This December, Entertainment One and The Archive of Americ
an Television Presents will release the complete Omnibus episode “Dancing Is a Man’s Game”, written, presented, and performed by Gene Kelly. The legendary actor, dancer, director, and choreographer won renown for his athletic, masculine style and as the foremost proponent of filmed dance. Especially memorable sequences from this innovative broadcast include appearances by Olympic skater Dick Button, baseball star Mickey Mantle, basketball hero Bob Cousy, boxing champion Sugar Ray Robinson, football quarterback Johnny Unitas, and other celebrated sports professionals, whose characteristic movements Mr. Kelly incorporates into a solo dance sequence. The program also includes a stunning performance by Edward Villella, and an extended tap routine by Mr. Kelly and Mr. Robinson. This historic production aired just once on December 21, 1958, over the NBC Television Network. It remained publically unavailable thereafter, until now, on the eve of the 55th anniversary of the original broadcast.
Called “the most successful cultural magazine series and a prototype for educational television,” Omnibus was the Golden Age of Television’s most distinguished production, a multiple Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning series delivering sophistication, refinement, and sparkling intelligence to a national audience. Its eight groundbreaking seasons — broadcast live and nationwide from 1952 to 1961 over 164 episodes — of live, commercial-network broadcasts featured host Alastair Cooke and the most accomplished luminaries of the day, and garnered more than 13 million viewers per program and 65 awards – including nine Emmy® and two Peabody Awards.
“The Archive of American Television Presents” is a partnership between Entertainment One and The Archive of American Television®, whose mission is to present culturally and historically significant productions from the Golden Age of Television on DVD, restored and re-mastered from the best quality sources. The Archive does not own any of the programs being released under this partnership. The Archive of American Television is a division of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
BONUS FEATURES
- Interview with Patricia Kelly
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Type: DVD
Catalog #: EOE-DV-6993
Running Time: 55 minutes
Genre: Classic TV
Rated: N/A
Aspect Ratio: 4 x 3 (1.33:1)
Audio: Mono/English with SDH Subtitles
Production Year: 1958
