Mary Martin's Peter Pan on DVD

A while back, there was talk of the 1955 black & white kinescope version of "Peter Pan" with Mary Martin being released on DVD, contrary to the 1960 color version thats been commercially availble for years. Anyone know if this is still being planned?

Updated On: 6/24/05 at 01:47 PM

I wish they would! I've always wanted to see the 1955 kinescope. I've heard its pretty superior to the 1960 presentation, particularly in the supporting cast.

I have heard the same thing. I grew up with the 1960 version, so naturally I do love it. But Maureen Bailey, who plays Wendy, gets on my nerves. Her acting is kinda poor and leaves me wanting more. I have heard that Kathy Nolan, the original Broadway Wendy who is in the 1955 & 1956 versions, is superior to her sucsessor. I have generally heard EVERYONE is better in the '55 & '56 versions, including Mary Martin, who was younger and more energetic.

Which performances are better -- 1955 or 56? Or are they about the same?

They were all filmed for television -- using the original Broadway sets and costumes. None was actually filmed in front of a live audience.

1955 and 1956 were shown live. 1960 was taped. All broadcasts were originally in color, but all that exist of 1955 and 1956 are black and white kinescopes (which is kind of like someone going into a movie theatre and taping a film with their camcorder -- its not the best quality).

The Jean Arthur/Boris Karloff was 1951 and it was not video-recorded. They did a cast album.

PETER PAN with Mary Martin was telecast live from their Broadway theatre in 1955. Demand for a re-broadcast was so high, NBC decided to do ANOTHER *live* telecast in 1956. Demand and ratings soared. They decided in 1960 to this time do another broadcast, in color, and reunite the cast (the Broadway show closed by this time).

I do not know for sure that the 1955 and 1956 telecasts were broadcast in color. Most households had black and white television sets - so everyone remembers seeing it thus.

No other PETER PAN recordings of stage productions were done until 1997 when Cathy Rigby took the role on Broadway. There was also a recording done to be broadcast on A&E, which is available on DVD and VHS. A 2000 CD soundtrack to this is also available.

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