Jazz legend Nellie Lutcher is the surprised guest on this special New Year's Eve edition of "This is Your Life" from 1952. Anita Louise and Yvonne King of the King Sisters deliver the "live" Hazel Bishop lipstick commercials.
My goodness, what a lovely lady. So real and authentic in her emotions, she really seemed to be surprised. I have her wonderful original Capitol album and play it many times. Thanks again for sharing your wonderful treasures!
For a normal "This Is Your Life" subject a guest would receive: A film of the program along with a Bell & Howell movie camera & a projector The women would receive a gold charm bracelet, the men would receive cuff links from Marchal Jewelers in New York. All the out of town guests stayed at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Such a beautiful lady! She made me tear up when she cried. She got to live a long life, thankfully. Okay I was bawling my head off when her son surprised her. ❤ Not only was it sentimental for her, but her son as well. This is one of the best episodes of this show.
Beautiful this is your life to Nellie Lutcher boy what a life coming up in the early 19 hundreds making a way in that time wow being the oldest of 15 kids, those parents where made of strong DNA, what a woman may Nellie Lutcher rip.
Nellie Lutcher was not discovered until she was 35 (ancient in show biz years) when she was heard on a "March Of Dimes" radio broadcast by a Capitol Records talent scout.
Although I feel the same as Angie Dickinson does about the subterfuge used to 'get a show' like this- although at least Ralph is congenial, this show is groundbreaking for celebrating a black entertainer like this. Sure there was the stereotypical humor of "Beulah" and "Amos 'n Andy", but even by 1957 Nat King Cole couldn't get a sponsor... Nellie deserved this recognition, but the thing about this show is the NO REGARD TO HOW THE GUEST OF HONOR REALLY FEELS. Many people don't want their past dug up in front of a TV camera...
I understand what you're saying, but I think that by the time they have vetted all of the spouses, children, relatives and friends, they have a pretty good idea of how the honored guest will respond. The spouses or children can always cut it off if they know the guest won't want to do it. Two of the most famous guests, Lillian Roth and Frances Farmer, both knew in advance that their sordid pasts would be made public.
@Blind Brazilian Tex Atlantis This was from the very season of the show and they picked a black woman who was popular, but not necessarily very famous, as one of their first honorees. A real tribute to her.
@@aeichler I honestly don't know what happened with Ms. Dickinson, but I do agree with you. I also see the point of the comment in which you responded to as well. As for Frances Farmer and Lillian Roth, as you have said, the were notified in advance that their lives, both the good and the bad were going to be recounted. Those two had things in their lives that were very sensitive, and weren't talked about in those days.
I would have liked this program feature the charming Miss Lutcher, but why did the host have to be so Patronizing with "Mother taking in Washing to Help Out.... Why do we need to re-inscribe Black poverty / humble origins? This "washer-woman" discourse was the same rhetoric that always marked Josephine Baker's write-ups and publicity---- Invoked just to remind Black celebs of their "place" in the US hierarchy.
I can't believe how toe curlingly bad commercial television was back in the fifties. I was genuinely embarrassed for Ms Lutcher especially with the products in the guise of gifts. This was American advertising at it's worst. Thank god we have moved on somewhat since then.
crankbv1 It May seem corny but “This Is Your Life” was an enormously popular show in the 1950s. And BTW to feature a Black woman as the subject of the show was very progressive in those days.
A freezer and tv for her parents and a film of the show for her plus a projector, not to mention the exposure this show brought Miss Lutcher; but a bad night for her. A rather good one.
