The Bell Telephone Hour: Portraits in Music (1960) - Carl Sandburg, Julie Andrews, Brian Sullivan

Using music, this program evokes a gallery of portraits. Julie Andrews and Larry Douglas perform Sigmund Romberg's "Operetta Miniatures"; Victoria de Los Angeles and Brian Sullivan perform an excerpt from "La Boheme" by Giacomo Puccini; in "Portrait of a Lady from 1860 to 1960," Nanette Fabray salutes one hundred years of the American woman; and in the final segment, a celebration of President Abraham Lincoln, the orchestra performs Aaron Copland's "A Lincoln Portrait" with poet Carl Sandburg reading from the president's writings.
First aired 12 February 1960
Season 2 Episode 9

[@miltonbroome9725]

Being ten years old was ignorant of how great these hours were. Now can appreciate them.

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

What a treat to see the supreme artistry of Victoria de los Angeles, with what is probably the greatest characterization of Mimi ever.

[@jasonbeard4713]

You have blessed us with this treasure. Bravo! More, PLEASE!!

[@davidch2010]

I HAVE IT ON DVD :) I LOVE IT I HAVE MANY OF T HE BELLTELEHONE HOURS :)

[@curlysue3919]

Wonderful! I love it!♥️♥️♥️ Thank you.

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

I don't know how I missed these when I was young, either it was on during dinnertime, or the local station didn't carry it.

[@Shamsithaca]

oh wow! Live show!!! didnt know

[@TheJulieAndrewsArchive]

It's not often you are surprised! ٩(˘◡˘)۶

[@Shamsithaca]

@@TheJulieAndrewsArchive thats true haha. I assumed it was pre-recorded and aired soon after. The fact this was live, makes even better. Thanks for sharing.

[@dantep4966]

@@Shamsithaca if it was pre recorded, it would be in color. Notice how it opens with, “live in living color.” It’s in black and white because the live taping system “kinescope” only recorded in b&w

[@Shamsithaca]

@@dantep4966 makes sense. I was wondering how they recorded in color by 1960 shows of the Bell Telephone Hour.

[@dantep4966]

@@Shamsithaca yeah they could only broadcast/pre record in color, they didn’t tape live shows in color yet

[@williamdunphy352]

Introduced by Mel Brandt.

[@jeffpiegari4942]

Any more

[@Shamsithaca]

Darn wish Julie sang the role of mimi here. She could have if she wanted to I suppose.

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

Out of her range. Her voice was already lower than as a child.

[@Shamsithaca]

@@nonenoneonenonenone how so? She was singing high A flats, high As, Bflats in both film, and on stage 3 decades after this was shot.

[@dianaaljadeff2983]

Julie Andrews was a light soprano a coloratura one not a lyric soprano for La Boheme its why she.sang more operetas and musicals and more coloratura and baroque arias

[@Shamsithaca]

@@dianaaljadeff2983 she was a legit coloratura soprano as u can hear from her youth, she did not continue her studies in italy. If she did, she would have for SURE been an operatic coloratura soprano and under take mimi easily.

[@dianaaljadeff2983]

​​@@Shamsithaca Julie could have sung light Donizetti roles Mozart coloratura roles Haendel Gilda in Rigoletto and Museta in La Boheme or Magda in La Rondine not Mimi.if she had been an.operatic soprano.But she chose Broadway musicals and operetas and we are happy because of her choice.This is my favourite Julie Andrews period the sixties