The Perry Como Show

Dinah Shore said of Perry Como: “What makes Perry’s show a lasting success and why he can go as long as he wants to, is his great and truly outstanding voice. He also seems to have some profound inner strength. He’s a strong, quiet man like a Gary Cooper or John Wayne.” The one time barber from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania found an audience on radio in 1948, and when NBC asked if he was interested in doing television he said “yes!” In 1951, three times a week he appeared on the program called Chesterfield Supper Club. Later CBS lured him away and the Perry Como Show was born. By 1954, NBC wanted him back, quoted the right amount, and put him up against CBS’s popular The Honeymooners. It worked, and the Perry Como Show shot to the top and stayed there for years. By 1963 the momentum slowed down a little bit for Perry. Kraft became his major sponsor. Later in the 70’s Perry decided to reduce his workload to just a few specials a year, around the holiday seasons, and did so until the early 1980’s.His calm, easy style was reassuring. The viewers knew that all the jokes and gags would not be big hilarious bits of humor. Instead, it would be an evening of entertainment that would afford comfort, smoothness, easy living, and it would all be a little bit on the smart side. Music was the highlight. Perry’s own songs from the show often made their way to radio and rocketed to number one many times over. He sold millions and millions of records. He was also the launch pad for many rock and roll bands, mostly of the quieter nature, such as the Everly Brothers, Fats Domino, Fabian, Frankie Avalon, and Bobby Riddell. Kay Ballard, Don Adams, and Paul Lynn became comedic regulars and all moved on and out into their own shows on various networks to great success. Perry developed a number of musical acts, with strong supporting groups, good dancers, and lots of comedic talents, and the formula paid off with high ratings and tons of Emmys for nearly everyone working on this great and successful vehicle. Everyone associated with the show could truly join the star, as he always sang at the beginning of each program “Dream along with me, I’m on my way to the stars!” And so he was, and so they were, too! Written by: Ralston Suffield