Cole Porter - An All-Star Tribute (2004)

VAI DVD 4299 52 songs. Ethel Merman, Peter Nero, John Raitt, Martha Wright, Gretchen Wyler. Originally broadcast on The Bell Telephone Hour Jan. 28, 1964 55 min., Color.

Ethel Merman Bell Telephone Hour A Great Gift

So pleased to have purchased a copy. Firstly I intend it as a gift to a friend who is unaware of its existence and who was, many years ago Ethels private Secretary so this will be a knock-out gift at Christmas when he comes to stay.

This DVD is performance based and how lucky we are to have a copy through VAI who seem to be releasing a lot of treasures that could have languished in vaults.

The orchestrations and charts are excellent and the show captures the medium of television production durin the 60's particularly that of Studio Variety.

The quality of the DVD is better than anticipated on reading other reviews but given the original format it is indeed extremly watchable.I have video tape on my shelves that are only 15 years old the quality of which have deterioted much worse than this DVD transfer

I rate this DVD a 5 for the purity of its performance content providing us with a great record of outstanding voices and tribute to cole Porter
October 27, 2006

Cole Porter-An All-Star Tribute (Bell Telephone Hour January 28,1964

Excellent overview of standard Cole Porter songs performed by people of talent worthy to interpret such material. Such programming does not exist today except for PBS in their American Masters series. Did not realize that color taping was being done in 1964, albeit the fuzzy quality; however the colors were bright and strong. Hope they release more of the Bell Telephone Hour shows; we who appreciate standard popular muic sorely need this "alternative programming". September 7, 2005

Classic Vintage Musical Performaces - In Living Color!

Don't pay any attention to the reviewer who complained of the poor video transfer - they do not know what they're talking about. This is a prime example of NBC low band color from the early 1960s - it cannot be compared against the hi band format widely adapted later. To have a program of this vintage survive at all on color tape is something to celebrate. Then to have actual alternate un-aired takes from 1960 in color is worth the price of the disc alone. Thank you VAI for releasing this gem. August 16, 2005

cole porter tribute

This is a great dvd what makes it great you say? Well first you have Ethel Merman being Ethel Meman. Cole Porter tunes anything better I think not! You have the fabulous voices of John Rait, Martha Wright(a singer extraordinaire that is largely forgotten,Gretchen Wyler Who played Peggy In Porter's Silk Stockings. The print is quite good for it's age. As a bonus you see seveal incomplete versions of Miss Meman on another Bell Telephone special(wich after
viewing did cause me to have nightmares. I hope that there will be more of these great programs isued latter
June 28, 2005

A De-Lovely Evening

This is an absolutely wonderful program, flawed only by the poor picture quality of the DVD. We have an opportunity to see Ethel Merman in all her glory. That's enough for me!! December 15, 2004

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