Tony Martin, one of the great singers of the last century made his television series debut in a show that was only 15 minutes in length. It was just a glorified radio show at that point. Bing Crosby also had problems like this as well. In a few years, he'd be doing a 15 minute mid day radio broadcast right up to the early sixties. At least as the most frequent host of the Hollywood Palace, Bing finally made his television mark.
I'm not sure whose decision it was to give Tony a fifteen minute show format, NBC's, the sponsor, or Martin's. Whoever it was made a terrible error. It sure robbed Tony Martin of the impact he would have made had he been given an hour variety show like Perry Como, Dean Martin, or Andy Williams.
After his film career wound up in the mid fifties Tony Martin's primary career outlet was nightclubs. He and wife Cyd Charisse had one of the best nightclub acts around, they had bookings together right through the mid 80s.
Still and all, Tony Martin would be better remembered today if he had the hour format his contemporaries had.
I'm not sure whose decision it was to give Tony a fifteen minute show format, NBC's, the sponsor, or Martin's. Whoever it was made a terrible error. It sure robbed Tony Martin of the impact he would have made had he been given an hour variety show like Perry Como, Dean Martin, or Andy Williams.
After his film career wound up in the mid fifties Tony Martin's primary career outlet was nightclubs. He and wife Cyd Charisse had one of the best nightclub acts around, they had bookings together right through the mid 80s.
Still and all, Tony Martin would be better remembered today if he had the hour format his contemporaries had.
