Nelson Eddy with Bob Hope, February 16, 1954 (complete)
One of the most telling TV performances in terms of Nelson Eddy's off-screen relationship with Jeanette MacDonald. He sings his own lyrics mid performing the song "Symphony" and also sings "Rose Marie." The comedy sketch is hilarious. The background to this show is further explained in the video, as Nelson had spent Valentine's Day, February 14, with Jeanette. February 15 he crashed her radio shows with Bob Hope; luckily there was an audience member write-up of what occurred. Then on the 16th, Nelson was the main guest on Bob's TV show and, as was his usual pattern in many of his 1950s TV appearances, he sang directly to the camera some song that had personal significance to himself and Jeanette. This pattern of singing songs to communicate something had begun with radio appearance during and after their movie years. It continued to the end of Nelson's life when, during his nightclub act, he always sang one song in each performance as his "private moment" with Jeanette. The room was darkened with a spotlight on him only so he couldn't see the audience. Here, he shares that personal moment with the TV camera.