Television Landmarks: An Evening With Fred Astaire and Another Evening With Fred Astaire
This program is presented by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Part of the UCLA Film & Television Archive screening series Archive Television Treasures.
In person: Introduction by former Television Archivist Dan Einstein. Q&A with dancer and actor Barrie Chase.
On October 17, 1958, the supreme talents of Fred Astaire leapt off of small screens across the United States in living color on NBC. Executive produced by Astaire, the innovative An Evening With Fred Astaire represents a creative zenith and technical milestone as one of the earliest television specials utilizing color videotape. Serving as a showcase for the peerless dancing that made Astaire a beloved international star, the critically acclaimed TV special was honored with nine Emmy Awards across artistic and technical categories along with a Peabody Award. Notably, the program paired maestro Astaire with Barrie Chase, an extremely gifted dancer of athleticism and grace whom Astaire would later name as one of his favorite dance partners in his legendary career.
In 1987, An Evening With Fred Astaire enjoyed further accolades as the UCLA Film & Television Archive presented the special to new audiences following an arduous restoration process of the original 2 in. color videotape masters. The technically challenging preservation project garnered engineers Ed Reitan and Don Kent, Television Archivist Dan Einstein and the Archive technical Emmy Awards.
Virtually unseen since airing on the Disney Channel in 1987, join us for a rare screening of the television landmark An Evening With Fred Astaire and its masterful follow-up Another Evening With Fred Astaire (1959). In between episodes there will be a Q&A with dancer and actor Barrie Chase, co-star of the Fred Astaire specials, moderated by Maya Montañez Smukler, Archive Research and Study Center Officer. Introduction by former UCLA Television Archivist Dan Einstein.
An Evening With Fred Astaire (10/17/1958)
In this first of four groundbreaking color specials starring Fred Astaire broadcast by NBC between 1958 and 1968, program executive producer and star Astaire, and his new dance partner Barrie Chase, set the small screen ablaze to unprecedented critical acclaim. Highlights include “Change Partners” with a luminous Astaire and Chase and the jazz stylings of Jonah Jones and his Quartet.
DCP, color, 60 min. NBC. Production: Ava Productions, in association with the NBC Television Network. Executive Producer: Fred Astaire. Producer: Bud Yorkin. Director: Bud Yorkin. With: Fred Astaire, Barrie Chase, Jonah Jones Quartet.
Another Evening With Fred Astaire (11/4/1959)
Also produced and directed by the great Bud Yorkin, this electric follow-up reunited the award-winning creative team from Astaire’s acclaimed first special, including indispensable stars Barrie Chase and the Jonah Jones Quartet. Joining the living color festivities are Astaire’s favorite drummer Alvin Stoller and The Bill Thompson Singers.
DCP, color, 60 min. NBC. Production: Ava Productions. Executive Producer: Fred Astaire. Producer: Bud Yorkin. Director: Bud Yorkin. With: Fred Astaire, Barrie Chase, Jonah Jones Quartet.
The UCLA Film & Television Archive is a division of UCLA Library, and presents its public programs in the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer, among other venues. For more information about the Archive, visit cinema.ucla.edu.
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