FULL Kukla, Fran and Ollie TV-Show Opera related episodes USA 1950 – 1953
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Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Kukla, Fran and Ollie TV-Show Opera related episodes
- Composer: N/A
- Libretto: N/A
- Venue & Opera Company: TV-Studio, USA
- Recorded: 1950 - 1953
- Type: Movie
- Singers: Fran Allison, Robert Merill
- Conductor:
- Orchestra:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: WBKB
- Date Published: 1950-1953
- Format: Broadcast
- Quality Video: 3 Audio:3
- Subtitles: nosubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Kukla tries to call Bob Hope to congratulate him on his first NBC TV special the previous evening. The Kuklapolitans have tickets to the Grand Opera, and Mme. Ooglepuss wants everyone to understand what makes Grand Opera distinctive. She tries to demonstrate but is continuously interrupted. Ollie plays an RCA recording of Robert Merrill singing an aria from “Cavalleria Rusticana”, and mimes to make Fran think he’s singing it himself Fran responds by singing “Il Bacio” (Luigi Arditi) in her own style.
Kukla and Fletcher bring up a 45 record player and play Fran’s recording of “Little Buffalo Bill”. KFO are going to the opera, each dressed as their favorite character. Ollie can’t decide who to go as. Cecil Bill is dressed as Rigoletto, and sings a song from it. Fran is Juliet and Kukla is Romeo. Madame O is Violetta from Traviata, and sings an aria. The Colonel appears as Alfredo, and Ollie mimes to Sammy Kaye’s “The Wanderer”. Buelah appears as a Valkyrie, and Ollie as Carmen, singing “Habanera”. Kukla and Fran sing “My Love Loves Me”. Burr appears on film with Kukla.
Buelah brushes Madame O’s hair in preparation for her going to see “La Boheme”. Rare film commercial within the show for Toscanini’s recording of it. They talk about tea and crumpets, but Buelah mishears. Fran and Kukla sing “London by Night” (Carroll Coates). They all do British accents, including Burr.
The show is preceded by a Helen Hayes PSA for nursing. Kukla explains the cues given to start and end the show. Fran announces a horse auction for the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund. Ollie says KFO will appear at the Jordan Marsh department store in Boston, before their performance of “St. George and the Dragon” with The Boston Pops. Ollie insists he must find a way to rekindle his fire breathing for the opera. Fran sings “Never in a Million Years” (Harry Revel, Mack Gordon). Smokey the Bear PSA at the end.