Star parade

Television series
Original title	Star parade
Country of production	Federal Republic of Germany
original language	German
Year (s)	1968-1980
length	90 minutes
Episodes	50
Broadcasting cycle	quarterly
genre	music show
Moderation	Rainer Holbe
First broadcast	March 14, 1968 on ZDF

The Star Parade was a music broadcast by ZDF with up to 28 million viewers. Moderator Rainer Holbe , who presented the programs, the James Last orchestra , the ballet choreography and Ewald Burike, who was responsible for creating elaborate visual effects, contributed to the great success . The James Last orchestra made its first television appearance in the Star Parade .

The show

concept

The Star Parade was a live broadcast from various large halls in Germany. The focus was on the music performances, there were also short conversations with the artists and, if necessary, one guest who was not performing as a musician. For example, Dieter Thomas Heck asked in the last issue of 1968 whether he should present the new series ZDF Hitparade with or without a beard. The viewers should comment on this by postcard. In the further course there were several actions in which viewers were asked to send in something, for example in 1978 photos of them dancing to the music of James Last in their living room.

At ZDF, the rehearsals began on Sunday when the show was broadcast on Thursday. This effort astonished American stars, who did not know such an effort in the USA. In the first few years, the audience in the hall sat at tables and had drinks in front of them, then there were only tables in the first rows, and in the course of 1976 they switched over to rows of seats. For a long time, the program also included a quarter-circle-shaped leather sofa on which the artists took their seats and were interviewed by Rainer Holbe. In 1977 it was replaced by an armchair, in which Holbe occasionally sat down to announce guests.

In numerous countries a summary of the programs ran under the title The James Last Show . It was particularly well received due to the ballet company on the Arabian Peninsula .

Time slot

The star parade ran on the slot for the big ZDF entertainment on Thursday evening. This was originally from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., from the 6th edition from 8:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. and due to the major program reform of October 1973 from the 24th edition from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. However, 1976 was an exception, in that year the star parade ran on Saturdays from 8.15 p.m. to 9.45 p.m. These programs were also broadcast by ORF ; one issue came from Austria. Many German viewers wanted the Thursday date again, as they wanted to go out on Saturday evening.

presentation

Rainer Holbe had already presented a program called Die Show-Chance on ZDF when the editor Dieter Weber was looking for someone for the Star Parade . This series was initially limited to four issues, one of which should run every three months.

ballet

As was often the case at the time, the Star Parade also included ballet performances, with the choreography in the early years coming from Herbert F. Schubert , who occasionally also danced. The ensemble was initially Schubert's Herbert Dancers , and from 1971 the newly founded ZDF television ballet, of which Schubert became the director. In order to offer the audience variety, there were changing choreographers from 1974. Each star parade began with a dance and at least two dances were performed. Sometimes Rainer Holbe exchanged a few words with the choreographers on the show.

James Last Orchestra

The star parade was inextricably linked with the James Last orchestra. In the early days, however, the Max Greger Orchestra played a few times ; the opening and closing credits with the title music of the James Last Orchestra were unchanged in these editions.

The James Last orchestra played ballet and always had its own appearances, mostly playing titles from one of the numerous current albums. If this required an expanded cast, then it did too. It was a string group for the classical titles, the James Last Choir, which also went on tour with the orchestra, or the Bergedorfer Chamber Choir , with which the orchestra worked regularly. Last also created special arrangements especially for the show that did not appear on any record.

With the singing stars, the orchestra took a break unless they wished to be accompanied by James Last. While the rest of the performances were mostly full playback, Last placed great emphasis on playing everything live as possible, even though this caused additional production costs. There was one exception: when the load was in the hospital for an appendix operation, he had recorded everything beforehand and had the orchestra play to tape under the direction of his brother Kai Warner . While the program was still on, there were calls from viewers who thought the brother was doing quite well, but you could hear a difference.

When singers performed with a playback, it was in a different corner of the room so that the screen didn't show the band. This mostly played along, which the audience in the hall heard, but not the television viewers. Sometimes the band also fooled around, when Mireille Mathieu performed , they even switched instruments and exaggerated so much that the audience was distracted. From then on, the editor had a wall built in front of the band when they weren't playing.

Music program

The star parade was characterized by a particularly broad musical spectrum. James Last played folk songs as well as classical or international hits. Artists as diverse as Heino and T. Rex came as star guests . Some international stars made their first German appearance in the Star Parade , including Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow .

Picture effects

Ewald Burike directed the third edition. Burike had been working for ZDF since it started broadcasting, first as a cameraman and then as the head of an broadcast vehicle . He introduced some novel effects:

Blue box

In the early days, Burike often used the blue box method . This earned him the nickname Blurike on the team .

Light pen

In the autumn of 1971, Burike placed a monitor with a light pen in front of the guest sofa, which he later became very famous for with the play show Monday Painter . The artists signed their autographs with this device and the audience was asked to take a picture of the artist with their camera and send it in. The photographer of the best picture was then invited to the next show. In the summer of 1972 the photo campaign was stopped again. The device was only used once to display the artist's name at the beginning of his performance.

Screen

One of Burike's spectacular achievements was the large screen that had been part of the Star Parade since the radio exhibition in 1975 . Initially 140 ordinary color television sets (from episode 36 192) were controlled by an elaborate electronic control system and could all show the same picture or all together one large picture. In addition, the overall picture could be divided into four, whereby one large or many small pictures could be displayed in each quadrant. This wall was copied by American television stations.

Others

Although color television had been introduced six months ago, the Star Parade began in black and white. The broadcast in color starting with the fourth edition, it was entitled blow by blow , because you confusion with the newly introduced ZDF hit parade feared. She was then counted among the Star Parade episodes.

successor

In the summer of 1980 the star parade was discontinued, according to Rainer Holbe for no reason and despite the unchanged excellent number of spectators. The following broadcast was the Show Express presented by Michael Schanze , in which James Last was also involved. The Show Express no longer had the success of the Star Parade and was therefore discontinued in 1982.

Broadcasts on ZDF

The first broadcast took place on the following dates on ZDF:

DATE	EPISODE	FIRST GUESTS AND NOTES	PLACE
03/14/1968	01	Manuela , Heino , Rex Gildo , Nini Rosso , Ivan Rebroff and Tatjana Iwanow broadcast in black and white	Siegerlandhalle
09/19/1968	02	Siw Malmkvist , Dorthe , France Gall , Peggy March , Graham Bonney Broadcast in black and white
12/12/1968	03	Graham Bonney , Paola del Medico , Rex Gildo , Heino , The Beach Boys , Marion , Salomé , Vico Torriani , Vice Vukov , Gerhard Wendland Broadcast in black and white	Oberschwabenhalle Ravensburg
03/06/1969	04	Roy Black , Manuela , Barry Ryan , Don Partridge , Erik Silvester , Leo Martin ; Renate & Werner Leismann , Ben E. King , Jo, Jac and Jony, Janet Panter , Petrovic-Ensemble Title of the program Schlag auf Schlag	Braunschweig city hall
06/05/1969	05	Salomé , Mary Roos , Edina Pop , Ricky Shayne , The Milestones , Siw Malmkvist , The Dynamite Brass , The Mike Lorrayne Singers , The Commidian Harmonics (Switzerland)	Braunschweig city hall
09/04/1969	06	Antoine , Vicky Leandros , Roberto Blanco , Hubert , Renate & Werner Leismann , Peter & Alex , Wolfgang Sauer , Tonia , The Young Generation From the Deutsche Funkausstellung Stuttgart	Exhibition hall 15 (joint color studio of ARD and ZDF )
12/11/1969	07	France Gall , Christian Anders , Gitte , Michael Holm , Die Candies, Peter Garden , Gerhard Wendland , Carlson and Tosca, Sir Douglas Quintett, Choir of the 7th US Army	Rhein-Main-Halle
05.03.1970	08	Cindy & Bert , Joe Dassin , Karel Gott , Dagmar Koller , Manuela , Edina Pop , Barry Ryan , Paul Ryan , Ambros Seelo's recording from February 5th, postponed at short notice
04/02/1970	09	Ralf Bendix , The Four Tops , Ray Miller , Rut Rex , Boris Rubashkin , Ricky Shayne , Tereza With Max Greger orchestra instead of James Last	Upper Rhine Hall Offenburg
04/30/1970	10	The Bentley Sisters , Glen Campbell , Joe Dolan , Vicky Leandros , Liesbeth List , Peggy March
06/18/1970	11	Katja Ebstein , Rex Gildo , Dieter Thomas Heck , Daliah Lavi , Rosy-Singers , Die Valendras , Gerhard Wendland	Hall Münsterland
02/04/1971	12	Roy Black , Katja Ebstein , Daliah Lavi , Ike & Tina Turner	Rhein-Main-Halle
04/22/1971	13	Karel Gott , Vicky Leandros , Andy Tilman , Séverine	Rheingoldhalle
09/30/1971	14th	T. Rex , Mary Roos , Sacha Distel , Olivia Molina , Die Studiker With orchestra Max Greger instead of James Last, choreography: Herbert F. Schubert	City Hall Bremen
11/18/1971	15th	The Soulful Dynamics , Roy Black , Anita , Rex Gildo , Manuela , Joe Dassin , La Tuna Orchester James Last for the first time with their own choir, choreography: Herbert F. Schubert	Saarlandhalle
01/13/1972	16	Les Humphries Singers , Bata Illic , Alice & Ellen Kessler , Jimmy Patrick , Peret , Chris Roberts , Marianne Rosenberg , Michael Schanze Orchester James Last, Ballet de Paris, choreographed by Peter Jackson	Braunschweig city hall
04/27/1972	17th	Heino , Middle of the Road , Séverine , Ulli Martin , Katja Ebstein , Vicky Leandros Orchester James Last, Choreography: Herbert F. Schubert delayed broadcast due to reporting on the no-confidence vote	Ruhrlandhalle
07/13/1972	18th	Vicky Leandros , Karel Gott , Ralf Bendix , Juliane Werding , Anita Orchester James Last with Bergedorfer Kammerchor , orchestra conductor Kai Warner instead of James Last, choreography: Herbert F. Schubert	Rhein-Main-Halle
10/26/1972	19th	Mouth & MacNeal , Jürgen Marcus , Udo Jürgens , Roy Black , Tony Christie	Upper Rhine Hall Offenburg
02/08/1973	20th	Christoph Bendorff , Marlène Charell , Daliah Lavi , Rex Gildo , Sandra & Andres , Frank Schöbel , Chris Doerk Choreography: Herbert F. Schubert	Saarlandhalle
March 22, 1973	21st	Chris Roberts , Manuela , Cindy & Bert , Julio Iglesias , Olivia Molina Choreography: Herbert F. Schubert	Rhein-Main-Halle
05/17/1973	22nd	Danyel Gérard , Séverine , Ireen Sheer , Phil & John , Renate & Werner Leismann , Heino , Katja Ebstein Choreography: Herbert F. Schubert	Upper Rhine Hall Offenburg
09/20/1973	23	Jürgen Marcus , Bernd Clüver , Franz Lambert , Ireen & Jo , Mireille Mathieu , Oliver Onions Orchester James Last for the first time with an additional string section Choreography: Herbert F. Schubert	City Hall Bremen
December 20, 1973	24	Middle of the Road , Nina and Mike , Michael Schanze , Udo Jürgens , Les Humphries Singers Irene Mann Ballet, choreographed by Irene Mann instead of the ZDF television ballet	Rhein-Main-Halle
03/21/1974	25th	Salvatore Adamo , Albert Hammond , Chris Roberts , Mary Roos , Truck Stop Choreography: Jonnie James	Rhein-Main-Halle
05/16/1974	26th	Abba , Vicky Leandros , Lena Valaitis , Gigliola Cinquetti , Costa Cordalis , Mouth and McNeal , The Wombles Choreography: Maria Litto and Heinz Schmiedel	Saarlandhalle
09/19/1974	27	Roberto Blanco , Rex Gildo , Udo Jürgens , Mireille Mathieu , Elfi Graf , Michael Holm , Peter Maffay Choreography: Maria Litto and Heinz Schmiedel	Saarlandhalle
December 05, 1974	28	Neil Diamond , The Three Degrees , Reinhard Mey , Peter Kraus , Les Humphries Singers , Marion Choreography: Jonnie James	Ruhrlandhalle
03/06/1975	29	Daliah Lavi , Nana Mouskouri , Karel Gott , George McCrae . Sacha Distel Choreography: Maria Litto and Heinz Schmiedel	Saarlandhalle
06/05/1975	30th	Dana , Heino , Gitte , The Love Machine, Jürgen Marcus , Gloria Gaynor Choreography: Emil Brandl	Upper Rhine Hall Offenburg
08/28/1975	31	Les Humphries Singers , Rex Gildo , Mireille Mathieu , Pasadena Roof Orchestra , Wencke Myhre , Udo Jürgens , Vicky Leandros , Albert Hammond , Franz Lambert Opening of the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin - title of the program Gala-Abend der Starparade Part 1 (7.30pm - 9pm) / Part 2 (10.15pm - 11pm: 00 o'clock)	Hall 1 at the Berlin radio tower
11/20/1975	32	Silver Convention , Billy Swan , 5000 Volts , Penny McLean , Costa Cordalis , Bernd Clüver , Michael Holm Choreography: Maria Litto and Heinz Schmiedel	Hall 1 at the Berlin radio tower
01/10/1976	33	Donna Summer , Lena Valaitis , Salvatore Adamo , Freddy Quinn , Jürgen Marcus , 20th Century Steel Band Choreography: Emil Brandl	City Hall Hanover
05/15/1976	34	The Manhattan Transfer , Wencke Myhre , Waterloo & Robinson , Chocolate Menta Mastik , Catherine Ferry , Howard Carpendale , Jürgen Drews , Sailor Orchester James Last with Bergedorfer Kammerchor , choreography: Maria Litto and Heinz Schmiedel	Philips Hall
08/21/1976	35	Brotherhood of Man , Karel Gott , Gunter Gabriel , Heino , Julio Iglesias , George Baker Selection Choreography: Gene Reed	City Hall Bremen
10/16/1976	36	The Bellamy Brothers , Asha Puthli , Ritchie Family , Rex Gildo , Mireille Mathieu , Udo Jürgens Choreography: Maria Litto and Heinz Schmiedel	Wiener Stadthalle
02/10/1977	37	Roger Whittaker , Guys 'n' Dolls, Vicky Leandros , Franz Lambert , Salvatore Adamo , Jürgen Marcus Choreography: Gene Reed	Westfalenhalle
06/02/1977	38	Boney M. , Roy Black , Baccara , Gitte , Silver Convention , Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran , Marie Myriam Choreography: Maria Litto and Heinz Schmiedel	Philips Hall
09/15/1977	39	Mireille Mathieu , Peggy March , Caterina Valente , Gunter Gabriel , Bellamy Brothers , Raffaella Carrà , Bonnie Tyler , Michael Holm Choreography: Gene Reed	City Hall Bremen
11/10/1977	40	Chocolates (France), Amanda Lear , Gheorghe Zamfir , Freddy Quinn , Howard Carpendale , Danyel Gérard , Belle Epoque Choreography: Maria Litto and Heinz Schmiedel	Saarlandhalle
03/02/1978	41	Costa Cordalis , Hitkids with Ricky King , Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band, Rita Coolidge , Kris Kristofferson , Wencke Myhre , Peter Maffay and Johnny Tame connected from the dome hall of the Stadthalle Hanover : Gilbert Bécaud Orchestra James Last with Bergedorfer Kammerchor , choreography: Emil Brandl	Eilenriedehalle
05/11/1978	42	Abba , Vicky Leandros , Ireen Sheer , Izhar Cohen and The Alphabeta, La Bande à Basile , Carpenters , Salvatore Adamo Choreography: Gene Reed	Philips Hall
09/21/1978	43	Connie Francis , Udo Jürgens , Cliff Richard , Chris Roberts , Roger Whittaker , Truck Stop Choreography: Gene Reed	Westfalenhalle
11/02/1978	44	Boney M , Nana Mouskouri , Karel Gott , Johnnie Ray , Barry Manilow , Howard Carpendale Choreography: Maria Litto and Heinz Schmiedel	City Hall Bremen
03/15/1979	45	Ritchie Family , John Denver , Vicky Leandros , Pepe Lienhard Band , Michael Schanze , Jürgen Drews , Mary Roos Choreography: Emil Brandl	Philips Hall
06/14/1979	46	Boney M , Udo Jürgens , Amanda Lear , Dschinghis Khan , Peter, Sue & Marc , Leif Garrett Choreography: Gene Reed	Westfalenhalle
10/11/1979	47	Renato Zero , Kliby with doll Caroline, Mireille Mathieu , Milva , Cliff Richard , Baccara and the Hamburger Pop-Spatzen from the Gymnasium Sinstorf Orchestra James Last with The Rolling Trinity, choreography: Emil Brandl	Saarlandhalle
December 20, 1979	48	Amii Stewart , Tony Christie , Demis Roussos , Nana Mouskouri , Udo Jürgens , Horst Frank Choreography: Jonnie James	City Hall Bremen
02/07/1980	49	Gunter Gabriel , Marie Bottrell, Boxcar Willie , Jürgen Marcus , Howard Carpendale , Dolly Dots , Katja Ebstein , Freddie Aguilar , Dschinghis Khan , Sheila B. Devotion Choreography: Emil Brandl	Saarlandhalle
06/05/1980	50	Freddy Quinn , Rockefeller, Leonore O'Mealy, Mary Roos , Costa Cordalis , Gibson Brothers , Goombay Dance Band , Chilly , Johnny Logan , Katja Ebstein Choreography: Herbert F. Schubert	Philips Hall

Sources: online archive of Wiener Arbeiter-Zeitung and Hamburger Abendblatt, credits of the original broadcasts

literature

• Rainer Holbe: When the Mainzelmännchen learned to walk , Kösel-Verlag Munich 2013, ISBN 978-3-466-34583-0
• James Last with Thomas Macho: My Life. The autobiography. Heyne, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-453-12063-9 .

Web links

• Info at fernsehserien.de

Footnotes

1. ↑ When the Mainzelmännchen learned to walk, chapter Twenty-eight million
2. ↑ youtube
3. ↑ When the Mainzelmännchen learned to walk, chapter Der Herr der Schlager
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} Rainer Holbe in: ZDF Kultnacht Starparade , ZDF 2008
5. ↑ Rainer Holbe in Star Parade No. 37
6. ↑ ^{a b c} When the Mainzelmännchen learned to walk, chapter make- up artist and comforter
7. ↑ ^{a b c d} My Life, Chapter 7, In Front of the Camera
8. ↑ My Life, Chapter 9, On Stage - Backstage
9. ↑ Complete range of the ITT Schaub Lorenz brand in 1976
10. ↑ overall program of ITT Schaub Lorenz 1/1979 brand