From the Golden Age of Television

High Tor  -  CBS  -  March 10, 1956

Musical

A Presentation of Ford Star Jubilee

Running Time:  90 minutes

Stars:

Bing Crosby as Van Van Horn

Nancy Olson as Judith

Julie Andrews as Lise

Everett Sloane as DeWitt

Hans Conreid as Biggs

Lloyd Corrigan as Skimmerhorn

Dan Barton as Buddy

Bob Foulk as Elkus

James Gavin as Patsy

Kay Kuter as Dope

Charles Meredith as Biggs, Sr.

George Neise as Budge

John Pickard as Captain

Michael Miller as Pieter

Jack Pepper as 1st Sailor

Dick Keene as 2nd Sailor

Bob Jordan as 3rd Sailor

Lee Turnbull as 4th Sailor

High Tor was filmed in November 1955 by Desilu Productions at the RKO-Pathé Studio.

Bing Crosby had seen Julie Andrews in her Broadway debut in The Boy Friend, and invited her to appear in High Tor. It was Andrews' first work in a filmed production, and her American television debut. Because Crosby was uncomfortable with the exigencies of live television, he insisted that it be filmed instead. For this reason, High Tor is sometimes considered the first TV movie.

Paul Hill. Legs over High Tor. Matlock. 1975

From the Archives: Bing Crosby and Julie Andrews promote the annual Christmas Seal Sale for the National Tuberculosis Association, November 1955

“Christmas Seals” were an important fundraising strategy for many years in the fight against tuberculosis. Initiated in Denmark in the early 1900s, the practice was subsequently taken up and popularised in countries around the world. In the United States, high profile celebrities were often appointed Honorary Ambassadors for each year’s “seal sale.” In 1955, the honour fell to Bing Crosby who was filming the TV musical, High Tor with Julie Andrews at the time. He and Julie appeared together in newspapers nationwide to promote the release of the 1955 Christmas Seals and help the National Tuberculosis Association realise its fundraising target of $730,000. 

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