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The
George Gobel Show, a half-hour comedy-variety show, debuted at 10:00
p.m on Saturday, October 2, 1954, on NBC television. Peggy, the resident
singer on the program, would be introduced by George each week in his own
inimitable way. By 1955, not just George, but the entire nation was
calling the attractive young singer by the title Gobel had bestowed upon
her: Pretty Perky Peggy King. |
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Peggy
is feted on her twenty-fifth birthday backstage by members of the cast
of the George Gobel Show. Pictured here along with Peggy are
Knobby Lee, John Scott Trotter and George himself. |
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The
entire cast joined the party, including writers Bud Yorkin and Hal Kanter.
Standing to the right of Peggy as pictured is Jeff Donnell, who played
George's wife in the weekly domestic comedy sketch on the show. |
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George
and Peggy rubbing foreheads, a gesture frequently used for comic effect
on the George Gobel Show. |
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Peggy
and writer Jimmy Allendice backstage at the George Gobel Show. |
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Peggy
signs autographs at the Houston Mardi Gras celebrations early in 1955.
Here she is shown with Jeff Hunter, a fellow participant in the festivities. |
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In
May, Peggy paid a nostalgic visit to Ravenna, Ohio, where her family had
moved when she was ten years old. Here Peggy is pictured with
her beloved "Pap" as they walk along a familiar street. |
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During
her visit home Peggy stops by at Isaly's, the ice cream shop where she
had worked when she was fourteen. |
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Her
former boss promptly puts Peggy to work! |
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Peggy's
trip back home included a visit to her former high school home economics
teacher. |
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While
in Ravenna, Peggy visits the office where she worked briefly following
graduation and meets the young lady who replaced her in the position. Peggy's
father looks on from the doorway. |
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Peggy
pauses long enough for an impromptu session with accompanist Eddy Samuels
entertaining some young admirers. |
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Peggy's
visit to her hometown was not entirely of her own design. The city of Ravenna
had scheduled a full day of activities on May 7th honoring their now famous
adopted daughter. Here Peggy receives the key to the city from the
mayor. |
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Peggy
entertains her adoring hometown fans on Ravenna's Peggy King Day. |
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Peggy
is pictured here in the lead car of the parade honoring her during her
visit to Ravenna. |
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The
parade honoring Peggy rolls on . . . |
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.
. . and into the sunset. |
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Some
enthusiastic Cub Scouts clown for the cameras as they hold up autographed
pictures of Peggy given out during the day's festivities. |
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Peggy
was born in South Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where she lived until the family
moved to Ravenna, Ohio, when she was ten. Here Peggy is shown on
the porch of her Aunt Kate Hirst's house in South Greensburg, along with
her Uncle Joe, Richard and Ronnie Weckerly. |
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Not
to be outdone by the folks in Ravenna, Peggy's adopted hometown, South
Greensburg also honored their native daughter with a parade in June 1955,
just a month after similar festivities held in Ravenna. Along with
Peggy in the car are Eddy Samuels, Aunt Kate, Nana and PapPap. |
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Peggy
appears once again at the home of her Aunt Kate on the day the community
of South Greensburg turned out to honor her. |
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Peggy
pauses to pose for a professional photographer during her visit to
the to South Greensburg. |
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On
July 4, 1955, Peggy appeared in yet another parade, this one in Bridgeport,
Connecticut, when she graced a float entered by Columbia Records. |
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Peggy
appears on an improvised stage provided by KMTV in Omaha, Nebraska, along
with Leo Durocher during ceremonies dedicating a new baseball park to serve
the community. |
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Peggy
singing for fans and local dignitaries at the dedication ceremonies. |
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Peggy
pauses from a busy schedule during the summer of '55 for dinner with family
and friends at La Vie en Rose in New York. She is joined here by
her parents, then husband Knobby Lee and accompanist Eddy Samuels. |
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The
July issue of Modern Screen magazine featured a lengthy illustrated
article about Peggy, her life and career. |
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Peggy
on stage during her six-week tour with Bill Haley and the Comets during
the summer of 1955 |
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Peggy
poses with an unidentified young couple at La Vie en Rose in New York. |
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Peggy
smiles for the camera along with friends Ray Heatherton and Shirley Yamaguchi
at La Vie en Rose in New York. |
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Peggy
snuggles up to fellow singer Johnny Johnson at La Vie En Rose in New York
sometime during the summer of 1955. "I'm wearing my favorite singing
dress," she says. |
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Peggy
prepares for an appearance at the 1955 Ohio State Fair. |
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Peggy
with her parents at her North Hollywood home |
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Peggy
with her very first dachshund Mr. Magoo |
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"I
worked with the boys [Abbott and Costello] as their opening act prior to
the Gobel show and Lou especially was my darling friend. He had me
written into their movie Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy.
I sang You Came a Long Way from St. Louis." |
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Peggy
and Lou Costello at Warner Brothers in 1955 |
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Peggy
arrives for one of her many personal appearances around the country. |
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The
William Morris Agency had Peggy nestled in fur for this glamorous publicity
picture. |
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"I
bought this dress from Dinah Shore," says Peggy for this NBC publicity
photo. |
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Peggy
poses for the camera along with husband Knobby Lee at the 1955 Emmy awards
dinner in October. |
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The
October 22,1955 edition of TV Guide carried this picture of Peggy
and George Gobel on its cover. |
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In
December, Peggy made a guest appearance on the Eddie Fisher Show. |
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Peggy
is shown here with Sid Sholsky, Eddie and announcer Fred Robbins on the
set of the Eddie Fisher Show. |
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In
this candid shot Peggy is caught backstage at the Mocambo, as she prepares
for her appearance there on New Year's Eve, December 31,1955. |