‘The Dean Martin Show’, Behind The Scenes
‘The Dean Martin Show’, Behind The Scenes
Long time NBC cameraman Russell Ross ask for this, so here you go Russell. Before we start, here’s a must see 3 minute video that perfectly captures the mood and style of the show. In it, Dean fakes his way through a song and dance with Loyd Bridges and Anna Moffo, and at the end, there’s an un-staged moment when Dean’s pants rip and he sheepishly walks out of the studio to change.
‘The Dean Martin Show’ ran from September 16, 1965 – April 5, 1974 and originated from Studio 4 at NBC Burbank. The show began with RCA TK41s, but the RCA TK44s came next. It was introduced in late 1968 and I think NBC bought a few, but the TK44B debuted in 1971 and that’s when NBC loaded up on these. Johnny Carson’s show brought the 44Bs into Studio 6B a year before the move to Burbank where some 44As were already in use, and more 44Bs were added in Burbank in ’71.
Unfortunately, there are not many photos of the show in production, but here are the ones I have.
Anna Moffo was married to Robert Sarnoff, son of David.
So Martin’s show overlapped production with Laugh-In in Studio 4?
I’m still searching for the video from the season finale, when the camera s-l-o-w-l–y pulls back from a close-up of Dean singing atop the piano, revealing the full stage, and ends up in the hall with the elephant doors framing the long shot. Anybody??!
I do not remember how I acquired this, but here is Dean in front of a TK41.