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The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour
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The Colgate Comedy Hour
Title card from 1950
Also known asColgate Summer Comedy Hour
Colgate Variety Hour
GenreComedy/Variety
Created byFred Hamilton
Directed byWilliam Asher
Bob Finkel
Fred Hamilton
Ernest D. Glucksman
Jim Jordan
Kingman T. Moore
Ed Sobol
James V. Kern
Bud Yorkin
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes221
Production
Executive producersSamuel Fuller
Pete Barnum
ProducersCharles Friedman
Ernest D. Glucksman
Leo Morgan
Ed Sobol
Michael Todd
Pete Barnum
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time50 minutes
Production companyColgate-Palmolive-Peet
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 10, 1950 (1950-09-10) –
December 25, 1955 (1955-12-25)

The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC network from 1950 to 1955. The show featured many notable comedians and entertainers of the era as guest stars. Many of the scripts of the series are archived at the UCLA Library in their Special Collections.

Synopsis

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The program evolved from NBC's first TV variety showcase, Four Star Revue, sponsored by Motorola. The "running gag" sketches were dropped in favor of more performing acts. The weekly show was proposed to be hosted by four comedians in a four-week rotation to provide competition for Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town on CBS. The first episode, starring Hans Conried, Rosemary DeCamp and Dick Foran, was written and produced by the then 22-year-old Peggy Webber, who appeared in over 100 episodes of Dragnet with Jack Webb.

The new format was heavily backed by its sponsor, Colgate-Palmolive, to the tune of $3 million in the first year, and the 8:00 p.m. ET, Sunday evening format show was a spectacular success, particularly for Eddie Cantor and the Martin & Lewis and Abbott & Costello duos. In his autobiography, Jerry Lewis wrote that the show premiered Sunday, September 17, 1950, with Martin & Lewis and was telecast from the Park Theatre off Columbus Circle in New York City.[1] As theatres are known by different names over history, it is possible that this was the now-demolished International Theatre at 5 Columbus Circle, the broadcast location of another NBC show of the era, Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.[2] In fact, Eddie Cantor hosted the first Colgate Comedy Hour on September 10, 1950.[3]

During the 1950–51 season, AT&T put into regular service a coast-to-coast coaxial/microwave interconnection service which allowed live telecasts from across the nation. Three production units were quickly set up, one in New York City, one in Chicago, and one in Los Angeles.[4] Martin & Lewis[5] and Abbott & Costello anchored the West Coast, broadcasting from the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood (today known as Avalon Hollywood; other shows that originated here include The Hollywood Palace), while Eddie Cantor anchored from New York City. This gave NBC a substantial edge over Ed Sullivan, since top-grade talent from motion pictures could also do network TV on the West Coast Colgate Comedy Hour, while Sullivan had to work with whoever happened to be in New York City at the time that a particular episode aired.

During the 1952–53 season, Cantor suffered a heart attack immediately after a Colgate Comedy Hour broadcast in September. Although he quickly recovered and returned in January 1953, he was reluctant to move on with the show. By the fourth season, the sponsor was providing $6,000,000, but the performers were finding difficulty in offering fresh material. Ratings hence began to decline. Cantor had become too ill to continue in the hosting role, and the travel was too stressful and painful for him.[6] His final Colgate appearance was in May 1954. Vic Schoen was hired as the musical director in 1954.

In 1954, Tony Martinez, later cast as the farmhand on The Real McCoys, made his television debut on The Colgate Comedy Hour.

Martin and Lewis in a February 1955 skit from the show

Colgate Variety Hour

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In June 1955, the show changed its name to the Colgate Variety Hour to reflect a move away from pure comedy. An affiliation with Paramount Pictures resulted in episodes featuring scenes from new films and appearances by stars of the featured films. Charlton Heston was the host of several episodes in the new format.[7] A number of the earlier hosts had left by the end of the 1953–54 season (with the exception of Martin & Lewis) as the show shifted toward mini-musicals, starring hosts including Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra, who paired together in truncated version of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes". The show was also performing on the road, unlike other seasons where the shows were transmitted from New York City or Los Angeles at 8 p.m. Gordon MacRae often served as host during this period. On December 11, 1955, Sam Levene guest starred in a Salute to George Abbott. Recurring guest stars included Pat Sheehan, Joy Langstaff, Doris Gildart, and Connie Russell.

However, ratings continued to slide while The Ed Sullivan Show got stronger. The final show, emceed by the series' last continuing host Robert Paige, aired as a Christmas special on December 25, 1955, with Fred Waring and his "Pennsylvanians" choral ensemble. The Colgate Comedy Hour was replaced on January 8, 1956, with the NBC Comedy Hour, hosted by Leo Durocher for the first three shows. After Durocher, the regular hosts changed, and after 18 broadcasts, the final show aired in June. Regular supporting casts always co-starred in each of the episodes. Jonathan Winters was featured on the show. On May 11, 1967, NBC broadcast a special Colgate Comedy Hour revival (pre-empting The Dean Martin Show, which Colgate sponsored at the time), with guests Nanette Fabray, Kaye Ballard, Edie Adams, Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks (performing one of their "2000 Year Old Man" routines), Phyllis Diller, Bob Newhart, Nipsey Russell, and Dan Rowan and Dick Martin. None of the performers who had performed in the original 1950–1956 shows appeared. The special, produced by George Schlatter, also served as a television pilot for a possible revival of the series, which never happened.

In the 1954–1955 season, Donald O'Connor left the show and starred in his own musical situation comedy, The Donald O'Connor Show, which aired on the NBC Saturday schedule alternating with The Jimmy Durante Show.

Notable guest stars who went on to find success in entertainment included Vera Miles, costar of Alfred Hitchcock's thriller Psycho, Bob Fosse, later a noted choreographer and director who won multiple Tonys and an Academy Award for his work, and a child-age Christopher Walken, who became an Oscar-winning actor and screen star, appeared alongside Jerry Lewis in a sketch (albeit under his given name, Ronald).

Kinescopes of the 28 shows hosted by Martin & Lewis have been airing Saturday evenings on the classic television network RTV since June 30, 2012.[8]

Color

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The episode broadcast on November 22, 1953, hosted by Donald O'Connor, was the first color television broadcast in the NTSC color system (used in the U.S. until the change to digital in June 2009). There were few other color broadcasts in the 1953–1954 season, and all of them were transmitted by NBC. The series was also used earlier in the season to demonstrate the final form of RCA's "Compatible" color system to members of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Two sets were in the room: an experimental color model and a standard black-and-white unit. Eddie Cantor hosted the program with guests including Frank Sinatra, Eddie Fisher, and Brian Donlevy.

Ratings

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  • Season 1: #4
  • Season 2: #5
  • Season 3: #7
  • Season 4: #10
  • Season 5: #27

Episodes

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Season Episodes Season premiere Season finale
1 42 September 10, 1950 (1950-09-10) June 24, 1951 (1951-06-24)
2 42 September 2, 1951 (1951-09-02) June 15, 1952 (1952-06-15)
3 39 September 21, 1952 (1952-09-21) June 14, 1953 (1953-06-14)
4 49 October 4, 1953 (1953-10-04) September 5, 1954 (1954-09-05)
5 39 September 19, 1954 (1954-09-19) September 4, 1955 (1955-09-04)
6 12 September 18, 1955 (1955-09-18)[9] December 25, 1955 (1955-12-25)

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Colgate Comedy Hour

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The Colgate Comedy Hour was an American live comedy-variety television series that aired on from September 10, 1950, to December 25, 1955, sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive-Peet and featuring a rotating lineup of prominent hosts and guest stars from , , radio, and theater. The program, which broadcast Sundays from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, combined musical numbers, sketches, routines, opera excerpts, and nightclub-style revues, often performed before enthusiastic studio audiences in or, starting in 1951, with live bi-coastal segments from Hollywood's . It premiered as a high-budget production with an annual cost of up to $6 million, quickly becoming a top-rated show that frequently outperformed CBS's Toast of the Town hosted by in its early seasons. Key hosts included , who emceed 38 episodes from 1950 to 1954; and , who appeared in 28 episodes and were instrumental in the show's early success; with 19 episodes from 1951 to 1954; (16 episodes, 1951–1954); (17 episodes, 1952–1953); (1953–1954); and others such as , , and . Guest performers ranged from singers like and to comedians and dancers, showcasing the era's top entertainment talent in innovative formats. Among its notable achievements, The Colgate Comedy Hour delivered the first live coast-to-coast television broadcast on September 30, 1951, linking New York and Hollywood audiences, and the first network color telecast on November 22, 1953, hosted by using the system. The show's "wheel" format of rotating hosts influenced later programs, though ratings declined after 1954 due to host departures and rising competition, leading to its rebranding as The Colgate Variety Hour in 1955 before cancellation; an unsuccessful revival aired in 1967.

Overview

Premise and Format

The Colgate Comedy Hour was an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on , presenting a blend of comedic sketches, musical numbers, and revue-style performances designed to entertain post-World War II audiences with high-energy entertainment. The show's premise centered on showcasing top talents from , theater, radio, and film in a format that emphasized broad appeal through humor and music, competing directly with programs like Toast of the Town. Sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive-Peet, the series benefited from a substantial budget that enabled lavish staging and star-driven content. A typical episode followed a 60-minute structure broadcast on Sunday evenings from 8:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern Time, beginning with an opening by the host to set a comedic tone, followed by a series of burlesque-style sketches that often parodied everyday situations or . These were interspersed with musical performances, including solo numbers, ensemble songs, and elaborate production pieces featuring singers and dancers, culminating in a closing act that tied together the evening's themes. The format prioritized fast-paced transitions to maintain viewer engagement during the live presentation. Format variations occurred depending on the hosting team's style, with some episodes structured as revues for an intimate, cabaret-like feel, while others incorporated parodies or extended musical segments to highlight theatrical elements. Broadcast live from studios in and Hollywood, the show captured an improvisational energy inherent to its unscripted moments and audience interaction, contributing to its reputation as a vibrant showcase of 1950s . This live aspect allowed for spontaneous humor and musical flair that distinguished it from more scripted formats of the era.

Broadcast Run

The Colgate Comedy Hour premiered on September 10, 1950, on the television network, marking the debut of a high-profile live variety series sponsored by . The show quickly became a staple of 's programming, airing exclusively on the network throughout its duration. It ran for six seasons from 1950 to 1955, broadcasting a total of 223 episodes, with the final installment airing on December 25, 1955, though it was rebranded as The Colgate Variety Hour for its sixth and final season starting in June 1955. The series maintained a consistent evening time slot at 8:00 PM ET, competing directly with CBS's Toast of the Town hosted by . Episodes were produced and transmitted live, bi-coastally from studios in and Hollywood, emphasizing the era's preference for unscripted, immediate entertainment without pre-recording. The program's cancellation in 1955 stemmed from evolving television industry trends that favored filmed series for easier syndication and repeatability, alongside Colgate's withdrawal of sponsorship and declining ratings against filmed competitors. In its later seasons, the show briefly incorporated color experiments, aligning with NBC's push toward technical advancements.

Hosts and Performers

Rotating Hosts

The Colgate Comedy Hour employed a rotating host format to showcase a variety of comedic talents, with hosts alternating in cycles of four to five weeks to provide diverse entertainment styles each Sunday evening. This system allowed the program to compete with rival variety shows by blending traditions, humor, and musical performances, ensuring broad appeal under Colgate-Palmolive's sponsorship, which favored established stars to promote the brand. Eddie Cantor served as the inaugural host for the first four seasons (1950–1954), anchoring 38 episodes and infusing the series with his signature vaudeville-style energy, characterized by energetic song-and-dance routines and rapid-fire banter drawn from his Broadway and radio background. His tenure established the show's lively, revue-like tone, often featuring elaborate production numbers that highlighted his "Banjo Eyes" persona and helped launch the program on September 10, 1950. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis hosted 28 episodes across Seasons 1 through 6 (1950–1955), becoming one of the most enduring duos on the series with their blend of comedy and musical duets that mirrored their . Their contributions emphasized physical humor and improvisational interplay, such as Martin's suave crooning contrasting Lewis's manic antics, which captivated audiences and solidified their rising stardom during the early television era. Abbott and Costello anchored 19 episodes from 1951 to 1955, across Seasons 2 through 5, delivering classic physical comedy routines like "Who's on First?" that emphasized timing and visual gags rooted in their film and legacy. Their hosting brought a fast-paced, team-based dynamic to the rotation, appealing to fans of their concurrent . Donald O'Connor hosted 16 episodes from 1951 to 1954, across Seasons 2 through 4, where his versatile talents in singing, dancing, and comedy—exemplified by high-energy tap routines—added a youthful, athletic flair to the program's variety format. hosted 17 episodes in 1952–1953, incorporating his signature monologue style and celebrity guests into the show's format. hosted episodes in 1953–1954, bringing his gravelly voice, piano playing, and comedic persona to the rotation.

Guest Appearances

Guests appeared in nearly every episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour, providing complementary performances that added diversity and star appeal to the hosts' acts. The program featured a range of prominent entertainers, including singers who delivered musical numbers, such as Frank Sinatra in episodes from 1951 to 1954. Sinatra performed hits like "South of the Border" during an Eddie Cantor-hosted installment on November 8, 1953, and starred in the February 28, 1954, production of Anything Goes alongside Ethel Merman, where he sang Cole Porter standards in a nautical sketch setting. Bing Crosby made special appearances, including duets with hosts in the January 17, 1954, episode tied to the Bing Crosby Pro-Am Golf Tournament, enhancing the musical segments with his signature crooning style. Other notable guests included , who performed his hits like "Because You're Mine" in a 1953 episode and appeared in 1954 and 1955 installments, such as the September 5, 1954, show with , showcasing his piano and vocal talents. Comedians like contributed energetic routines, including a guest spot on the June 17, 1951, episode and hosting his own on October 17, 1954, with . Actors also participated in parody sketches, exemplified by Errol Flynn's comedic turns in the January 13, 1952, Abbott and Costello-hosted episode, where he joined in a ranch-themed routine alongside and . These guest stars significantly enhanced the show's appeal, contributing to its top-10 ratings in the early seasons by leveraging their fame to attract large audiences.

Production

Sponsorship and Development

The Colgate Comedy Hour was primarily sponsored by the Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company, which provided funding for three out of every four weekly episodes, reflecting the era's single-sponsor model where advertisers fully backed high-profile programming to promote their health and beauty products. This arrangement enabled seamless integration of Colgate's branding, including toothpaste advertisements woven into sketches and transitions, such as hosts demonstrating dental hygiene routines amid comedic bits to reinforce the sponsor's message without abrupt commercial breaks. Initially, the fourth weekly slot was sponsored by Frigidaire under the title Michael Todd’s Revue, but Colgate soon assumed full control, renaming it to align with their portfolio. The series originated as a proposal from veteran entertainer to executives in 1950, designed as a rotating-host variety format to capitalize on the surging popularity of entertainment and directly challenge CBS's Toast of the Town hosted by . greenlit the concept to fill its Sunday night lineup, drawing on established and radio talents to create a Broadway-style with narrative continuity across musical numbers, sketches, and guest performances, premiering on September 10, 1950, with Cantor as the inaugural host. Key figures in shaping the initial production included producers Charles Friedman and Ernest D. Glucksman, who oversaw the transition from Cantor's radio background to this ambitious TV adaptation, while director Sid Smith contributed to early episodes by managing the live pacing and ensemble coordination. Colgate's substantial investment—estimated at over $6 million annually by the 1953–54 season, including talent fees, production costs, and airtime—underscored the show's scale, allowing to secure top-tier performers like and as regular hosts and enabling elaborate sets, orchestras, and coast-to-coast live broadcasts that set a benchmark for variety programming. This funding model not only elevated production values but also positioned the series as 's flagship comedy offering, fostering an environment where big-name guest stars could thrive in a format blending humor with musical extravaganzas.

Filming Techniques

The Colgate Comedy Hour utilized a live multi-camera production setup, with early episodes broadcast from NBC's International Theatre in , where 3 to 4 cameras on tripods or dollies captured dynamic shots ranging from wide establishing views to close-ups of performers. Starting September 30, 1951, the production became bi-coastal, incorporating live segments from Hollywood's linked via microwave relays for the first regular coast-to-coast broadcast, while maintaining similar multi-camera techniques in both locations. This configuration allowed for real-time switching between angles to maintain visual energy during the hour-long variety format, a standard approach for network television that emphasized fluid transitions without the luxury of post-production edits. Set designs were elaborate and theatrical, featuring large stages with modular elements like flats, drops, and cycloramas that enabled rapid changes between sketches—often using stage wagons or castered platforms to shift scenery in seconds. These sets incorporated Colgate-branded props and backdrops to fulfill sponsor-mandated ad integrations, blending promotional content with comedic routines for seamless commercial tie-ins. The designs prioritized depth and to mimic stages, while maintaining a limited tonal contrast suitable for black-and-white broadcast. Audio production employed extensible boom microphones positioned to follow action without intruding on visuals, hidden in sets or mounted on mobile bases to capture dialogue and with clarity adapted from motion-picture techniques. Lighting drew from theater practices, using spotlights, floods, and dimmers to provide high-intensity illumination—typically 80 to 150 foot-candles—creating modeled effects and backlighting for performer separation, while avoiding harsh shadows that could disrupt the intimate feel of early television. The inherent challenges of the live format meant no retakes were possible, demanding precise coordination among camera operators, lighting crews, and performers to avert mishaps; as a result, occasional flubs, missed cues, or technical glitches were irretrievably broadcast, adding an authentic, unpolished edge to the shows.

Transition to Color

Introduction of Color Broadcasting

In the early 1950s, pursued aggressive experiments as part of its strategy to outpace rival in technological innovation, amid a broader industry push toward compatible color standards approved by the FCC in 1953. The Colgate Comedy Hour, already a variety program sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive-Peet, was selected for these trials due to its high production values and visual spectacle, aligning with 's goal to demonstrate color's potential in live entertainment programming. This context positioned the show as a key testing ground in the network's rivalry with 's Toast of the Town, where aimed to highlight advancements in broadcasting quality. Colgate-Palmolive approved the integration of color for select episodes beginning in late 1953, viewing it as an opportunity to enhance the program's appeal through more dynamic visuals, with the sponsor funding the substantial additional costs beyond its standard multimillion-dollar annual budget. Preparations involved coordination between engineers and Colgate executives, culminating in the announcement of an FCC-sanctioned color telecast on November 22, 1953, hosted by —the first such sponsored network program. This decision reflected the sponsor's confidence in the show's format to effectively showcase color's vibrancy in sets, costumes, and performances, setting a precedent for commercial adoption. The technical transition required deploying RCA's newly developed compatible color equipment, including TK-41 color cameras and specialized monitors, which were rigorously tested in non-broadcast closed-circuit runs to ensure seamless integration with existing black-and-white systems. These preparations addressed challenges like color in live production, with monitoring conducted by select viewers in equipped viewing booths remote from the studio to validate signal quality. As one of the earliest major network series to attempt live color , this experiment marked a pivotal step in television's evolution, influencing subsequent FCC approvals for widespread color standards and briefly boosting the show's visibility among early adopters.

Color Episode Details

The first color episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour aired on November 22, 1953, hosted by , marking it as the inaugural sponsored network program broadcast in color using RCA's system. This live variety installment originated from the Colonial Theatre in and featured guests including , , , Sid Miller, , and Al Goodman and his Orchestra, with bright musical numbers by performers like Dandridge designed to highlight the vibrant new format. Although the episode showcased enhanced reds and blues in sketches and production elements to demonstrate color capabilities, it was constrained by the nascent technology's compatibility requirements, ensuring black-and-white sets could still receive a functional signal. This experimental broadcast was not yet FCC-approved for full public rollout, serving primarily as a test monitored in equipped viewing booths rather than for widespread home viewing. Viewer access remained extremely limited, as color television sets were scarce, comprising less than 1% of U.S. households in 1953 due to high costs and minimal programming availability. Sources indicate this was the only color telecast for the series, conducted as a one-off demonstration before broader color adoption in television later in the decade.

Reception

Viewership Metrics

The Colgate Comedy Hour garnered substantial viewership in its inaugural seasons, reflecting the rapid growth of television adoption in the early 1950s. Nielsen Media Research data indicate that the show's average household rating for the 1950–1951 season stood at 42.0, placing it fifth among all primetime programs and attracting an estimated 12.85 million viewers aged two and older weekly. This strong performance was driven by the novelty of live variety programming and rotating high-profile hosts, which helped capture a significant share of the limited but enthusiastic TV audience at the time. Viewership peaked during the 1952–1953 season, with individual episodes achieving ratings as high as 63.6—such as the September 21, 1952, installment hosted by and , which drew approximately 38.9 million viewers aged two and older. Overall seasonal averages hovered in the mid-40s, underscoring the show's dominance in Sunday night slots. However, by the 1954–1955 season, ratings had declined to an average of 28.0, resulting in a drop to 27th in the national rankings amid rising competition from programs like . This trend was influenced by factors including host changes, with appearing less frequently, and the broader fragmentation of the audience as television ownership expanded. Nielsen's , which tracked both ratings (percentage of TV households) and shares (percentage of viewing households) starting in 1950, consistently showed the impact of star power on episode performance; Martin and Lewis-hosted shows often exceeded 60 in ratings, establishing benchmarks for variety television success. In early seasons, the program outperformed rivals like , which averaged 42.0 in 1951–1952 compared to Colgate's 45.3.
SeasonAverage RatingRankPeak Episode RatingNotes
1950–195142.0560.6Initial high share due to limited competition; ~12.9 million P2+ viewers weekly.
1951–195245.35N/AStrong growth with Martin-Lewis episodes; ~20.8 million P2+ viewers.
1952–1953~44.0763.6Peak with Martin-Lewis; audience up to 38.9 million P2+.
1953–1954~35.010N/AGradual decline begins; ~9.4 million households.
1954–195528.027N/AImpacted by Sullivan competition; ~8.6 million households.

Critical and Audience Response

The premiere episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour, hosted by on September 10, 1950, received rave reviews for its transformation of traditions into a Broadway-style spectacle, praised for its high production values and energetic performances. Episodes hosted by and were particularly acclaimed by the trade press for capturing the duo's funny and intimate dynamic, bringing a sense of spontaneous chaos to the variety format. Publications like Variety highlighted the live energy and star power of these installments, noting their appeal through ad-libbed humor and musical numbers that engaged viewers with a blend of comedy and showmanship. Critics occasionally pointed to the show's formulaic structure in later seasons, where repeating sketches and host rotations led to perceptions of staleness and repetition among performers. For instance, Fred Allen's October 1950 episode drew mixed feedback in Time magazine, described as sizzling with sharp satirical thrusts but occasionally fizzling due to mismatched elements like puppets that disrupted the flow. Sponsor integrations, such as product placements, were sometimes critiqued for interrupting the pacing, though audience correspondence often viewed flubs and improvisations as endearing additions to the charm of television. The series garnered several Primetime Emmy nominations and wins, including Best Variety Show nomination in 1952, Best Variety Program nominations in 1953 and 1954, a win for Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Variety Program in 1955, and Donald O'Connor's win for Best Male Star of a Regular Series in 1954. The Colgate Comedy Hour appealed to a broad family demographic through its comedy-variety blend, designed as prime-time entertainment suitable for multi-generational viewing in the early television era.

Episode Guide

Season Overviews

The Colgate Comedy Hour premiered on September 10, 1950, with Eddie Cantor as the lead host for its inaugural season (1950–1951), which established the show's vaudeville-inspired roots through musical comedy sketches, burlesque routines, and revue-style performances. Cantor, a seasoned performer from stage and radio, anchored the format by introducing recurring storylines and featuring emerging talents like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in their television debut, setting a tone of energetic variety that drew high initial viewership against competitors like The Ed Sullivan Show. This season emphasized live theatrical elements, with Fred Allen contributing four episodes before his retirement from broadcasting, solidifying the rotating host model that became a hallmark of the series. The series aired nearly weekly, contributing to a total of 221 episodes across its run. In the second season (1951–1952), the introduction of as frequent hosts boosted the comedy focus, injecting youthful and improvisational energy that contrasted with Cantor's more traditional style. The season expanded the to include and , enhancing the program's appeal through diverse comedic voices while maintaining high-budget productions, including the first West Coast broadcast from Los Angeles' on September 30, 1951. This period marked a shift toward broader audience engagement, with the duo's rising popularity helping to elevate the show's status as NBC's flagship Sunday night variety offering. The third season (1952–1953) balanced host rotations with an increased emphasis on musical guests, featuring performers like and alongside and to blend comedy with song-and-dance numbers. Cantor's health issues, including a heart attack in September 1952, prompted adjustments in scheduling, yet the season innovated with touring broadcasts and sustained the live variety ethos. Season four (1953–1954) highlighted the prominence of , who took on more hosting duties amid Cantor's reduced role due to ongoing health concerns, marking his final appearances. A key milestone was the experimental color broadcast on November 22, 1953, hosted by O'Connor, which previewed technological advancements ahead of widespread adoption. The season continued color experiments and incorporated elaborate book musicals, with remote broadcasts from locations like the liner, reflecting the show's ambition to evolve beyond studio confines. Hosts like added rhythmic comedy, maintaining variety while navigating subtle shifts in production scale. The fifth season (1954–1955) represented the peak of the show's variety format, with diverse hosts including and bringing fresh interpretations of comedy, music, and spectacle in large-scale settings like the . appeared less frequently as their film careers grew, allowing for broader rotations that included dramatic figures like , emphasizing the program's adaptability. Renamed The Colgate Variety Hour midway through, this season showcased the series' versatility before signs of fatigue emerged. The final sixth season (1955) saw declining innovation as the rotating host system grew repetitive, with fewer marquee comedy acts and a pivot toward general variety under the Colgate sponsorship. Hosts varied weekly, but the lack of new breakthroughs contributed to the decision to end the run on December 25, 1955, with a special hosted by , featuring and his Pennsylvanians, concluding NBC's ambitious single-sponsor experiment. This season underscored the challenges of sustaining live television's demands in a changing broadcast landscape.

Notable Installments

The notable installments of The Colgate Comedy Hour are selected based on high Nielsen ratings, innovative production elements such as format experiments or technical firsts, and cultural significance including celebrity debuts, milestone celebrations, or influential guest appearances that shaped television variety programming. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis's debut episode on September 17, 1950, marked their transition from nightclub and radio success to national television stardom, featuring sketches like a chaotic and musical numbers that highlighted Lewis's alongside Martin's suave crooning, drawing over 20 million viewers and setting a template for duo-hosted variety. On March 11, 1951, Abbott and Costello hosted their first episode, reviving their iconic "Who's on First?" baseball routine in a burlesque of Carmen alongside guests Lon Chaney Jr. and Jarmila Novotna, which earned praise for preserving vaudeville wordplay on live TV and achieved one of the season's top ratings at 9.0/10 from contemporary audiences. Jackie Gleason's hosting stint on September 2, 1951, introduced his Reginald Van Gleason III character in sketches satirizing high society, with guests Rose Marie and Johnny Johnston; this episode's innovative character-driven humor directly influenced NBC's development of The Jackie Gleason Show and foreshadowed The Honeymooners. The November 11, 1951, installment hosted by featured Harpo Marx's television debut, where the silent comedian engaged in prop-based gags with O'Connor and , noted for its unscripted chaos and marking a rare live adaptation of Marx Brothers-style antics that boosted the show's appeal to film audiences. Bob Hope's October 12, 1952, episode stood out for its timely presidential election satire, including sketches mocking and Adlai Stevenson with guests like , earning acclaim as Hope's "best video show" for blending topical comedy with musical segments and securing high ratings during a competitive season. The 100th episode on March 22, 1953, was an all-star extravaganza hosted by multiple performers including , , , and , featuring crossover sketches and songs that celebrated the series' milestone, drawing massive viewership and highlighting its ensemble format's enduring popularity. returned on April 26, 1953, for a highly rated episode (9.0/10 on ) with guests and , where they performed monster-themed skits interacting with and revived classic routines, underscoring their legacy amid the show's shift toward Hollywood production. The November 22, 1953, broadcast hosted by became the first sponsored network program in color, showcasing O'Connor's energetic dance sequences with guests , , and in vivid production numbers like "," an FCC-approved experiment that previewed color TV's potential despite limited set ownership. Frank Sinatra and co-appeared on the January 17, 1954, episode hosted by , blending their crooning styles in duets and comedy bits with and Jeri Southern, a rare team-up that combined musical innovation with satirical sketches on golf and show business, contributing to the season's strong ratings. The February 28, 1954, special adaptation of Cole Porter's starred , , and in a condensed live version, featuring songs like "I Get a Kick Out of You" and shipboard sketches that marked Sinatra's TV acting debut and Merman's small-screen return, later preserved as a of musical theater on television. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis hosted Marilyn Monroe on May 13, 1954, in an episode filled with flirtatious banter, Monroe's renditions of "Heat Wave" and "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," and trio sketches that amplified Monroe's rising stardom, achieving peak viewership and cementing the show's role in promoting Hollywood icons. The series finale on December 25, 1955, hosted by as a Christmas special featuring and his Pennsylvanians, provided a nostalgic close to the program amid declining ratings, viewed by millions as a farewell to live variety's golden era.

Legacy

Influence on Variety Television

The Colgate Comedy Hour pioneered the rotating host model, known as the "wheel format," in which different performers or teams hosted episodes on a weekly rotation, typically appearing once every four weeks to maintain freshness and showcase diverse talents. This approach, initially featuring hosts like , and , and , allowed the program to blend musical comedy, sketches, opera parodies, and under a high-budget, single-sponsor structure sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive-Peet. The format influenced subsequent NBC variety series, such as The All Star Revue and The Four Star Revue, by demonstrating how rotating hosts could sustain viewer interest and integrate West Coast talent through bi-coastal broadcasts, setting a precedent for accessible, star-driven programming in the 1950s. The show's emphasis on live sketches, musical numbers, and integrated advertisements established standards for the variety genre, emphasizing broad appeal and rapid pacing to transition vaudeville and radio performers to the television medium. It served as a crucial launching pad for careers, notably boosting from nightclub acts to national stardom, which directly facilitated their success in Hollywood films produced by Hal Wallis at Paramount during the early . By highlighting established vaudeville talents alongside emerging stars, the program bridged traditional stage entertainment with the new demands of live TV, making variety accessible to mass audiences and influencing the structure of broadcasts. Innovations in further extended its legacy, particularly through early adoption of color technology. On November 22, 1953, an episode hosted by became the first sponsored network program telecast in compatible color, an FCC-approved test that demonstrated the viability of color transmission coast-to-coast. This milestone, part of NBC's aggressive push for color standards, contributed to the broader industry shift, culminating in full color adoption for prime-time programming by 1965-1966 as color sets became more affordable and networks standardized .

Modern Availability

Many episodes of The Colgate Comedy Hour were preserved through recordings, which captured live broadcasts by filming them off-air for later rebroadcast or archival purposes. Surviving are primarily held in collections such as the , where they have been digitized for public access, though the show is considered partially lost with some installments unavailable due to the era's preservation challenges, including low-quality or non-existent recordings of early color experiments. Home video releases have made select episodes accessible, with Shout! Factory issuing DVD compilations in the 2000s and 2011 that focus on the popular and Jerry Lewis-hosted segments, including sets of 10 to 16 classic episodes featuring their comedy sketches and musical performances. These releases highlight the duo's contributions, compiling kinescoped material from their tenure as hosts between 1950 and 1953. As of November 2025, select episodes are available for streaming on various platforms, including free ad-supported services like and , as well as subscription options such as Pure Flix and Amazon's Best TV Ever channel; availability varies by platform and includes partial seasons or individual installments rather than complete runs. Some early episodes have entered the due to lapsed copyrights, leading to widespread availability on through user-uploaded kinescopes and official channels. Ongoing projects continue to preserve surviving material, though many episodes, particularly rare color broadcasts, remain lost or in suboptimal quality.

References

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  43. https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-colgate-comedy-hour
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