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Special

Guest

From the late 1940’s through the 1970’s, Pearl’s charismatic personality regularly contributed to daytime television. She frequently appeared on numerous talk and variety shows, including the Ed Sullivan Show, the Mike Douglass Show, the Perry Como Show, the Carol Burnett Show, and game shows like What’s My Line. Pearl also appeared on the first African American hosted variety shows, including the Flip Wilson Show and the Nat King Cole Show.

From 1956 – 1957, the Nat King Cole show was a prime-time variety show produced by NBC and served as the first nationally broadcast show hosted by an African American. Before co-starring with Cole along with Eartha Kitt, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, and Ruby Dee in the 1958 movie St. Louis Blues, Bailey was a musical guest on the Nat King Cole Show.

Photograph of Pearl Bailey as a Child

Photograph of Pearl Bailey and Nat King Cole ca. 1957

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Photograph of Pearl Bailey as a Child

Pearl Bailey and Mike Douglas

1972 Episode of the Flip Wilson Show Guest Starring Pearl Bailey

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