Gospel music on television
Golden Age
The 1960s were a golden era for gospel music in Chicago, marked by high record sales and nearly hourly radio broadcasts of church services. While live performances could originally only be experienced by attending gospel programs and church services, broadcasts such as "TV Gospel Time" and Chicago's longest-running gospel television show, "Jubilee Showcase," revolutionized this accessibility. As early as June 1950, Ebony magazine reported hopefully on the potential of television to offer African American talent greater and more respectful performance opportunities, away from the often stereotypical portrayals in radio and Hollywood.
A pioneer in this field was radio pioneer Jack L. Cooper, who in April 1949 had the first regular weekly television show by an African American in the US, "The Jack L. Cooper Revue." This show on WENR-TV in Chicago presented "outstanding Negro talent from across America."
TV appearances
Mahalia Jackson played a central role in establishing the genre on television through numerous appearances and her own shows.
First TV appearances (early 1950s)
Her television career began on Christmas Eve 1951 on Studs Terkel's show "Studs' Place," which marked a first for gospel music on television. Terkel himself claimed that he may have been the first white person to introduce Mahalia to a white audience via broadcast media.
Ed Sullivan Show
A decisive moment was her appearance on Ed Sullivan's nationally broadcast show "Toast of the Town" on January 20, 1952. This marked the first appearance of a black gospel singer on national television. Sullivan's show was considered the "greatest single instrument" for promoting African American talent on television. Jackson felt a great responsibility to authentically represent her faith and ethnic heritage. Her performance on January 20, 1952, can even be seen in a documentary film and on YouTube.
Irv Kupcinets Show
On August 2, 1952, Mahalia also appeared on Irv Kupcinet's show from Chicago, which was broadcast locally on WBKB-TV.
Jackson often expressed dissatisfaction with the production conditions. For example, she insisted on being accompanied by piano and organ instead of the studio orchestra and even confronted Ed Sullivan personally to get her organ. She was also cautious about live recordings during actual church services, concerned that cultural voyeurism would overshadow the religious content and misrepresent her ethnicity. On one occasion, she warned her studio audience: "Don't start that, or we'll tear the place down. You have to remember that we're not in church—we're on CBS."
"Mahalia Jackson Sings“ 1955
Local Chicago television broadcast, 1955
After her radio show ended in 1955, Mahalia Jackson secured a local television program with CBS subsidiary WBBM. The show was recorded at the Garrick Television Center in Chicago and aired for the first time on Sunday, March 13, 1955, at 10:15 p.m., and later also on Thursdays at 10:30 p.m.
Mildred Falls and Ralph Jones accompanied her musically, and the Jack Halloran Quartet had their own segments. The initial host was Studs Terkel, who interviewed Mahalia about her songs. However, due to his political sympathies during the McCarthy era, which got him blacklisted, his dialogue could only be heard as a disembodied voice.
The show was originally sponsored by local car dealer Martin J. Kelly. When the sponsorship deal expired, CBS took over the costs to continue the show as a "sustaining program." The show was produced with the aim of capturing the energy of the enthusiastic audience, who were able to participate in rehearsals and interact with the performers. However, studio staff warned viewers not to shout or stamp their feet, which was unfamiliar to some of the performers as it was not typical of a church audience.
The program featured a mix of spirituals, religious pop music, sentimental "oldies," and occasional gospel songs. However, Jackson was not always satisfied with the selection of non-church songs and tried to expand the repertoire and invite guest artists. The initial host, Jim Conway, was soon replaced by Studs Terkel, who provided the dialogue between songs. Terkel himself was later replaced due to his political leanings, which greatly upset Mahalia.
The show was praised by critics for promoting Jackson's career and serving as a "showcase for both Jackson and the gospel sound." Critics praised Jackson's warmth, naturalness, and deep sincerity. The show was seen as a counterpoint to stereotypical portrayals of African Americans on television such as "Beulah" and "Amos 'n' Andy." Despite good reviews and ratings, the show was canceled in February 1955 after 20 episodes because no permanent sponsor could be found.
"Mahalia Jackson Sings" 1961
National television broadcast in 1961
In 1961, Mahalia Jackson once again had her own television show called "Mahalia Jackson Sings," a series of five-minute music videos that aired nationwide. Eighty-two black-and-white segments were recorded in June and July 1961, directed by Larry Peerce. This show brought Mahalia Jackson worldwide fame in 1961 and the Emmy-equivalent "Silver Dove" Award at the Festival International de Télévision de Monte-Carlo.
© Leigh Wiener 1961.
Guest appearances on other TV shows
"The Dinah Shore Show" NBC
On June 1, 1958, she appeared on the show, which was billed as "the first time a sepia has ever been seen on the program." Dinah Shore saw Mahalia Jackson's performance as a milestone for television. She was invited to appear again on November 16, 1958, and December 6, 1959.
Andere Shows
She was a guest on "The Steve Allen Show," "Dick Cavett," "Merv Griffin," "Jack Paar," and "The Flip Wilson Show" in 1971.
With famous colleagues
She also appeared in shows with singers such as Bing Crosby and Perry Como, as well as comedians such as Red Skelton and Milton Berle.
News programs
Ed Murrow's 1950s news program "Person to Person," which interviewed celebrities in their homes, also featured Jackson.
TV-Special
In July 1968, Jackson appeared in a TV special at the Hollywood Palladium, alongside stars such as Dinah Washington, Eartha Kitt, and Dick Gregory.
Thomas A. Dorsey's television appearance
Thomas A. Dorsey, known as the "father of gospel music," was also active on television:
"Ordeal by Fire"
He wrote music for this civil war program, which aired in late 1959 on WTTW, Chicago's public television station.
"Time for Religion"
The following year, Dorsey wrote and directed two episodes for this WTTW television series: "The Little Wooden Church on the Hill" (July 20, 1960) and "The Amen Corner" (July 27, 1960).
"Songs with a Message"
In 1961, WTTW honored Dorsey and several gospel groups on this program.
Pioneer for further broadcasts
Mahalia Jackson and Thomas A. Dorsey's early successes paved the way for dedicated gospel television programs.
"TV Gospel Time"
Before "TV Gospel Time" (1962), gospel music did not have its own program. The thirty-minute show was produced by Howard Schwartz's Allied Productions and sponsored by Pharmaco Products, a company that manufactured products for the African American market.
"TV Gospel Time" aimed to showcase gospel music and "give the nation a chance to get to know the richness of Negro culture." It was touted as the first program in which "Negro talent would be seen in a series of commercials."
Filming began in the fall of 1962, and the first episode aired on September 30, 1962, on WOR-TV in New York. The program was expanded to more than 24 US stations, including WBKB-TV in Chicago, where it aired on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. starting in late January or early February 1963. To involve local groups and increase regional ratings, the production began filming in various cities. In Chicago, for example, episodes featuring the Thompson Community Singers, Jessy Dixon, and the Chicago Community Choir were recorded in October 1964. Although "TV Gospel Time" reported good ratings after its first year, the show disappeared in 1965. However, it laid the foundation for the even more successful "Jubilee Showcase."
Jubilee Showcase
"Jubilee Showcase" was the longest-running gospel television program before BET's "Bobby Jones Gospel." It debuted in February 1963 on Chicago station WBKB and ran for an impressive twenty-one years.
The idea originated from a live gospel radio show hosted by Sherman Abrams in 1959, which aimed to attract customers to his car dealership. Sid Ordower, who hosted the radio show, wanted to bring the show to television. The concept was simple: to present new talent and the best gospel music in a dignified and educational manner. Al Abrams Pontiac sponsored the television version, and Sid Ordower became the sole host. Katie Davis was the first talent coordinator.
The format of the show usually included an opening by the Norfleet Brothers, followed by Ordower introducing the guest artists and at least two songs per artist. Ordower often gave a short inspirational speech at the end. "Jubilee Showcase" differed from "TV Gospel Time" in that it had a permanent host (Ordower), was recorded in a studio (rather than at regional locations), and Ordower did not promote the advertisers' products. The audience was visible and applauded politely, unlike "TV Gospel Time," where the audience could only be heard. Unfortunately, the production team deleted the first thirteen episodes to save tape, which greatly upset Sid Ordower, as it was historically significant material.
The show featured a variety of artists, including the Norfleet Brothers and Louise Overall Weaver as regulars. "Jubilee Showcase" also used its platform for social causes, such as supporting Dick Gregory's food drive "Christmas for Mississippi." The show featured rare combinations of artists performing together, becoming a repository for unique historical gospel moments. By 1969, "Jubilee Showcase" reportedly had a weekly audience of 250,000. The show adapted to musical changes and began incorporating "folk and inspirational music" into its program in 1969. It was discontinued in 1984. In 1966, the show received an Emmy for "a pioneering project featuring the greatest variety of gospel, spiritual, and jubilee music."
Rock of Ages
"Rock of Ages" was another of the first gospel television programs for Chicagoans. It aired on Sunday mornings on WVON-AM and later on Channel 26. The show was originally a 90-minute live broadcast, which was later shortened to an hour when a sponsor dropped out. It was considered a "logistical miracle" because it often featured several hundred performers, mainly choirs, and the team had to quickly change the musical lineup during the live broadcast. Isabel Joseph Johnson was the host.
Further TV broadcasts
The popularity of gospel on television led to the creation of other programs: "American Gospel Jamboree": Inspired by "Jubilee Showcase," Yusim Chrysler-Plymouth began broadcasting this radio program on WBEE from his car dealership. Sid Ordower was the host and Katie Davis was the talent coordinator.
"The Gatemouth Moore Show"
Rev. Dwight "Gatemouth" Moore secured a television show on WCIU-TV in 1968, which aired on Wednesday evenings at 10:10 p.m.
"Gospel Train"
Samuel Patterson hosted this gospel television program on Channel 26. "Jubilee Hummingbirds": Performed on a half-hour program on WREG-TV in Memphis.
"Singsation"
Another television program that was once hosted by Vickie Winans and continued the legacy of "Jubilee Showcase" by providing local gospel talent with another opportunity to showcase their talents.
The increasing presence of gospel on television and the success of gospel shows in venues such as New York's Apollo Theater led secular entertainment venues in Chicago to begin staging multi-artist gospel extravaganzas, such as the All-American Gospel Spectacular at the Regal Theater on September 11, 1964. This underscores the growing acceptance and popularity of gospel music in mainstream entertainment.
©Thilo Plaesser