from Funny Face to Eloise

Kayographies

Kay Thompson

PART TWO: BEHIND THE SCENES BEHIND THE SCENES ON TELEVISION: Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town (CBS, 8/20/1950). VA, VC (guest singer Andy Williams, his television debut). Chico Marx in The College Bowl (ABC-TV, 10/2/1950- approximately 4/1951) VA, VC (regular ensemble cast member Andy Williams). The Frank Sinatra Show (CBS, OCT-NOV 1950) CC, VA, CD (The Whippoorwills), SC, VC (Frank Sinatra), U, P. (In addition to appearing as a guest on 10/28/1950.) Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town (CBS, 2/14/1954). SC (“Madame Crematante” sung by Lana Turner). The Tonight Show Starring Steve Allen (NBC, 9/27/1954- 1/25/1957) VA, VC (regular featured singer Andy Williams). The Ford Star Jubilee: “The Judy Garland Show” (CBS, 9/24/1955) CC (with Roger Edens and Leonard Gershe), VC (Judy Garland), U, P. General Electric Theatre: “Judy Garland Musical Special” (CBS, 4/8/1956) CC (with Richard Avedon, Roger Edens and Leonard Gershe), VC (Judy Garland), U, P. Playhouse 90: “Kay Thompson’s Eloise” (CBS, 11/22/1956) CC, VA, CD, SC, VC (Evelyn Rudie, Louis Jourdan, Ethel Barrymore, Mildred Natwick, Inger Stevens, Jack Mullaney, Hans Conried, Don Williams, Bill Norvas), GC (Rudie), C (herself), WD (Rudie, herself). (In addition to being author of the source material and appearing as herself.)    Saturday Color Carnival: “Fine Stars for Springtime” (NBC, 6/1/1957) CC, VA, VC (Andy Williams), U, P. The Andy Williams-June Valli Show (NBC, 7-2/1957-9/5/1957) CC, VA, SC, VC (Andy Williams), U, P. The Standard Oil 75 th  Anniversary Show (NBC, 10/13/1957) CC, VA, CD, SC, VC, C (herself), WD. (In addition to performing and serving as the Creative Director.) The Big Record starring Patti Page (CBS, 10/30/1957-6/1958) CC. Dinah Shore Chevy Show (NBC, 5/4/1958) SC (“I Love a Violin” sung by Dinah Shore) Chevy’s Summer Showroom starring Andy Williams (ABC, 7/3/1958-9/25/1958) CC, VA, SC, VC (Andy Williams), U, P. Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall (NBC, 11/8/1958) SC (“Madame Crematante” sung by Ann Miller) The Andy Williams Show (CBS, 7/7/1959-9/22/1959) CC, VA, SC, VC (Andy Williams), CD, WD, U, P. A Toast to Jerome Kern (NBC, 9/22/1959) CC, VA, U, P. Andy Williams in Music from Shubert Alley (NBC, 11/13/1959) CC, VA, VC (Andy Williams), U, P. Ford Startime: “Ethel Merman on Broadway” (NBC, 11/24/1959) CC, VA, VC (Ethel Merman), U, P. The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: To the Ladies (ABC, 2/15/1960) CC, VC (Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne), GC (Eleanor Roosevelt), U, P. Pontiac Star Parade: “The Man in the Moon” (NBC, 4/16/1960) CC, VA, VC (Andy Williams), U, P. General Electric Theatre: “The Gershwin Years” (CBS, 1/15/1961) VC (Frank Sinatra, Ethel Merman), U, P. The Judy Garland Show (CBS, 2/25/1962) CC, VA, VC (Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin), C (Garland). The Poppy Is Also A Flower (ABC, 4/22/1966) GC (Rita Hayworth), U. Liza with a Z (NBC, 9/10/1972). CC, VC, GC (Liza Minnelli).  Also, Kay can be seen sitting in the audience. The Muppet Show (Syndicated, 3/20/1980) SC (“Jubliee Time” sung by Andy Williams with the Muppets). Eloise at the Plaza (ABC, Wonderful World of Disney, 4/27/2003) Loosely based on the book Kay Thompson’s Eloise. (Posthumously licensed by Thompson’s estate.) Eloise at Christmastime (ABC, Wonderful World of Disney, 11/22/2003) Loosely based on the book Kay Thompson’s Eloise at Christmastime. (Posthumously licensed by Thompson’s estate.) Me, Eloise (Starz Kids & Family Network, 6 half-hour episodes, 10/8/2006-1/1/2007) Loosely based on Kay Thompson’s Eloise character. (Posthumously licensed by Thompson’s estate.) Liza’s at the Palace (PBS, 11/2009) Liza Minnelli’s Tony Award-winning Broadway triumph Liza’s at the Palace (Palace Theatre, New York, 12/3/2008-1/4/2009), featuring the Act 2 tribute to Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers, was later videotaped at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for a PBS television special (broadcast in 11/2009 and 12/2009) and a release on DVD (MPI Home Video, 2/2010), directed by Matthew Diamond and produced by Craig Zadan & Neil Meron. A cast album of Liza’s at the Palace was released on CD (Hybrid / Sire Records, 2009), produced by Phil Ramone.

Kayographies

CODES: CC = Creative Consultant VA = Vocal Arranger CD = Choral Director SC = Song Composer VC = Vocal Coach GC= General Coach LC = Lip-synch Coach DD = Dubbing Director PA = Piano Accompanist C = Choreography WD = Wardrobe Design U = Uncredited P = Partial collaboration with others

Tyrone Power and Kay Thompson, The Standard Oil 75th Anniversary Show, 1957