A CLOSER LOOK: Bob Hope's Thanksgiving Special Promotional 33 1/3 rpm

Beginning in 1950, the legendary comedian and Hollywood personality, Bob Hope began making television specials for  NBC.  For these shows, Hope was joined by a variety of celebrity guests and other talent who performed and participated in skits consistent with the incredibly popular variety show format of the time.   Hope's specials were considered must-watch television and were a popular draw through the mid- '80s.

Annette Funicello's fans across the country felt especially blessed the Thanksgiving season of 1964 when it was announced that she would be appearing on Hope's upcoming holiday special.   Annette made the appearance to promote her latest picture, Pajama Party (released November 11, 1964) and her Annette at Bikini Beach record album - which she performed two songs from on the show. 

I've always found vintage promotional ephemera to be especially interesting... seeing how the creatives of entertainment chose to promote their latest offering to the masses.  Today we're going to study an especially rare 7-inch 33 1/3 rpm record and picture cover, created only for distribution to select media outlets for the promotion of Bob Hope's Thanksgiving Special in 1964.  It's a piece of memorabilia from Annette's career unknown to many fans and collectors and I'm happy to familiarize you all with it...and provide "a closer look."


*Click on images to view larger

Let's start by studying the cover artwork.  Created by artist Ted Sally,  Bob Hope and the rest of the celebrity cast of his TV Special are depicted as Pilgrims and Indians in a scene representing the first Thanksgiving.  Can you identify any of the faces?  (Left to Right:  Dick Chamberlain, Bob Hope, Les Brown, Annette Funicello, Stella Stevens, Pat Priest, Donald O'Connor and Trini Lopez)  And of course, with it being a Bob Hope comedy special, sharp eyes will notice some gags in the artwork, including a television at the table (with the logo of the show's sponsor, Chrysler, on the screen), a sign nailed to a tree advertising the special, a guitar propped beside Trini Lopez at the table and a log cabin in the background with a TV antenna on the roof.  Also note the Pilgrim woman running toward the front door,  assumedly hurrying to catch the show!  Do you see any others?

Here's a closer look at how Annette is depicted in the cover art.   

This promotional record came housed in a gatefold cover constructed of heavy, textured orange paper.  When the cover is opened, the record would have been found secured in a slit near the bottom of the right-hand side, along with a loose white paper providing only the most pertinent information about the special.

On the inside-left of the gatefold cover is pictured Bob Hope and his seven celebrity guests with this description:

The very best greetings of this Thanksgiving Season!  And what a season it promises to be.  We will Rock your Plymouth with our Chrysler Show, on N.B.C., Friday, the twentieth of November with a Pre-Thanksgiving Menu made up of Dick Chamberlain, Stella Stevens, Annette Funicello, Trini Lopez, Donald O'Connor, Pat Priest and ol' Ski-nose will be doing the basting with Les Brown playing the notes.

With loads of Thanksgiving,

Bob Hope

CHRYSLER MOTOR CORPORATION presents

The BOB HOPE COMEDY SPECIAL on N.B.C

Friday night, 8:30 P.M. (7:30 CST).

The fun "dinner menu" promotional angle continues on the inside-right of the cover and reads as follows:

CHRYSLER MOTOR CORPORATION'S Pre-Thanksgiving Gift to You! 

To be served Coast-to-Coast on N.B.C. Friday Night November 20th at 8:30 P.M.

Appetizer:

PATE en GELEE a la BOB HOPE.

An hors d'oeuvre filled with shakes and chuckels.

Soup:

POTAGE GRAND DUC a la DICK CHAMBERLAIN.

A special recipe of heart-fluttering skills.

Fish:

HUITRES en EPINARD a la PAT PRIEST.

A delicious course of talent, loveliness and all girl.

Meat:

BOEUF en GELEE a la DONALD O'CONNOR.

You'll dance and sing the praises of this fine entrée.

Fowl:

LA DINDON SAUTE a la ANNETTE FUNICELLO.

An entrée rich in talent, versatility and wow!

Vegetable:

BROCCOLI VINAIGRETTE a la STELLA STEVENS.

Truly a tasty dish to place before a king.

Salad:

CONCOMBRES au MENTHE a la LES BROWN.

A cool, satisfying recipe of noted sharps and flats.

Dessert:

TARTE aux ABRICOTS FLAMBEE a la TRINI LOPEZ.

A dessert that combines fire, sparks and a great voice. 

The record itself contains a six-minute promotion with Bob Hope setting up audio clips from the special in his characteristically comical way.  Annette is the first of the celebrity guests he announces, introducing her as follows: 

"We have as appetizer, Annette Funicello.  You remember her; she's the Mouseketeer that outgrew Mickey.  Here's a sample of how she cut the cheese."

Hope's introduction cuts immediately to a clip of Annette singing "The Clyde", one of the two songs she performed on the show.

As you can see in the picture above, the 7-inch 33 1/3 disc has a mustard colored label with pertinent show information and a caricature of Bob Hope as a Pilgrim (also created by Ted Sally) printed on it in brown.

And we even have the original mailing envelope used to transport this truly unique promotional record to media across the country.

Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving!

Until next time...