Baby Boomer Alert: A Perry Como TV Christmas Show Circa. 1953! (VIDEO)

This is amazing as a chronicle of television in its infancy.

First notice the announcer at the beginning.  Perhaps the most dour host of any TV show.  He looks like he is announcing a death in the family.  The sponsor is Chesterfield cigarettes, and yes he is smoking one!

Then the wonderful Mr. C comes on.  He has a problem with a microphone and asks "for a different boom mic."  All of this is live for us to see.  He admits he has a "nasal thing" going on so asks us to excuse his voice.  He introduces his children and off he goes on his annual Christmas program.

It is all so cheesy it is almost laughable.  But Perry Como was the consummate professional and he makes it all (somehow) work.  He was a real pro.

Is it possible that television was ever this innocent?