ID This 50s TV Show (Classical Music)

Cafe Society
1

I just moved to South Korea, and desperately scan the cable channels for any English language programming I can find. Because I don’t speak or read Korean (I’m an English teacher), there’s no online TV Guide I can consult.

One show I keep seeing is a B&W show from the 50s. A conductor of classical music, backed by a full orchestra, is delivering a lecture on how classical differs from jazz and other popular forms. He’s very charismatic and speaks of his jazz and pop contemporaries in respectful terms. No idea whether this was an ongoing series or one TV special they keep showing over and over.

I don’t think the conductor was Leonard Bernstein, but it could be; this guy is about 40 years old circa 1955 with craggier features but the same hair. Does this ring any bells with anybody?

2

It sounds like the Bernstein “Young People’s Concerts” series. I remember being shown some of them on 16mm film in junior high.

Here’s his list of appearances as “self” on IMDB.

3

That’s probably it, thanks!

4

That’s what I was going to say too–the series is still considered to be a classic.

5

They did those into the 1970’s. I loved them! That, International Children’s Film Theatre (?) with Kukla, Fran and Ollie, and Walter Cronkite’s revival of 'You Are There"- THOSE were good intelligent quality kids TV!