Composer Harold Arlen Sings & Plays Piano, 1954 

Harold Arlen was a miracle. No two songs were alike. Of course, he had the finest lyricists (who we never hear mentioned).

Extraordinary thanks for posting!!! Have never seen Harold play and perform ever!!!

Sinatra has such a vocal chord it's like an instrument, when he sings it sounds like a recorded record

This is a genuine historical artifact: This is what live TV looked like, with no room for error; Sinatra is on the comeback trail, just after "From Here To Eternity" resurrected his failing career; the commercial at the end is a scream. I'd never heard Arlen play (let alone sing) before, but he's terrific, and his vocal sounds much like that of his frequent collaborator, lyricist Johnny Mercer (who really did have a singing career). With the exception of George Gershwin (with whom he was often compared), no songwriter ever got "black" music like Arlen: For me, many of his tunes were "bluesy" without actually being Blues. (And, not incidentally, both Gershwin and Arlen were Jewish, members of the only group of people whose history of oppression and persecution is as profound as, and predates, that of African-Americans.)

Great to see and hear Harold .

Happy Birthday, Harold Arlen!

WOW! He was a great performer of his own works.

What a great post, Sinatra is magic, like he always his when he sings,

Great clip ! Nice to see Arlen and the others performing Harold Arlen's music !

This is terrific! I have been learning a bunch of Arlen songs, and it is great to see him sing one or two of his great co-creations. Thank you!

What a treasure! From KOFY (Channel 20) San Francisco! Glad it was saved!

I looked this up, it's Eddie Cantor hosting an episode of the Colgate Comedy Hour. This episode aired Nov 29, 1953.

What a great little treat. Only wish Judy Garland could have joined in the fun. Thx 4 posting.

haha "OH My Papa" the biggest thing to ever hit the jukebox in all the record business "

Fascinating!

Love this! So many great songs :)

Wow!!!! 😍

top talent in this show with Harold Arlen

Thanks for posting!

harold is truly amazing

how could anyone possibly dislike this?

Wow, this is great. Thanks very much for sharing.

Jim, many of these Harold Arlen songs had lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

Thanks So Much!

November 29, 1953

Fabulous video. Thank you!

wonderfull

Arlen is naturally appearing without Blacklisted lyricist Yip Harburg. It must have been strange for Harburg and others that Harburg's lyrics were still heard everywhere in the 50s, but the man himself was persona-non-grata for TV and Films(he WAS nominated for a Tony in 1957 for the show JAMAICA).

Sensational.

if Harold Arlen was born to compose music Frank Sinatra was born to sing them

Harold Arlen ... compositor das maiores músicas do século. Judy Garland. Frank Sinatra e outros

These great songs are as much a product of the lyricists -- they guys who wrote words -- as they are of of the composer. Yip Harburg wrote "Only a Paper Moon," all of the songs (and the dialog around the songs) for "The Wizard of Oz," and hundreds of other great standards.

11:37 Palmolive ad

Great Show! Who is the female vocalist please?

fantástico! the year is rong - this must be a lot before 1950

What's with Arlen and these performers with these bulging eyes and over orchestrated facial expressions

3:26 sinatra

Classic. But it kinda makes me want to vomit. Thanks,