In the early days of TV everything was
live, No Video Tape. Many things happened,walls were moved in and
out by stagehands who had been given the wrong cues. Having lived
through these times, I'll explain them as I was part of the scene.
Martin Kane, Private Eye
In one episode a character was shot and fell to the floor apparently
dead. A few seconds later he stands up and walks off.
What happened?
Stage manager was to tap him on foot, to let him know they had gone
to close up shot. However in the transition a cameral cable hit
his feet, thinking that was his cue he got up in full view of the
camera and walked off the set. So much for live TV.
During A Milton Berle rehearsal
Girl Dancers complained that they could not hear the cues in their
dressing room for them to report on stage. I was assigned to rectify
the problem. Knocking on their door and entering, there were about
six girls in all stages of undress mostly naked as they were changing
costumes. I called out very loud, "Ladies close you eyes, I'm
coming through"
I reset the volume control and all was well. We later wired around
the volume control and set the level from the control room. No more
problems.
Broadway Open House. With Jerry Lester
Commercials were done live. The announcer on the show was selected
to do the beer commercials live, however he hated beer.
When time came he took a sip of beer held it in his mouth, and waited
for cameras to go to close ups. Thinking that they had gone to a
close up he spit the beer into a pail, in full view of the camera.
That ended those commercials for him, it was the last one he did
for that beer.
More Broadway Open House
Dagmar, She with the well endowed mammary glands. After one show,
she mingled with some members of the audience. One of them pointing
to her breasts, asked her if they were real. At that point she unhooked
her bra, letting them pop out and said,"Why don't you squeeze
them and see for yourself"
Only in America.
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