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The Milton Berle Show

Original title: Texaco Star Theatre Starring Milton Berle
  • TV Series
  • 1948–19561948–1956
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
139
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
15,435
1,736
The Milton Berle Show (1948)
ComedyFamily
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 sh... Read allThe 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 B... Read allThe 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... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
139
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
15,435
1,736
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Stars
      • Milton Berle
      • Sid Stone
      • Jimmy Nelson
    Top credits
    • Stars
      • Milton Berle
      • Sid Stone
      • Jimmy Nelson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 win & 4 nominations total

    Episodes263

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    TopTop-rated

    Photos43

    Bela Lugosi and Milton Berle in The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    Milton Berle and Maxie Rosenbloom in The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    Milton Berle, Robert Alda, and Sam Levene in The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    Charles Tobias in The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    Elvis Presley, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana, and Scotty Moore in The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    Marilyn Monroe and Milton Berle in The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    Milton Berle and Phyllis Diller in The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    Milton Berle in The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    Milton Berle and Dean Martin in The Milton Berle Show (1948)
    Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, and Milton Berle in The Milton Berle Show (1948)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Milton Berle
    Milton Berle
    • Self - Host
    242 episodes242 eps • 1948–1956
    Sid Stone
    • Self - Texaco Pitchman…
    128 episodes128 eps • 1948–1952
    Jimmy Nelson
    Jimmy Nelson
    • Self - Texaco Pitchman…
    56 episodes56 eps • 1951–1954
    Arnold Stang
    Arnold Stang
    • Self - as Francis…
    38 episodes38 eps • 1950–1956
    Ruth Gilbert
    Ruth Gilbert
    • Max…
    16 episodes16 eps • 1952–1954
    Hal Sawyer
    • Self - Announcer…
    39 episodes39 eps • 1950–1951
    Ken Shapiro
    • Self - as the Kid…
    26 episodes26 eps • 1948
    Allen Roth
    • Self - Orchestra Leader…
    26 episodes26 eps • 1948–1955
    Fatso Marco
    • Self…
    15 episodes15 eps • 1949–1951
    Milton Frome
    Milton Frome
    • Self…
    14 episodes14 eps • 1950–1956
    Robert Alda
    Robert Alda
    • Self - Actor…
    13 episodes13 eps • 1949–1952
    Martha Raye
    Martha Raye
    • Self
    12 episodes12 eps • 1949–1955
    Jack Carter
    Jack Carter
    • Self - Comedian…
    11 episodes11 eps • 1948–1953
    Jack Collins
    Jack Collins
    • Self…
    10 episodes10 eps • 1948–1955
    Bobby Sherwood
    • Actor…
    1 episode1 ep • 1952
    Gertrude Berg
    Gertrude Berg
    • Molly Goldberg…
    6 episodes6 eps • 1952–1953
    Charlie Applewhite
    • Self - Singer…
    9 episodes9 eps • 1953–1955
    Georgie Price
    • Self - Comedian…
    8 episodes8 eps • 1948–1952
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First televised on 8 June 1948, this hour-long NBC comedy-variety series was enormously popular and responsible for exponentially increasing the sales of TV sets across the US. It ended in June 1956 and Milton Berle took a couple of years off before returning with a slightly revamped 30-minute version on NBC in October 1958, which failed to resonate with an audience now enamored by westerns, detective shows and anthology dramas. This second version left the air in May 1959. Berle spent the next seven years guest starring on various TV series along with taking on noticeable roles in major Hollywood productions such as It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) and Who's Minding the Mint? (1967). ABC offered him another chance at hour-long prime time in September 1966, but gave him a slot up against The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964). Due to low ratings, the series was soon cancelled. The last episode was broadcast on January 6, 1967.
    • Quotes

      [Opening theme]

      Singers: Oh, we're the men of Texaco. / We work from Maine to Mexico. / There's nothing like this Texaco of ours; / Our show tonight is powerful, / We'll wow you with an hourful / of howls from a showerful / of stars; / We're the merry Texaco-men. / Tonight we may be showmen; / Tomorrow we'll be servicing / your cars."

    • Connections
      Edited into The Definitive Elvis: The Army Years (2002)

    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Very Good Early TV
    To describe this show , would best be as a sitcom disguised as a variety show. Very impressed by the fact of how innovative this show was,for its time. Shows like 'Curb your Enthusiasm' and 'Its Garry Shandling Show', may very well have been rooted in this show. Milton Berle the host of his show had wonderful guests every week. These guests, including Berle did musical numbers as well as skits. The premise of the show basically had a plot itself , similar in style to the shows that I have mentioned.. Being that Larry David and Garry Shandling respectfully played themselves.Beautiful female dancers , traditionally , start the show , with a number and Berle , camouflaged ,makes his grand entrance. Usually the fare of the day was Berle disputing,heckling and negotiating with his big star guests, leading to some wonderful comic moments, interlaced through out the show. Ruth Gilbert as his sidekick, madly in love with Mr. Berle , was an automatic foil every week. The Buick theme was very nostalgic and such a catchy tune that stays with you hours after you watch an episode. Good TV, but as the reviewer before me stated, the jokes were very silly and on the corny side. I know the show was mid century, but still the set was way too simple . I do think more could have been to done to better the stage set. All in all a wonderful watch and part of early roots of American TV.
    helpful•3
    1
    • Greatornot
    • Jan 1, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 8, 1948 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Texaco Star Theatre
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Milton Berle Productions
      • National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
      • Texaco Gasoline Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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