Gisele was an amazing entertainer. She would do anything to get it right, according to the director's desires. This was a comedy piece, showing that Miss MacK could handle it all. I appreciate you comment about the uncomfortable shoes, etc. I remember I once saw Gisele live doing "Gypsy" and during the intermission she had a doctor working on a problem she was having with her lower back...BUT the audience NEVER had a clue that she was having problems. A GRAND performer and person...for sure.

Also, for one who is not a trained dancer, MacKenzie does a good job here. I think she should be given credit for having the chutzpah to try this. I was a singer in a rock group, and though MacKenzie wasn't a rock singer, I think she did a good job here in her own style. This skit shows that for one who was a classically-trained singer & musician (which MacKenzie was), she wasn't stuffy, could let her hair down. MacKenzie seemed like a nice lady, with a good sense of humor.

Absolutely correct this was meant to be a comedy piece...notice the way Gisele flexes her feet when the guy lifts her... Ancient dancer in Texas...

geez, I was there, a kid in 50s, with young relatives who sang falsetto hits and even appeared on American Bandstand from Philadelphia. Variety shows didn't die with Hit PArade, reviews of he hits sung by others passed from the scene. Rock would be introduced and shown mostly on variety shows through the 50s and 60s. Elsewise it was singles, 45s, movies (Frankie and Annette at the beach with bands, Elvis, Bill haley, et al) and AM radio.

I have a lot of Hit Parades...and other fine videos featuring Gisele MacKenzie. Always looking out for more!

Gisele was asked to dance early in her Hit Parade days. She replied "I'm not a dancer" but the chorographer told her she soon would be! Gisele was a quick study and Your Hit Parade only had the best involved...so it made for a good school for Miss MacKenzie.

Thanks for posting this. It is terrific!

Many of you may not understand that 'Your Hit Parade' was a sort of "stock company" made up of Gisele, Dorothy Collins, Russell Armes, and Snooki Lanson. They sang the top hits on a weekly TV show.

Gisele is singing in the style of Georgia Gibbs' version of the song; Etta James' original version was accessable only on "rhythm and blues" radio stations and record stores that bothered to stock it...."mainstream" audiences heard very little of it.

No, Gisele was very happy with the show and her co-stars and workers! I think she could see the ending coming to the show and Jack Benny offered to produce "The Gisele MacKenzie Show" on NBC-TV also on Saturday nights. Throughout the rest of her life, Gisele commented that the show was very dear to her.

Loved this!

In the Fall of 1956, Gisele MacKenzie announced to the producers and sponsors that she would NOT return to the show under any conditions! This led to an entire cast change to 'younger, rock-oriented' singers. The a new cast turned out to be in the same age range and mostly also sang pop tunes. The older, faithful Hit Parade fans didn't want to see the new cast, while the younger audiences wanted to see the performers with the hits sing their own songs. Three revival attempts failed.

I always watched Your Hit Parade with my parents when I was a kid. The premise of the show was to presents the week's most popular song. However by the mid 50s the performer had become more important than the song.

Thanks for the interesting details, VideosTimes2!! Now you have me wondering the reason Gisele MacKenzie would not return to the Parade. Sounds like she may have been upset about something. Again, thanks for your post! :-)

Not this version, which was a Georgia Gibbs hit. The 'black' r&b version was...which was titled "Roll with Me Henry."

Nobody, but nobody can even com close to Etta James on this song.. Peace

@VideosTimes2

10 жыл бұрын

Guess you're welcome to your opinion...but that's all it is and nothing more. Gisele was doing this as a TV skit that was preplanned, and not just singing in front of a microphone for some later audio consumption.

@VideosTimes2

10 жыл бұрын

While some singers used these silly throw-away tunes as part of their regular performances, serious singers like Gisele MacKenzie and Dorothy Collins used them merely to display their comedic skills once or twice, as the novelty songs came and went off their "Your Hit Parade" television program. I believe Georgia Gibbs had the big major hit with this one.

this was all we had on tv in '56 australia--no wonder i became a juvenile delinquent----great to see the old clips though.

The TRUE original version of this song was "Work With Me, Annie" by Hank Ballard. The lyrics were far too sexy for any radio play. "Dance With Me, Henry" was the first remake, but it was still a bit racy since those lyrics were "Roll with me, Henry" (despite the title). Georgia Gibbs' version, in turn, dropped "roll" for "Dance with me, Henry", as we hear here. Moving around so much is a slight strain for Gisele while she's singing, but I like the ballet vs. rock comedic conflict.

I like the voice and slow soulful beat of the music, but that box is supposed to say rosin, Not Resin, resin is something used to varnish with, rosin is pine sap that you rub onto a bow to play a string insterment, or stomp your feet into in ballet or dance to get a grip on the floor and not slide too much on the floor as satin and leather dance shoes can be quite slick when sweat is on the floor.

MUSICAL MEMORIAL: VOCALIST/PIANIST/VIOLINIST GISELE MACKENZIE, BORN AS GISELE MARIE LOUISE MARGUERITE LAFLECHE, DIED ON THIS DAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2003, AT THE AGE OF 76. THE CAUSE OF DEATH IS UNDISCLOSED. SHE WAS BORN ON JANUARY 10, 1927, IN WINNIPEG, CANADA. MAY SHE REST IN HARMONY. FOR MORE INFO AND MEMORIALS, PLEASE JOIN MY INTERNET GROUP AND VIEW MY KZread PAGE: TONY JAMS MUSICAL MEMORIALS 1950'S AND BEYOND. FACE BOOK PAGE: TONY JAMS MUSICAL MEMORIALS. FREE FOR ALL TO JOIN AND ENJOY. THANK YOU.

The 'new' cast were all about Gisele's age...no one understood what they meant when they were introducing a younger cast that would be accepted by younger rock audiences...also none of the new cast were identified in any way with rock! It was really goofy. Gisele appeared to have become the superstar of the show, but I doubt if anyone could have saved the format of the show. Audiences wanted to see the hit makers sing their own songs, and variety shows had become old hat.

Interesting facts here, VideosTimes2!! Now I'm speculating this, had Gisele stayed on with the "new" cast, would she have stood out in age? Or do you think she would have fit in with the new group? Would Hit Parade continued longer had she stayed? :=)

I have to say also that Gisele manages to look both perky and sexy when she breaks into her short dance at :55, and then just after that. Unfortunately for her, however, I doubt very much that either "Henry" or the other boys are interested in that sort of thing.

This sketch, as were many, if not most of those on "Your Hit Parade," was done to comic effect. In no way was this supposed to be a serious take on a ballet clans, just as most ballet classes would not utilize rhythm & blues/rock & roll music (especially in the 1950s) for rehearsal, especially at the barre. Gisele's purpose on this show was to sing and be funny, both of which she does here superbly.

"Roll With Me Henry" came out of "Work With Me Annie." Oh, dear me.

Wasn't this song controversial at the time?

@RockNRococo I agree with you about Etta James' version but this one is also good. And just so you know those "cultural rules" were NOT influenced by the Bible but by people like you who use the Bible as a cover up.

It the a sign of the extremely conservative, prudish times...you didn't even hint at anything sexual! Gisele use to speak about the fact that she and Dorothy Collins were the only two permitted to sing "Let Me Go Lover" on Your Hit Parade...since censors wouldn't let guys sing or say the word lover! O brother!

I guess you liking Etta James' version best is a matter of personal taste and preference. ..NOTHING more. I'll take Gisele MacKenzie any day! Gisele was singing the big hit version of this song that was recorded by Georgia Gibbs...Gisele had nothing to do with what version of the record American audiences prefered and bought. As far as justifying racism with The Bible...I DO believe those that misuse the Bible in that way will surely rot in hell!

As a dancer, I have to say that was the worst performance in point shoes that I have ever seen. Why would they put someone in point shoes and force them to jump around performing dangerous moves? Ballet was not a good "dance" example for this (IMO) She was obviously in pain while standing, you can see the tension in her shoulders... She sang very nice but I winced every time she hopped around. I think she could have used soft shoes and that it would have been better. Thanks for the video! :)

that was gay ! there should have been swing dancers

Wow. I was thinking about posting this because of one of the dancers but I guess I've been beaten by a couple years. I guess I'm not the only one with this episode.