''Penthouse Party'' is an American television variety series that aired on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting
* Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...
from September 15, 1950, until June 8, 1951.
Format
''Penthouse Party'' was hosted by
Betty Furness
Elizabeth Mary Furness (January 3, 1916 – April 2, 1994) was an American actress, consumer advocate, and current affairs commentator.
Early years
Furness was born in Manhattan, the daughter of wealthy business executive George Choate Furness ...
and was set in her penthouse.
Pianist Buddy Weed and singer
Don Cherry
Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. He played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins. After concluding a playing career in the A ...
were regulas on the program.
Each episode began with Furness inviting viewers to "Come on inside and meet all the folks."
Most celebrity guests were active in music or theater in New York, and they often demonstrated talents not associated with their public images.
Guests who appeared on the program included
Joan Blondell
Rose Joan Blondell (August 30, 1906 – December 25, 1979) was an American actress who performed in film and television for 50 years.
Blondell began her career in vaudeville. After winning a beauty pageant, she embarked on a film career, estab ...
.
Production
The 30-minute show was produced by Lester Lewis,
and ran for 39 episodes. From September to December 1950, the show aired Fridays from 10 to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
From January 5, 1951, to June 1951, the show aired Fridays from 8:30 to 9 p.m. E T.
Sponsors included
Best Foods
Hellmann's and Best Foods are American brand names that are used for the same line of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, sauce, salad dressing, condiments and other food products. They have been owned by the British multinational company Unilever ...
.
The show was replaced by ''The Jerry Colonna Show''.
Critical response
A review in the trade publication ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' described the premiere episode as "marked by an easy, informal atmosphere"
It commended Furness's "effortless intros and general poise".
See also
*
1950-51 United States network television schedule
Year 195 ( CXCV) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known in Rome as the Year of the Consulship of Scrapula and Clemens (or, less frequently, year 948 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 195 f ...
References
External links
*{{IMDb title, 0042132
''Penthouse Party'' at CTVA
American Broadcasting Company original programming
Black-and-white American television shows
1950 American television series debuts
1951 American television series endings