As the MGM film factory declined in the 1950s, it finally broke down and acknowledged that television had the upper hand especially for advertising and promotions. In 1955, the studio inaugurated MGM Parade, a half-hour B&W show that offered up short subjects and film clips from the vast MGM library, while promoting new releases with 'candid' visits to the film set and celebrity appearances. The early shows began with the entrance of actor George Murphy, who by 1955 was no longer performing. Introduced as the Hollywood Ambassador of Goodwill, the glad-handing Murphy welcomed actors like Gene Kelly and even Marlon Brando onto a set resembling a library. In some episodes he converses with a 'Leo the Lion' puppet. The main attractions for MGM Parade Episode 26 are Spencer Tracy performing in Captains Courageous and Eleanor Powell dancing. She performed in three separate Broadway Melody features: Broadway Melody of 1936, 1938 and 1940. After this installment, the series changed format. Actor Walter Pigeon took over hosting duties, and instead of shorter film clips, larger pieces of famous features were serialized across two or three episodes.

By Glenn Erickson