[Dixielandjazz] Dorsey's and Gleason

[Steve barbone]

There seems to be some confusion about the Dorsey Brothers being the band on
the Jackie Gleason Show. That was not the case. Sammy Spear and his
Orchestra was the Gleason show band from 1952 on, when the show began.

The Dorsey's hosted "Stage Show", the summer replacement for the Gleason
show. Gleason was the producer of "Stage Show". Elvis Presley made his TV
debut on "Stage Show" in 1954. See below for Gleason apology for producing a
show that featured a "porno act". And Ed Sullivan's affirmation that he
"would never have anything like that on his show." Yeah right. :-) VBG.

Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey did not reunite until 1953, when they reformed an
orchestra. The final years of their lives were spent co-hosting a musical
variety show, which introduced Elvis Presley to TV for the first time (he
sang "Heartbreak Hotel").

The first variety show on which Elvis Presley appeared was "Stage Show"
(1954), a summer replacement for "The Jackie Gleason Show" (1952), hosted by
Dorsey and his brother Jimmy Dorsey. Jackie Gleason, the show's producer,
later apologized for putting on "a porno act" and Ed Sullivan said he would
never have anything like that on his show. Sullivan later changed his mind
after Elvis made another appearance on a rival TV show.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone