An extremely rare color kinescope of an abridged version of George Balanchine’s version of The Nutcracker, narrated by June Lockhart, directed by Ralph Nelson, and originally telecast by CBS on December 24, 1958 as an episode of Playhouse 90. The score is by Tchaikovsky. The cast includes Diana Adams, Allegra Kent, Arthur Mitchell, and Edward Villella, with Balanchine playing the role of Dr. Drosselmeyer:
(This is the latest in a series of arts-related videos that appear in this space each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)