The Hostess with the Mostes' (Playhouse 90)

"The Hostess with the Mostes" was an American television play broadcast live on March 21, 1957, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the 25th episode of the first season. Shirley Booth played the part of socialite Perle Mesta.

Plot
The play tells the story of socialite Perle Mesta, who was known for her lavish social parties. She grew up in Oklahoma, married the president of a steel company, and served as the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg. She was also the inspiration for Irving Berlin's musical, Call Me Madam.

Cast
The cast included performances by:


 * Shirley Booth as Perle Mesta
 * Hedda Hopper as Maizie Weldon
 * Perle Mesta as Herself
 * Shepperd Strudwick as Charley Potter
 * Robert Lowery as George Mesta
 * Frank Milan as Philip Caldwell
 * Joan Wetmore as Emily Caldwell
 * Louise Beavers as Mattie Mae
 * Peter Votrian as Mac
 * Evelyn Rudie as Young Perle
 * Fred Essler as Professor Froelich
 * Emily Lawrence as Reverend Mother
 * Caren Lenay as Countess Bellefonte
 * Carol Veazie as Mrs. Kreeger
 * Howard Wendell as Senator Kreeger
 * Edgar Barrier as Count Bellefonte
 * Lewis Martin as Mr. MacBride
 * Peter Brocco as French Chef
 * Paul Millard as Mr. Forbes
 * James Gavin as Mr. Skirvin
 * Werner Klemperer as Mr. Kolosoff
 * Helen Hatch as Sister Euprasia
 * Mavis Neal as Nurse
 * Tony Romano as The Guitarist

Perle Mesta hosted and narrated the broadcast.

Production
Martin Manulis was the producer. Paul Nickell directed. The teleplay was written by Speed Lamkin and Hagar Wilde. Albert Heschong was the art director.

Reception
In The New York Times, Jack Gould called it "a bewildering bouillabaisse of cliche and corn" and proclaimed: "Unreservedly, it was the worstes'."

Jack O'Brian of the International News Service called it "a long, friendly, slow, patient explanation of Perle Mesta, virtually a 90-minute commercial setting the record straight through Mrs. Mesta's rose-colored memory."