Beginning in 1963,
Kraft Music Hall specials hosted by Como were presented about once a month, through 1967. During the
1963-64 and
1964-65 television seasons,
Kraft Suspense Theatre (co-produced by Como's "Roncom Films") was broadcast in the same time slot during the remaining weeks. In 1966, the program was a summer replacement for
The Andy Williams Show, known as the
Kraft Summer Music Hall, hosted by singer
John Davidson and featuring, on a regular basis, comedian
George Carlin. In addition,
Richard Pryor—then billed as both comic and singer—frequently guested, contributing renditions of
Roger Miller's
King of the Road and ''
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out'', among others. In the fall of 1967, the
Kraft Music Hall returned as a weekly series, but without Perry Como who abruptly ended his association with Kraft Foods after the 1966-67 season. A format of rotating guest hosts was implemented, employing some of the leading figures in the U.S. entertainment industry at the time, including
Rock Hudson,
Lorne Greene,
George Burns,
Dinah Shore and
Woody Allen. In 1968, the practice of regular hosts was reinstated, with programs starring, in succession,
country singer
Eddy Arnold, John Davidson (again) and
Ed McMahon. Arnold's programs all featured an appearance by comedian/impressionist
John Byner, and Mark Andrews. Other leading performers who appeared on the
Kraft Music Hall on a reasonably frequent basis were
Don Rickles,
Alan King,
Steve Lawrence and
Eydie Gorme,
Mitzi Gaynor,
Bobby Darin,
Pierre Olaf,
Roy Rogers and
Dale Evans,
Wayne Newton,
Johnny Cash and
Simon & Garfunkel.
Taping The series in the late 1960s and early 1970s was recorded at the NBC studio in Midwood, Brooklyn, New York, at Avenue M and East 14th Street. A show with Rickles was partly taped on Avenue M and the Avenue M station of the BMT subway line, less than two blocks away. ==Country Music Association Awards==