Hollywood Today

Last updated

Hollywood Today
GenreNews, entertainment
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Original release
Network NBC
ReleaseJanuary 3 (1955-01-03) –
September 23, 1955 (1955-09-23)

Hollywood Today is an American television program that was broadcast on NBC from January 3, 1955, until September 23, 1955. It was later renamed Hollywood Backstage. [1]

Contents

Format

The series began as a Hollywood gossip show with columnist Sheilah Graham as host, running 15 minutes each weekday. Each week featured a celebrity co-host. During the summer, the show was lengthened to 30 minutes and renamed Hollywood Backstage.

Later that summer, Ern Westmore replaced Graham as host, and the focus changed to makeovers. [1] The latter format was sponsored by Charles Antell Inc., advertising its liquid makeup. [2]

ABC television broadcast a weekly nighttime version of Hollywood Backstage beginning on August 7, 1955, and ending on September 11, 1955. Westmore was host, with each episode featuring a makeover of a woman selected from the studio audience and a demonstration of how an actress had been made up for a specific role. [3]

On September 26, 1955, The Search for Beauty, with Westmore as host, took over the time slot previously occupied by Hollywood Backstage. [1] : 734  His wife Betty Westmore was co-host, with Phil Hanna as assistant and Dick Hageman as announcer. [4] This program also featured celebrity guests and beauty tips for women in the audience. It ended on December 9, 1955. [1] : 734 

Westmore had a similar program, The Ern Westmore Show , on ABC-TV in 1953. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television (4th ed.). New York City, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 384. ISBN   0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. ↑ "Antell Buys on 200 Tvs" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 3, 1955. p. 56. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  3. ↑ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 622. ISBN   9780307483201 . Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  4. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 939. ISBN   978-0-7864-6477-7.
  5. ↑ "ABC-TV Axes 'Jean Carroll'; Pares Budget" (PDF). Billboard. January 2, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
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