| Series: | Playhouse 90 |
| Season: | 1 |
| Episode: | 25 |
| Director: | Paul Nickell |
| Guests: |
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| Prev: | The Last Tycoon |
| Next: | Charley's Aunt |
"The Hostess with the Mostes" was an American television play broadcast live on March 21, 1957, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the 25th episode of the first season. Shirley Booth played the part of socialite Perle Mesta.
The play tells the story of socialite Perle Mesta, who was known for her lavish social parties. She grew up in Oklahoma, married the president of a steel company, and served as the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg.[1] She was also the inspiration for Irving Berlin's musical, Call Me Madam.[2]
The cast included performances by:[3]
Perle Mesta hosted and narrated the broadcast.
Martin Manulis was the producer. Paul Nickell directed. The teleplay was written by Speed Lamkin and Hagar Wilde. Albert Heschong was the art director.[3]
In The New York Times, Jack Gould called it "a bewildering bouillabaisse of cliche and corn" and proclaimed: "Unreservedly, it was the worstes'."[4]
Jack O'Brian of the International News Service called it "a long, friendly, slow, patient explanation of Perle Mesta, virtually a 90-minute commercial setting the record straight through Mrs. Mesta's rose-colored memory."[5]