Major Bowes Amateur Hour - A Behind the Scenes Look
Major Bowes Amateur Hour - A Behind the Scenes Look
A behind the scenes look at The Major Edward Bowes Amateur Hour Radio Show. Features amateur performances of every ilk, audience applauding, switchboard operators, etc.
Major Bowes Amateur Hour - A Behind the Scenes Look
Opens with very quick montage of theater marquees in New York City, the following two of the most clear & discernible examples: MS marquee for the Amsterdam featuring Fred & Adele Astaire, Frank Morgan, Helen Broderick, Tilly Losch in "The Band Wagon"; TLS/MSs The Rialto. Low angle MS street signs for Broadway & West 53rd Street. Dissolving cocked angle MSs of theater crowds milling about outside theaters. MS theater marquee: "Chrysler Corporation Presents Major Bowes Original Amateur Hour." MS people shuffling in line, pan left to usher taking, tearing tickets. TLS empty theater stage save piano, kettle drums, stands, etc. VO explains roles of behind the scenes personnel. Panning TLS radio announcer at microphone on stage, stagehand moving another mic behind him, Major Bowes at desk, engineers in control room. TLS view of stage from engineer's booth. MSs amateur performers sitting together in audience, talking, smiling, chatting, looking & acting nervous; one young woman chats with her mother, who insists that she not be nervous (the doting mother). Nice MS radio announcer (Ralph) standing at CBS microphone, hand raising in the air, telling the audience to "Stand by. This is it." Good head-on TLS studio audience. ECU second hand passing 12 on clock. MS Major Bowes striking timekeeper's bell. MS Ralph standing at CBS mic, reading Plymouth / Dodge / DeSoto / Chrysler ad from script, introducing show & Major Bowes.
Major Bowes Amateur Hour - A Behind the Scenes Look
MS Major Bowes dispensing cliches, introducing first performer. MSs "Negro girl swing & blues singer" Harriet Waters stepping onto stage, joking with audience, performing "Coffee Colored Girls." MS starry-eyed young Caucasian man playing accordion, the name "Jimmy" on side. Dissolve to MCU hands on piano keys, dissolve to Hispanic man with suave, minor moustache singing an operatic ballad into CBS mic. Dissolve to CU young white woman singing an aria. MS young Lawrence Eisler wearing plaid tie giving humorous impersonation of Charles Laughton. Head-on TLS audience clapping, applauding.
Major Bowes Amateur Hour - A Behind the Scenes Look
Over the shoulder MS Major Bowes speaking into mic, audience in BG. Great side view DOF MS four white female switchboard operators working. MS "Ms. Kitty Stark" looking nervous at microphone, singing "Never in a Million Years" in an uneven voice; obviously a plant, she breaks down & cries into hankie; MSs people in audience taking notice, looking aghast, Kitty's mother looking sad & dejected, then perking up when Major suggests she try again; MS/CUs Kitty thanking Major, singing again with pluck, moxie. MS audience applauding. MS John Jewell frantically playing the banjo. Dissolve to MSs 13 year old Bobby Blakeman thanking Major Bowes, singing "Did Your Mother Come From Ireland."
Major Bowes Amateur Hour - A Behind the Scenes Look
Dissolve to tracking over the shoulder shot of several white female working at telephone switchboards. Dissolve to MCU feet of woman tap dancing, tilt up to face, back down to feet. Dissolve to side view CU blond operator on switchboard, asking caller for vote. Side view CU brunette switchboard operator asking caller for vote. CU vote tally, Kitty Stark in the lead. Dissolve to MS Caucasian man strumming guitar, singing like Jimmie Rodgers. Dissolve to great, funny MS one-man band performing hi-hat, guitar, kazoo, bass drum, party horn. CUs vote tallies, Kitty Stark cleaning house. MS Major Bowes announces Kitty Stark as winner. MS Kitty in audience, getting happy. MSs Major closing show, audience clapping.
Major Bowes Amateur Hour - A Behind the Scenes Look
DO NOT USE: End Credits