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Doorway to Fame

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Doorway to Fame
Presented byJohnny Olson
Ned Harvey Orchestra
Narrated byJoe Bolton
Country of originUSA
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 1947 to July 1949.

Overview

The series used early television scene-blending technology to project the performers into cleverly constructed miniature sets or backdrops.[1] 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.[2]

Broadcast history

The series was 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 shows. Announcer Joe Bolton left the show to start on WPIX on May 15, 1948 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 7:00 pm. In March 1949, the program moved to 8:30 pm.[2]

Episode status

Two kinescopes of the series survive at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. One of the surviving episodes featured traditional pop singer Toni Arden and African-American "novelty dance act" Cook & Brown along with other performers[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ McNeil, Alex (1980). Total Television (4th ed.). New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-024916-8.
  2. ^ a b Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd edition). New York: Ballantine. ISBN 0-345-31864-1.
  3. ^ http://cinema.library.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=1&ti=1,1&Search%5FArg=Doorway%20to%20Fame&SL=None&Search%5FCode=GKEY%5E&CNT=50&PID=uKWYkfqjutGrGzYF4a8rh_AEuF3Ivj&SEQ=20120711221808&SID=1

Bibliography

  • 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
  • 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