Kate Smith Plans T.V. Season Performances

July 5, 1965 - Kate Smith (right with Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) said today that after a brief absence from television, she intends to come on strong again next season.

Miss Smith has scheduled six appearances on the three networks, beginning Oct. 10 on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” This will be followed by two visits to “The Dean Martin Show” and “The Hollywood Palace” and another with Sullivan.

“I don’t have to work,” Miss Smith explained, “but as long as my voice is still powerful, I feel that I should put it to use. It’s a God-given gift.”

The singer who introduced “God Bless America” on Armistice Day, 1938, and whose theme song was “When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain,” gave almost 16,000 broadcasts during her radio days. She had her own T.V. show for four years.

“NBC is talking to me about doing a daytime T.V. show,” she said, “but I think that would be too big an undertaking.” 

Miss Smith explained that she had been absent from television for several months following the death of Ted Collins, her manager-partner.

“But I’ve never considered myself retired,” she added.

Discussing the rock ’n’ roll beat, Miss Smith said: “I haven’t been to the discothèques, and I have no desire to go. I like good music, and I don’t consider that good music. I don’t appreciate non-talent performers.”

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