The Al Pearce Show

The Al Pearce Show is the name of two comedy-variety television series airing on CBS during 1952. Both series starred comedian and radio personality Al Pearce.

The Al Pearce Show
GenreVariety
Written byJack Harvey
Howard Blake
Carl Gass
Directed byBill Sterling
StarringAl Pearce
Theme music composerHarry Sosnik
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
Production
ProducerStefan Hatos
Running time15 minutes (February 11, 1952 - April 1, 1952)
30 minutes (April 4, 1952 - May 9, 1952)
varied (June 30, 1952 - September 26, 1952)
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseFebruary 11 (1952-02-11) –
September 26, 1952 (1952-09-26)
The Al Pearce Show
GenreVariety
StarringAl Pearce
Theme music composerHarry Sosnik
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
Production
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseJuly 3 (1952-07-03) –
September 4, 1952 (1952-09-04)

Daytime

The morning version of the show, originating in Hollywood, was a collection of music, songs and topical discussions directed at housewives. It was 45 minutes in length and ran from February 11, 1952, to May 9, 1952. After a brief hiatus, it returned as a 30-minute program on June 30, 1952, and lasted until September 26.[1]

It had the following broadcast history:[2]

Starting DateEnding DateTimeNetwork
February 11, 1952April 1, 195210:45-11 a.m.CBS
April 4, 1952May 9, 195211-11:30 a.m.CBS
June 30, 1952September 26, 195210:45-11 a.m. (Monday-Thursday)
10:30-11 a.m. (Friday)		CBS

The program was the earliest network TV program broadcast live in Hollywood (7:45-8:30 a.m. Pacific Time). It was carried on CBS-owned KNXT, which played music from the end of the Pearce program until regular programming began at 11:30 a.m.[3]

Nighttime

The evening version of the show alternated with the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show on Thursday nights at 8:00 pm from July 10, 1952, until September 18, 1952, at which point the ‘’Burns and Allen Show’’ became weekly. Judd Whiting was the director for the program, which originated from WCBS in New York City.[4]

However, the Total Television reference book by Alex McNeil says "his prime-time half-hour show ... replaced The Burns and Allen Show for the summer," giving a starting date of July 3, 1952, and an ending date of September 4, 1952.[5]

Guests

Evening show guests included characters from Pearce’s successful radio programs: Arlene Harris (the “Human Chatterbox”), Bill Comstock (as “health expert” Tizzie Lish), Yogi Yorgesson, and singer Art Morton.

Reception

While television executives, always on the look out for talent, were enthusiastic about the shows, neither the audience nor the network affiliates shared their enthusiasm. And Pearce, who had come out of retirement to appear, hated the hours. Both shows were cancelled within eight months.[6][7]

References
  1. Terrace, Vincent (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2007 (Volume 1 A-E). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3305-6.
  2. Hyatt, Wesley (2003). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. p. 39. ISBN 9780786414208. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  3. "CBS's Pearce Seg Goes Live". Billboard. March 1, 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  4. "Last Week's Network Changes". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. September 21, 1952. p. 2. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  5. McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 21. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  6. "Al Pearce". Tralfaz: Cartoons & Tralfazian Stuff. 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  7. "The Al Pearce Show". ClassicThemes.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
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