ATV Saturday Spectacular - The Johnnie Ray Show - 4 March 1960

This is one of five shows Johnnie did for Val Parnell's Saturday Spectacular. With adverts this would be an hour long prime entertainment in 1959, whose format was put together by the infamous Val Parnell, who spent years in theatre and booked top class US Acts. Like Sunday Night at the London Palladium, this was a top class variety show.

Shows like these, though, helped cement Johnnie Ray as a popular star in the UK, without the prejudice he faced by the US press and he was a frequent visitor to UK shores. Sadly nearly all the Sunday Night at the London Palladium shows were either not recorded (they were transmitted live), or have been lost or wiped (including the 100th episode featuring Buddy Holly) and THIS surviving Saturday Spectacular has NEVER been released commercially, so is a rarity. Transferred from the original 16mm film, this is probably the best quality you can see.

For real nostalgia watch the show in full, including ventriloquist Terry Hall and a very young Lionel Blair. In this show Johnnie sings 2 of his Country songs from his "On the Trail" album. So stream or watch on your TV turn up the speakers and watch one of the greatest performers of the 20th century work his magic.