Broadway Open House was an informal live late-night variety program – the forerunner of The Tonight Show and The Jack Paar Show – which opened locally on NBC in New York on 22 May 1950.
Entertainers dropped in to the Hudson Theater on West 44th Street to perform at their leisure between other appearances. In addition to the top-ranking guest stars, promising newcomers performed on the show.
The off-the-cuff, ad-lib nature of Broadway Open House gave it sparkle and spontaneity that were to be emulated by subsequent late-night variety programs. Jerry Lester’s pixieish humour and his ‘Beanbag Club’ are still fondly remembered by the show’s loyal viewers.
Morey Amsterdam was in charge of the proceedings on a semi-permanent basis. On 20 June 1950, Jerry Lester was added to the permanent cast, alternating with Amsterdam.
The tall, ample Dagmar (real name: Virginia Ruth Egnor) joined the show permanently that same month, and she and Lester remained with the show until its end on 24 August 1951 amid rumours of a feud between them.
Regular cast members included Milton Delugg, singer Dave Street, Ray Malone and announcer Wayne Howell.
Jerry Lester
Morey Amsterdam
Dagmar
Milton Delugg
Wayne Howell
Jack E Leonard
