bolton (TV personality)|Joe Bolton]] left the show to start on [[WPIX]] on May 15, 1948 as announcer and weatherman.
1948, issue of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' reported that Danton Walker was the master of ceremonies.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Short Scannings|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/40s/1948/Billboard%201948-12-11-OCR-Page-0009.pdf|accessdate=7 September 2017|work=Billboard|date=December 11, 1948|page=13}}</ref> who would go on to host the DuMont daytime variety show ''[[Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room]]'' from 1949 to 1952, and many other television series and [[game show]]s, including the Saturday morning children's show ''[[Kids and Company]]'' on DuMont from September 1951 to June 1952, with co-host [[Ham Fisher]].


Regulars on the program included The Tophatters, described as "instrumentalists and novelty singers".<ref>{{cite news|title=Short Scannings|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/40s/1949/Billboard%201949-06-04-OCR-Page-0006.pdf|accessdate=7 September 2017|work=Billboard|date=June 4, 1949|page=6}}</ref>
⚫
The program, produced and distributed by DuMont, originally aired Friday nights at 7:30 pm EST on most DuMont affiliate stations. In October 1947, the schedule was changed to Monday nights at 7:00 pm. In March 1949, the program moved to 8:30 pm.<ref name="BM">Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows'' (3rd edition). New York: Ballantine. ISBN 0-345-31864-1.</ref>


On May 15, 1948, announcer [[Joe Bolton (TV personality)|Joe Bolton]] left ''Doorway to Fame'' to start on [[WPIX-TV]] as announcer and weatherman.
⚫
The innovative program used early television scene-blending technology to project the performers into cleverly-constructed miniature sets or backdrops.<ref name="McNeil">McNeil, Alex (1980). ''Total Television'' (4th ed.). New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-024916-8.</ref> Although 20,000 performers appeared on the series, it is widely reported that none of the contestants went on to become famous. The series was cancelled in 1949.<ref name="BM"/>

⚫
The program, produced and distributed by DuMont, originally aired Friday nights at 7:30 pm EST on most DuMont affiliate stations. In October 1947, the schedule was changed to Monday nights at 7pm ET. In March 1949, the program moved to 8:30pm ET.<ref name="BM">Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows'' (3rd edition). New York: Ballantine. {{ISBN|0-345-31864-1}}</ref>


==Episode status==
==Episode status==
Two kinescopes of the series survive at the [[UCLA Film and Television Archive]]. One of the surviving episodes featured up-and-coming traditional pop singer [[Toni Arden]] and African-American "novelty dance act" Cook & Brown along with other performers.<ref>{{cite web |title="Doorway to Fame" |url=https://search.library.ucla.edu/discovery/search?query=any,contains,%22Doorway%20to%20Fame%22&tab=Articles_books_more_slot&search_scope=ArticlesBooksMore&vid=01UCS_LAL:UCLA&offset=0 |website=UCLA Library Search |access-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230208034659/https://search.library.ucla.edu/discovery/search?query=any,contains,%22Doorway%20to%20Fame%22&tab=Articles_books_more_slot&search_scope=ArticlesBooksMore&vid=01UCS_LAL:UCLA&offset=0 |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Two kinescopes of the series survive at the [[UCLA Film and Television Archive]].


==See also==
==See also==
Line 30: Line 36:
*[[1947-48 United States network television schedule]]
*[[1947-48 United States network television schedule]]
*[[1948-49 United States network television schedule]]
*[[1948-49 United States network television schedule]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}


==References==
==References==
Line 35: Line 44:


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
*David Weinstein, ''The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television'' (Philadelphia: [[Temple University Press]], 2004) ISBN 1-59213-245-6
*David Weinstein, ''The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television'' (Philadelphia: [[Temple University Press]], 2004) {{ISBN|1-59213-245-6}}
*Alex McNeil, ''Total Television'', Fourth edition (New York: [[Penguin Books]], 1980) ISBN 0-14-024916-8
*Alex McNeil, ''Total Television'', Fourth edition (New York: [[Penguin Books]], 1980) {{ISBN|0-14-024916-8}}
*Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows'', Third edition (New York: [[Ballantine Books]], 1964) ISBN 0-345-31864-1
*Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows'', Third edition (New York: [[Ballantine Books]], 1964) {{ISBN|0-345-31864-1}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{imdb title|id=0129676|title=Doorway to Fame}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0129676|title=Doorway to Fame}}
*[http://www.dumonthistory.tv/a1.html DuMont historical website]
*[https://dumonthistory.com/a1.html DuMont historical website]


[[Category:DuMont Television Network shows]]
[[Category:1947 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1947 television series debuts]]
[[Category:1949 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1949 television series endings]]
[[Category:1940s American variety television series]]
[[Category:1940s American television series]]
[[Category:Black-and-white American television shows]]
[[Category:DuMont Television Network original programming]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Talent shows]]

Latest revision as of 03:56, 20 November 2024

Doorway to Fame
Presented byJohnny Olson
Ned Harvey Orchestra
Narrated byJoe Bolton
Country of originUnited States
Production
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkDuMont
ReleaseMay 2, 1947 (1947-05-02) –
July 4, 1949 (1949-07-04)

Doorway to Fame is an American talent show broadcast on the now defunct DuMont Television Network. The series ran from May 2, 1947, to July 11, 1949.[1]

Overview

[edit]

The series used early television scene-blending technology to project the performers into cleverly constructed miniature sets or backdrops.[2] Although 20,000 performers appeared on the series, it is widely reported that, contrary to the show's name, very few of the contestants went on to become famous. The series was cancelled in 1949.[1]

Broadcast history

[edit]

The series was hosted by Johnny Olson,[3][note 1][4] who would go on to host the DuMont daytime variety show Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room from 1949 to 1952, and many other television series and game shows, including the Saturday morning children's show Kids and Company on DuMont from September 1951 to June 1952, with co-host Ham Fisher.

Regulars on the program included The Tophatters, described as "instrumentalists and novelty singers".[5]

On May 15, 1948, announcer Joe Bolton left Doorway to Fame to start on WPIX-TV as announcer and weatherman.

The program, produced and distributed by DuMont, originally aired Friday nights at 7:30 pm EST on most DuMont affiliate stations. In October 1947, the schedule was changed to Monday nights at 7pm ET. In March 1949, the program moved to 8:30pm ET.[1]

Episode status

[edit]

Two kinescopes of the series survive at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. One of the surviving episodes featured up-and-coming traditional pop singer Toni Arden and African-American "novelty dance act" Cook & Brown along with other performers.[6]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The December 11, 1948, issue of Billboard reported that Danton Walker was the master of ceremonies.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd edition). New York: Ballantine. ISBN 0-345-31864-1
  2. ^ McNeil, Alex (1980). Total Television (4th ed.). New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-024916-8.
  3. ^ "WGN-TV Preems DuMont Web Show" (PDF). Television Daily. September 14, 1948. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Short Scannings" (PDF). Billboard. December 11, 1948. p. 13. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Short Scannings" (PDF). Billboard. June 4, 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  6. ^ ""Doorway to Fame"". UCLA Library Search. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Doorway_to_Fame&oldid=1258511339"