Jukebox Jury
| Jukebox Jury | |
|---|---|
 Host Peter Potter (center) with guests Anthony Perkins and Tab Hunter. | |
| Genre | Variety show/Quiz program |
| Starring | Peter Potter |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format | Black-and-white |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | September 13, 1953 – March 28, 1954; Syndicated (1959) |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | The Orchid Award (9:15 p.m. EST, Sundays) |
| Followed by | Billy Graham's Hour of Decision (10:30 p.m. Sundays) |
Jukebox Jury was an hour-long television series hosted by disc jockey Peter Potter[1] which aired in the 1953-1954 season on the American Broadcasting Company, and was syndicated in 1959.[2]
The program actually began in 1948 in Los Angeles, California on KTSL Channel 2, which became the CBS Television station KNXT in 1951 and is now KCBS-TV.[3] Five years later, Jukebox Jury went national for one season. The show has been compared to a radio program replete with commercial endorsements and movie previews.[3]
The jury on the program consisted of six usually young lesser-known film stars or minor recording artists who judged the latest releases from the record companies. Among the "jurors" were Barry Sullivan, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Jane Powell. Mike Connors appeared on an early KNXT episode under the name "Touch" Connors.[3]
Once the program was added to the network schedule, many who appeared as jurors to yell "Hit" or "Miss" at each song selection were already or later well-known entertainers, having included: Steve Allen, Walter Brennan, Elinor Donahue, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Dean Martin, Steve McQueen, Jayne Meadows, Johnny Mercer, Sal Mineo, Leslie Nielsen, Debbie Reynolds, Mamie Van Doren, Robert Wagner, and Natalie Wood.[4] Dick Clark used this listen-and-comment technique from persons in his audience on a reduced scale with his later long-running Philadelphia-based ABC series, American Bandstand.
Jukebox Jury aired Sundays at 9:30pm ET, preceding Billy Graham's Hour of Decision spiritual program.[5] The program was somewhat similar to NBC's half-hour Judge for Yourself, starring Fred Allen and Dennis James, which also aired in the 1953-54 season.[6]
References
- ↑ "April 17, 1983 in History". brainyhistory.com. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
- ↑ Alex McNeil, Total Television, p. 441
- 1 2 3 "Billy Ingram, "Oddball Game Shows of the '50s"". tvparty.com. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
- ↑ Jukebox Jury: Research Video, Inc.: Music Footing Licensing Agency and Vintage Television Footage Archive
- ↑ Alex McNeil, Total Television, appendix, network television schedule.
- ↑ Judge for Yourself in Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, A Complete Directory to Prime Time Cable and Network TV Shows , 1946 - Present, p. 622. New York: Random House Publishing, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2011.