Harold Lang’s “Pal Joey” Number on TV
The 1952 Joey Evans, dancer extraordinaire Harold Lang, appeared on a popular Sunday night variety show and with the Pal Joey company, performed “Happy Hunting Horn.” The number includes some startling dance moves by Lang. This rare kinescope speaks for itself.
kim | Feb 16, 2009 | Reply
This is interesting but what is a kinescope?
Bill | Feb 16, 2009 | Reply
Videotape wasn’t available until 1956. Before that, the only way to make a permanent record of a live TV broadcast was a kinescope.
A kinescope was basically a device that allowed the show to be filmed using a special movie camera.
In the case of live shows originating from the East Coast, as this one did, the network would transmit the signal during broadcast to L.A., where it was kinescoped. The film was quickly processed and the show was aired from L.A. in its regular West Coast time slot three hours later using the film of the live broadcast.
Liz | Feb 16, 2009 | Reply
Wow, Bill, I’m impressed! Thank goodness for kinescopes, or I guess we’d have missed out on this fabulous performance. Now I’m wishing I could see Matthew Risch perform this one more time.
marty | Apr 10, 2009 | Reply
I’m surprised at how good the sound quality is.
Creiger | Apr 10, 2009 | Reply
Catch the early “Twist” moves he makes near the beginning. Predated Chubby Checker by 8 years.