''Primo applauso'' was an Italian variety show, broadcast on

Rai 1 Rai 1 () is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by state-owned public broadcaster RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana. It is the company's Flagship (broadcasting), flagship television channel and is known for broadcasting ...

(at the time "Programma Nazionale") in 1956. The program marked the television debut of

Enzo Tortora Enzo Tortora (30 November 1928 – 18 May 1988) was an Italian television presenter on national RAI television, who was unjustly convicted of being a member of the Camorra and drug trafficking in 1985, and sentenced to 10 years in jail. He was ...

, who was initially picked only to play the role of assistant of

Silvana Pampanini Silvana Pampanini (25 September 1925 – 6 January 2016) was an Italian film actress, director and singer. She was also the niece of the soprano of the golden era of opera, Dame Rosetta Pampanini. Silvana Pampanini caused a sensation when she t ...

, but after a few episodes, following the sudden departure of Pampanini became the main presenter.Aldo Grasso, Massimo Scaglioni. ''Enciclopedia della Televisione''. Garzanti, Milano, 1996 – 2003. pp. 574-575. . An early

talent show A talent show or talent contest is an event in which participants perform the arts of singing, dancing, lip-syncing, acting, martial arts, playing an instrument, poetry, comedy or other activities to showcase skills. Many talent shows are p ...

, it consisted a contest between young aspiring entertainers who were voted through a

clap-o-meter A clap-o-meter, clapometer or applause meter is a measurement instrument that purports to measure and display the volume of clapping or applause made by an audience. It can be used to indicate the popularity of contestants and decide the result of ...

. It launched the careers of several notable personalities, including the singers

Adriano Celentano Adriano Celentano (; born 6 January 1938) is an Italian singer-songwriter, actor, showman, and filmmaker. He is dubbed ''Il Molleggiato'' ('the springy one') because of his energetic dancing. Celentano's many albums frequently enjoyed both com ...

and

Dana Ghia Dana Ghia (born Felicita Ghia; 13 July 1932 – January 2024) was an Italian actress, singer, and model. During her acting career, Ghia was sometimes credited as Ghia Arlen. Life and career Born Felicita Ghia in Milan, Italy, Ghia started her ...

and the illusionist Silvan. It inspired and named a musical comedy film, ''Primo applauso'', directed by

Pino Mercanti Giuseppe Mercanti, best known as Pino Mercanti (16 February 1911 – 3 September 1986), was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Life and career Born in Palermo, Sicily, Mercanti was a pioneer of the Sicilian cinema as the leading filmma ...

and starring

Claudio Villa Claudio Villa (born Claudio Pica; 1 January 1926 – 7 February 1987) was an Italian singer and actor. Biography Tenor Claudio Villa was born Claudio Pica in the Trastevere quarter of Rome in 1926. He recorded over 3000 songs, sold 45 million ...

References

Italian television shows RAI original programming 1950s Italian television series {{Italy-tv-prog-stub 1956 in Italian television