Today in Musical History: High Hat

The January 8, 1978, episode of The Carol Burnett Show (the 15th installment in the 11th — and final — season of the CBS variety series) featured the Emmy-winning mini-musical “High Hat,” a comic tribute to the 1930s Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers RKO musical films like Top Hat. The sketch is set in Venice, 1935, with Burnett and guest star Ken Berry as the Fred and Ginger couple who are both mistakenly given Room 214 by the front desk clerk at the Hotel Venice. The music and lyrics, written by Stan Freeman and Arthur Malvin in the mode of Irving Berlin, were awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Special Musical Material. In addition to series cast regulars Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, and the Ernest Flatt Dancers, the episode featured frequent guest stars Berry and Roddy McDowall. Paul Barnes and Bob Sansom provided the art direction of the high-gloss, high-contrast Art Deco set, with Bill Harp its set decoration, and Bob Mackie provided the retro costumes, including a dress for Burnett that pays tribute to the infamous feather gown Rogers wore in Top Hat. You can watch the entire sketch below.