TV babies of a certain age might remember International Showtime, which ran on NBC in the early-to-mid '60s.
Don Ameche, an actor about whom I knew nothing at the time, would introduce the various acts from locations around the world, mostly Europe. I especially enjoyed the circuses, and the white-faced Pierrot clowns in their pointed hats.
I think the sketches were in French or Italian, but they were wonderful, and unlike Northeast D.C. where I was living.
Watching International Showtime was transporting, kind of magical. The vast world was brought into the living room, through our sometimes snowy TV set -- Marshall McLuhan's legendary "global village."
Looking back I see that from 7:30 to 8:30 on Fridays, the world -- which was roiling with war and social injustice -- was, well, good.
No comments:
Post a Comment