Hollywood Today

This article is about the 1955 NBC TV series. For the 1964 Hollywood event-themed series, see Hollywood Backstage (1964 TV series). For the 2014-2017 Fox TV program, see Hollywood Today Live.

Hollywood Today is an American television program that was broadcast on NBC from January 3, 1955, until September 23, 1955. It was later renamed Hollywood Backstage.[1]

Format

The series began as a Hollywood gossip show with columnist Sheilah Graham as host, running 15 minutes each weekday. Each week featured a celebrity co-host. During the summer, the show was lengthened to 30 minutes and renamed Hollywood Backstage.

Later that summer, Ern Westmore replaced Graham as host, and the focus changed to makeovers.[1] The latter format was sponsored by Charles Antell Inc., advertising its liquid makeup.[2]

ABC television broadcast a weekly nighttime version of Hollywood Backstage beginning on August 7, 1955, and ending on September 11, 1955. Westmore was host, with each episode featuring a makeover of a woman selected from the studio audience and a demonstration of how an actress had been made up for a specific role.[3]

On September 26, 1955, The Search for Beauty, with Westmore as host, took over the time slot previously occupied by Hollywood Backstage.[1]: 734  His wife Betty Westmore was co-host, with Phil Hanna as assistant and Dick Hageman as announcer.[4] This program also featured celebrity guests and beauty tips for women in the audience. It ended on December 9, 1955.[1]: 734 

Westmore had a similar program, The Ern Westmore Show, on ABC-TV in 1953.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 384. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. ^ "Antell Buys on 200 Tvs" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 3, 1955. p. 56. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  3. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Random House Publishing Group. p. 622. ISBN 9780307483201. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  4. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 939. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  5. ^ "ABC-TV Axes 'Jean Carroll'; Pares Budget" (PDF). Billboard. January 2, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 21 March 2019.