About this season
The Hollywood Palace is an hour-long American television variety show that was broadcast weekly on ABC from January 4, 1964 to February 7, 1970. Originally titled The Saturday Night Hollywood Palace, it began as a mid-season replacement for The Jerry Lewis Show, another variety show which had lasted only three months. It was staged in Hollywood at the former Hollywood Playhouse on Vine Street, which was renamed The Hollywood Palace during the show's duration and is today known as Avalon Hollywood. A little-known starlet named Raquel Welch was cast during the first season as the "Billboard Girl", who placed the names of the acts on a placard.
Episodes (24)
1. Host: Bing Crosby
Aired 4 January 1964 • 60 min
Host: Bing Crosby Scheduled guests: --Gary Crosby --Bob Newhart (comedian) --Mickey Rooney and Bobby Van - ""If We Felt Any Better"" --Nancy Wilson (singer) --The Young Americans (singing group) - ""Green, Green,"" ""Saturday Night"" and ""If I Had A Hammer"" --Silvan (illusionist) --The Andre Tahon puppets --The Hardy Family (acrobats) --Les Salvadori (musical clowns)
2. Host: Bob Cummings / Rosemary Clooney
Aired 11 January 1964 • 60 min
Host: Bob Cummings --Rosemary Clooney --Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks (comedians) --Anthony Newley --Dave King
3. Host: Hugh O'Brian
Aired 18 January 1964 • 60 min
Host: Hugh O'Brian Scheduled guests: --Johnny Mathis --Ginger Rogers --Marty Ingels (comedian) --Joanie Sommers (singer) --Johnny Puleo (harmonica player) --Les Charlivels (acrobats) --Bertha, the dancing elephant --The Andre Tahon Puppets
4. Host: Ernest Borgnine
Aired 25 January 1964 • 60 min
Host: Ernest Borgnine Other guests: --Carl Ballantine (comedian, from ""McHale's Navy"") --Joe Flynn (comedian, from ""McHale's Navy"") --Tony Bennett --Eleanor Powell (dancer) --Vikki Carr (singer) --Miriam Makeba (South African folksinger) --Pepper Davis and Tony Reese (comedians) --The Levee singers --The Norbu novelty gorilla act
5. Host: Donald O'Connor
Aired 1 February 1964 • 60 min
Host: Donald O'Connor --Donald O'Connor dances with the Louis DaPron dancers --Don Knotts (comedian) - appears, in a comedy sketch, as a bashful after-dinner speaker --Buddy Greco (singer-pianist) --The Wellingtons (singing group) - perform with Donald O'Connor --Mary Costa (Metropolitan Opera soprano, formerly a TV pitchwoman) --Jack Olvin and Yvonne Wilder (comedians, spoofing ""Hamlet) --The Pompoff Thedy musical clowns (Vaudeville comedians) --Francis Brunn (juggler) Note: Buddy Hackett was originally scheduled to appear on this episode.
6. Host: Gig Young
Aired 8 February 1964 • 60 min
Host: Gig Young Other guests: --Yma Sumac (singer) --The Mills Brothers (vocal group) --Buddy Hackett (comedian, whose appearance was postponed last week) --Dorothy Collins (singer) --Michael Bentine (British comedian, joins Gig Young in a sketch on British commuters) --The Andre Tahon puppets (in a parody of the Beatles) --The Berosinis (acrobats, teeterboard act from Czechoslovakia)
7. Host: Dale Robertson
Aired 15 February 1964 • 60 min
Host: Dale Robertson --Red Buttons (comedian) --The Smothers Brothers (comedy folk singers) --Vic Damone (singer) - ""On the Street Where You Live"" & ""You and the Night and the Music"" --Jane Morgan (singer) - ""Stay Out of Paris"" --Dale Robertson and Jane Morgan - ""Turkey in the Straw"" --The Four Amigos (singing quartet) - ""Volare"" --Russ Lewis (ventriloquist) --The Harris Nelson Family (musical novelty act, correct name might be ""Harrison Family"") Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --Zony and Claire (adagio dancers) --The Half Brothers (comic acrobats) --The Old Grey Mare (performing horse)
8. Host: Gene Kelly
Aired 22 February 1964 • 60 min
--Gene Kelly opens the show by singing a few lines from ""Singin' in the Rain"" --Gene Kelly (and two other dancers, Dick Humphries and Alex Plaschheart) do a tribute to precision dancers ""King, King and King."" --Della Reese (singer) --Joey Heatherton (actress, sings and dances with Gene Kelly) --Bill Dana (comedian) --Ford and Hines (comedians) --The Women Folk (folksingers) --The Tangier Brothers (Moroccan tumblers) --Anden's poodles
9. Host: Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
Aired 29 February 1964 • 60 min
Host: Efrem Zimbalist Jr. --Louis Quinn (appeared with Zimbalist on ""77 Sunset Strip"") --Kate Smith --Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Trigger and the Sons of the Pioneers --Corbett Monica (comedian) --Lewis and Christy (comedians) --The Great Wallendas (high-wire act) --Albert Rix and his trained Russian bears --Szony and Claire (Adaigo dancers)
10. Host: Dean Martin
Aired 7 March 1964 • 60 min
Host: Dean Martin Other guests: --Jackie Mason (comedian) --Barrie Chase (dancer) --Vikki Carr (singer) --Piccola Pupa (12-year-old singer from Italy) --Leonard Barr (acrobatic dancer) --Rola and Rolan (acrobats) --The Berosini Chimps
11. Host: Groucho Marx
Aired 14 March 1964 • 60 min
Guests: --Groucho Marx (host) --Morey Amsterdam & Rose Marie (comedians, from ""The Dick Van Dyke Show"") --Jose Greco (flamenco dancer with his dance troupe) --Jennie Smith (singer) - ""You and the Night and the Music"" --Gilbert Becaud (French pop singer) - ""More"" & ""What Now My Love"" --Lee Allen (roller-skating comedian) - performs a comedy routine about drunks --The Andre Tahon Puppets - sing ""I Feel Pretty"" in a mouse version of ""West Side Story"" --Bertha the Elephant (dancing, balancing elephant) Comedy sketch: --A society matron, played by Dee Hartford, isn't convinced that ""Dr. Hackenbush"" (Groucho) is a real doctor. It could be because all his nurses look more like chorus girls. Groucho Marx sings ""I'm Dr. Hackenbush"" in a the sketch.
12. Host: Nat King Cole
Aired 21 March 1964 • 60 min
--Nat King Cole - ""My True Carrie Love,"" ""Paper Moon,"" ""Unforgettable"" and ""Day In, Day Out"" --Nat King Cole and the Young Souls - ""Get on Board!"" --Diahann Carroll (singer-actress) - sings a tribute to Ethel Waters. Songs include ""Am I Blue?"" ""Taking a Chance on Love,"" ""Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe,"" ""Dinah,"" ""After you've Gone"" and ""Stormy Weather"" --Paul Winchell (ventriloquist, with his dummy Jerry Mahoney) - do a ""Ben Casey"" spoof. --Allen & Rossi (comedy team) - sing ""Let's Face the Music and Dance"" in their routine. --Ken Murray (narrates his home movies of Hollywood stars) --The Merry Young Souls (singers) --The Amin Brothers (acrobats, foot-jugglers) --The Brunos (sway-pole act) - Bruno balances atop a 90-foot pole in the Palace parking lot.
13. Host: George Burns
Aired 28 March 1964 • 60 min
Host: George Burns --George Burns - ""Don't Take Me Home"" & ""I'll Buy the Ring"" --Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks --Patti Page - ""Call Me Irresponsible"" & ""Sweetest Sounds"" --George Burns and the Lennon Sisters - ""Ain't Misbehavin'"" --Lennon Sisters - ""Moonglow"" & ""East of the Sun"" --George Burns and Sergio Franchi - ""Some of These Days"" --Sergio Franchi (tenor) - theme from ""Summertime"" --Mac Ronay (comic magician) --The Dunhills (tap-dancers)
14. Co-hosts: Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse
Aired 4 April 1964 • 60 min
Co-hosts: Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse --Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse (husband & wife) - ""The Old Soft Shoe"" --Tony Martin - ""The Best Things in Life Are Free,"" ""Wives and Lovers"" and ""More"" Other guests: --Mahalia Jackson (gospel singer) --Ferrante and Teicher (pianists) --Corbett Monica (comedian) --Gaylord and Holliday (comedy team) --The Collins Kids (singers) - perform a Dixie medley --The Amandis teeterboard act --The Three Bizzaros Brothers (comedy act) --The Berosini Chimps
15. Host: Donald O'Connor
Aired 11 April 1964 • 60 min
Host: Donald O'Connor --Donald O'Connor - ""Tea for Two"" --Donald O'Connor and the Four Little Angels - sing ""Old MacDonald"" --Jack E. Leonard (comedian) --Jarry Van Dyke (comedian) --Rich Little (comedian-impressionist) --Fran Jeffries (singer) - ""It Had Better Be Tonight"" --The Wellingtons (singers) --The Frielanes (unicyclists) --Tarzan and his Eight Lions (circus act?)
16. Host: Jimmy Durante
Aired 18 April 1964 • 60 min
Host: Jimmy Durante --Jimmy Durante - ""Words,"" ""I Could Have Danced All Night,"" ""What a Day"" & ""This is All I Ask"" --Jimmy Durante & Liberace - ""When a Real Piano Player Sits down at the Keys"" --Liberace - ""Stardust"" --Jack Carter (comedian) --Piccola Pupa (singer) - ""Bonga Cha-Cha-Cha"" --The Sylte Sisters (singers) - ""Love Is a Thing"" & ""Them There Eyes"" --Silvio Francesco (dancer-juggler) - ""Anything Goes"" --Colvin and Wilder (comedians) --Otto and Maria (balancing act) --The Hardy Family (acrobats)
17. Host: Ken Murray / Chad and Jeremy
Aired 25 April 1964 • 60 min
Host: Ken Murray --Ken Murray (shows some of his Hollywood home movies) --Chad & Jeremy --Rowan and Martin (comedy team) --Eddie Albert --The Step Brothers (tap dancers) --Charlie Callas (comedian) --Jane Morgan (singer)
18. Host: Louis Jourdan
Aired 2 May 1964 • 60 min
Host: Louis Jourdan --Anna Maria Alberghetti (singer) - ""Irma La Douce"" --Henny Youngman (comedian) --The King Sisters (singers) - ""Me and My Shadow"" and a medley of old favorites --John Bubbles (tap dancer) - ""Tip and Tap"" --Russ Lewis (ventriloquist) --Lewis and Christy (comedy team) --Muriel and Abe Grossfeld (Olympic athletes) --Armando Vega (Olympic athlete) --Ron Barak (NCAA champion gymnast) --Johnny Broadway (juggler)
19. Host: Dale Robertson / The Womenfolk
Aired 9 May 1964 • 60 min
Host: Dale Robertson --Betty Hutton - ""It Had To Be You"" --Paul Lynde and Carole Cook perform a dramatic scene. They then do the same scene again...as a comedy. --The Womenfolk (folk singers) --John Gary --Davis and Reese --Dave Parker (juggler) --Varel and Bailly & Les Chanteurs de Paris --Kunio's Horse Fantasy --The Bumpy Spectacular Acrobat Team
20. Host: Fred MacMurray
Aired 16 May 1964 • 60 min
Host: Fred MacMurray --George Gobel (comedian) --Dorothy Collins (singer) --Trini Lopez (singer) --Guy Marks (comedian) --Augie and Margo (adagio dancers) Military acts performing a salute to Armed Forces Day: (1) The Army ""Old Guard"" Fife and Drum Corps (2) The Marine Pacific Drum and Bugle Corps (3) The Air Force Flying Rifles drill team (4) The Navy Starflights trampoline act
21. Host: Victor Borge
Aired 23 May 1964 • 60 min
Host: Victor Borge --Victor Borge and Caterina Valente - ""The Girl from Ipanema"" --Caterina Valente - ""Cute"" and ""Hindustan"" --Drummers Louis Bellson, Shelly Manne, Irv Cottler, and ""Philly"" Joe Jones provide percussion support on an original jazz number performed by Caterina Valente. --Dennis Day (tenor) - (1) sings ""Give Them All You've Got"" and ""Charlie Brown."" (2) Dennis Day does impressions of Lawrence Welk, comedian Frank Fontaine and a Japanese Beatle. --Gaylord and Holiday (comedians) --Clifford Guest (ventriloquist from England) --Les Tonellys (Parisian acrobats) --The Andre Tahon Puppets (appear as Russian folk dancers)
22. Host: Phil Harris
Aired 30 May 1964 • 60 min
Host: Phil Harris --Louis Armstrong --Louis Nye (comedian) --Mary Costa (soprano) --Peter Gennaro (dancer-choreographer) --Pete Barbuti (comedian) --The Jubilee Four (instrumental group) --The Peiro Brothers (juggling act) --The Robert Baudy leopard and panther act
23. Host: Gene Barry / Buster Keaton & Gloria Swanson
Aired 6 June 1964 • 60 min
Host: Gene Barry (from ""Burke's Law"") --Gene Barry - sings ""Just In Time,"" ""Day In, Day Out"" & ""Perfect Paris Night"" --Buster Keaton and Gloria Swanson - (1) perform a Mack Sennett silent-comedy version of ""Cleopatra"" (2) join Gene Barry in a dance routine --Juliet Prowse (dancer) - ""C'est Magnifique"" & ""I Love You and Don't You Forget It"" --Jack Carter (comedian-singer) - ""Le Grande Boom-Boom"" --The Swingle Singers - ""Sinfonia"" & Bach's Fugue in D Minor --The Andre Tahon Puppets --The Romano Brothers (jugglers) Scheduled guests: --Wayne Newton --Marilyn Michaels (singer-impressionist)
24. Host: Dean Martin / The Rolling Stones
Aired 13 June 1964 • 60 min
Host: Dean Martin --Dean Martin - ""Smile,"" ""Take These Chains"" & ""Everybody Loves Somebody"" --The Rolling Stones - ""I Just Wanna Make Love To You"" --Joey Forman (comedian) --The King Sisters & daughters (including Tina Cole) - ""Always,"" ""Don't Take Your Love from Me"" and ""Jersey Bounce"" --SHARE (singing group made up of Hollywood celebrity wives working for charity) --Larry Grizwold (comedy trampoline act) --Bertha the elephant and her daughter Tina