Beloved Variety Shows

The star performs with guests.

Comedian Red Skelton hosts a variety show of comedic sketches, and a range of stars, to speak to an entire generation.

Various guest hosts present a musical variety show.

One of the most successful and fondly-remembered shows in TV history, "The Lawrence Welk Show" featured musical numbers and skits, with host Welk leading the band.

The Texaco Star Theatre was one of the most popular shows in the history of television. In the first year, Milton Berle was not the permanent emcee, but once he replaced the rotation, the show soared to ratings dominance (Number One in 1950-51), NBC dominated Tuesday night, and Berle became the first great star of the new medium, "Mr. Television". The basic format was modeled after a vaudeville variety hour, spotlighting Berle's jokes, sight gags, and costumes.

The Bob Hope Show hosted by Bob Hope.

Porter Wagoner's long-running musical variety show that launched the career of Dolly Parton.

The Steve Allen Show was an American variety show hosted by Steve Allen.

Live variety show with Jackie Gleason.

The Polly Bergen Show was a half-hour 18-episode comedy/variety show, starring then 27-year-old Polly Bergen, which aired on NBC in the 1957-1958 television season.

Best remembered by its posterior title, Your Show of Shows, this live variety show included comedy sketches with TV pioneers Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.

Pat Boone hosted and sang in this half-hour variety series, and featured a wide variety of guest performers.

Tennessee Ernie Ford, the likable singer, comedian and entertainer hosted his own variety show sponsored by the Ford Motor Company which gave him the venue to entertain millions with his informal, homespun humor and singing.

A half-hour variety show, hosted by the veteran vaudevillian Jimmy Durante. The show aired on NBC from October 1954, to June 1956.

Having hosted summer programs for three seasons before this, Andy Williams' program finally became a regular, year-round show. In addition to Andy, the program also featured numbers by a wide variety of performers, though still avoiding rock or other 'youth' genres. Many new performers were introduced on this show, including a singing family from Utah, The Osmonds.

Variety series hosted by country/pop singer Glen Campbell.

Frank Sinatra hosts a variety show.

Dinah hosted this hour-long weekly for seven years. It featured Dinah and guest stars in a variety of songs, skits, production numbers. Also featured: her "See the USA in your Chevrolet" song and her warm kiss to all in conclusion.

A sketch-comedy television series, featuring Sid Caesar as the main star. It was based on Caesar's previous comedy shows, "Admiral Broadway Revue" and "Your Show of Shows", but often featured lengthier sketches than either of them. The series used most of the same cast and writers as the previous shows. The unavailable Imogene Coca (Caesar's long-time comedy partner) was replaced by Nanette Fabray. Several sketches were parodies of film genres, and others were satirical portrayals of the acting profession.

A variety show hosted by country-western singer Jimmy Dean.

Hit recordings were danced to and lip-synced in settings.

Arthur Godfrey and his Friends entertained the audience with many skits and Musical numbers. The show was live, and Godfrey often did away with the script and improvised. He refused to participate in commercials for products he did not believe in.

This was a Colgate-sponsored comedy hour that featured many notable comedians and entertainers of the era as guest stars.

Variety show hosted by Garry Moore with famous guests.

The second incarnation of 'Mr. Television' Milton Berle's variety TV series.