Texaco Star Theater

Texaco Star Theater

Texaco Star Theater is an American comedy-variety show, broadcast on radio from 1938 to 1949 and telecast from 1948 to 1956. It was one of the first successful examples of American television broadcasting, remembered as the show that gave Milton Berle the nickname "Mr. Television". The classic 1940–44 version of the program, hosted by radio's Fred Allen, was followed by a radio series on ABC in the spring of 1948. When Texaco first took it to television on NBC on June 8, 1948, the show had a huge cultural impact.

Comedy

Seasons

1. Episode 1

Air Date: 1948-06-08

8. Guest Host: Georgie Price; guest stars: Al Bernie, Bert Wheeler

Air Date: 1948-07-27

14. Ronald Reagan and Dolores Gray

Air Date: 1953-01-13

Needing $150,000 to finish a movie, the film's producers send star Ronald Reagan to New York to ask Milton Berle to furnish the necessary funds as an investment. Milton misunderstands, thinking he has been offering a starring role in Reagan's movie, and arrives at the movie studio completely disrupting production.

15. Gertrude Berg and Andrew Sisters

Air Date: 1953-01-20

Berle's guests are the Andrews Sisters, Gertrude Berg and Arlene McQuade. Molly Goldberg asks Milton to help her provide entertainment for a benefit. His chosen guests, Bobby Sherwood and the Andrews Sisters are reluctant to assist.

1. Oct. 13, 1954

Air Date: 1954-10-13

1. 2/21/56

Air Date: 1956-02-21

9. Episode #9

Air Date: 1956-03-13

In this color telecast from Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas, NV, Milton welcomes dancers The Step Brothers, French singer/actress Denise Darcel, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, acrobatic act the Seven Ashtons, the Copa Girls from the Sands Hotel, and Ray Anthony and his Orchestra.

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Rating

7.3/10

Release Date

1948-06-08

Episodes

7 (8 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Arnold Stang

Arnold Stang

Milton Berle

Milton Berle

Host

Carol Burnett

Carol Burnett

Red Skelton

Red Skelton

Clem Kadiddlehopper

Bobby Rydell

Bobby Rydell

Donna Loren

Donna Loren

Ruth Gilbert

Ruth Gilbert

Production Companies

Texaco Gasoline Company

Milton Berle Productions

NBC

NBC