This program follows the typical structure of the comedy variety shows of its time. This particular episode was a Christmas special, but its content did not really reflect that. Into the search bar to find this program, I inserted comedy television from the 1950s-1970s, and this program was in the third row. I found this show’s structure and humor delivery very similar to that of the Milton Berle show. There would be a performance to begin the show, and then some humor from the host. In between each act followed some This was interestingly enough, The Comedy Hour started and ended the same year that the Milton Berle show ended. there was also comments and humor from host Bob Hope, then he would introduce the next act or guest. Each segment alternated between talking or musical performance, again similar to Milton Berle’s show. Aside from this, there was an ad to begin the show, because they sponsor they program. Frigidaire had sponsored the show 4 times prior to this episode. Many shows from this era began their programs this way.
For The Comedy Hour, Frigidaire sponsored and opened this particular episode, advertising their many products from air conditioners to ice boxes. The Comedy Hour was broadcast by NBC, and ran for just a couple of months. The Comedy Hour was meant to replace a previous program called the Colgate Comedy Hour, but did run as long as its predecessor. This episode starred Bob Hope, Lily Pons (opera singer), Robert Cummings, Betty Bruce, Robert Maxwell, special guest Eleanor Roosevelt, and more. The show opened up with a Christmas carol by a cathedral choir, but not before the host introduced the program. Bob Hope informed viewers that they would be watching the show weeks after it had been filmed. As a Christmas special, they filmed the show on Christmas Eve and released it a week later, so Hope asked viewers to put themselves back in the mindset of the holidays as they watch the previously recorded show.
(mp136)