ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the period of Sinatra's most intense involvement with television (1950 to 1960, when he had two television series and made frequent special appearances), analyze the reasons for his failure, and point out his often overlooked television successes. To contemporary viewers accustomed to special effects and glitz, The Star Spangled Revue is the epitome of a stone-age television variety show. In his first series he was at the mercy of programmers who placed his show opposite two "golden age" giants, Your Show of Shows and The Milton Berle Show. In his second, he himself was responsible for allowing the situation to deteriorate by neglecting his television series in favor of the more spectacular rewards promised by his recording dates and movies. Sinatra's talent only shone in his specials. With plenty of time to prepare, with guests who complemented him in style and celebrity, the results were quite different than the series.
