The Hazel Scott Show
Encyclopedia
The Hazel Scott Show was an early American television
program broadcast on the now defunct DuMont Television Network
. The series ran during the summer of 1950
, and is most notable for being the first U.S. network television series to be hosted by a Black
woman.
, who would perform show tune
s and other numbers live on the show. Scott was no stranger to performing before she began appearing on the program: she had appeared in nightclubs, on radio and television programs, on Broadway
, and in five feature films. The program first aired on July 3, 1950. The show was produced and distributed by the DuMont network, and aired Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:45pm to 8pm ET on most DuMont affiliates. The Joan Edwards Show
was in the same time slot on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Trinidad
-born Hazel Scott was described as a "novelty on the entertainment scene", and the series was well-received by critics. Variety
wrote: "Hazel Scott has a neat little show in this modest package. [The] most engaging element [...] is the Scott personality, which is dignified, yet relaxed, and versatile."
Despite critical acclaim and decent Hooper Ratings, the series was cancelled after just a few months. On June 22, 1950, Scott's name had appeared in Red Channels
, an anti-Communist publication which named supposed Communist sympathizers. Although Scott appeared voluntarily before the House Un-American Activities Committee
on September 22 and vehemently denied the charges, The Hazel Scott Show found itself without a sponsor.
The DuMont network cancelled the series just one week later. The final network telecast was on September 29, 1950. The network replaced the series with The Susan Raye Show
.
Television in the United States
Television is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television and the majority of households have more than one...
program broadcast on the now defunct DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
. The series ran during the summer of 1950
1950 in television
The year 1950 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1950.-Events:*February 12 – European Broadcasting Union inaugurated....
, and is most notable for being the first U.S. network television series to be hosted by a Black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
woman.
Broadcast history
The Hazel Scott Show was a 15-minute-long musical program hosted by pianist and singer Hazel ScottHazel Scott
Hazel Dorothy Scott was an internationally known, American jazz and classical pianist and singer.-Early years and education:...
, who would perform show tune
Show tune
A show tune is a popular song originally written as part of the score of a "show" , especially if the piece in question has become a "standard", more or less detached in most people's minds from the original context...
s and other numbers live on the show. Scott was no stranger to performing before she began appearing on the program: she had appeared in nightclubs, on radio and television programs, on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, and in five feature films. The program first aired on July 3, 1950. The show was produced and distributed by the DuMont network, and aired Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:45pm to 8pm ET on most DuMont affiliates. The Joan Edwards Show
The Joan Edwards Show
The Joan Edwards Show is a short-lived American television show broadcast on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network.-Broadcast History:...
was in the same time slot on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
-born Hazel Scott was described as a "novelty on the entertainment scene", and the series was well-received by critics. Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
wrote: "Hazel Scott has a neat little show in this modest package. [The] most engaging element [...] is the Scott personality, which is dignified, yet relaxed, and versatile."
Despite critical acclaim and decent Hooper Ratings, the series was cancelled after just a few months. On June 22, 1950, Scott's name had appeared in Red Channels
Red Channels
Red Channels: The Report of Communist Influence in Radio and Television is an anti-Communist tract published in the United States at the height of the Red Scare...
, an anti-Communist publication which named supposed Communist sympathizers. Although Scott appeared voluntarily before the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
on September 22 and vehemently denied the charges, The Hazel Scott Show found itself without a sponsor.
The DuMont network cancelled the series just one week later. The final network telecast was on September 29, 1950. The network replaced the series with The Susan Raye Show
The Susan Raye Show
The Susan Raye Show was an early American television program broadcast on the now defunct DuMont Television Network.-Broadcast history:The series ran from October to November of 1950. It was a musical program hosted by singer and pianist Susan Raye...
.
See also
- List of programs broadcast by the DuMont Television Network
- List of surviving DuMont Television Network broadcasts