TV's First Interracial Kiss

[marybrewster]

I hope this topic doesn't get too deep, but I'm curious:

I just read an interesting article about TV's first interracial kiss. Some say it was on "Star Trek" in 1968; others say it was on "Movin' With Nancy" in December, 1967. In the example of "MWN" it was a kiss on the cheek between Sammy Davis Jr. and Nancy Sinatra.

But I swear I have seen Diana Ross and Mary Wilson [[and maybe Florence Ballard?) all give Ed Sullivan a smooch after one of their perfomances. This would have pre-dated December, 1967.

What brought this to mind was the unedited clip of "Come See About Me" [[found in another thread); all three Supremes playfully interact with Ed at the end; Florence being the last to hold his hand in a non-hand shake.

Coming from a generation after this, it's just hard to imagine that this was once such a big deal. I mean, look at TV today. An interracial kiss is NOTHING compared to what is shown.

http://www.neatorama.com/2013/04/10/TVs-First-Interracial-Kiss/

[reese]

I think Diana gave Ed a kiss during the Xmas episode in 1966. She also kissed him in 1969 after they did YOU'RE NOBODY 'TIL SOMEBODY LOVES YOU. I don't recall seeing the other girls do the same.

[rovereab]

I have childhood memories of the Supremes kissing presenter Keith Fordyce like fury when they sung Baby Love on the UK Ready, Steady, Go programme in 1964.

Lucky chap!

[theboyfromxtown]

I have childhood memories of the Supremes kissing presenter Keith Fordyce like fury when they sung Baby Love on the UK Ready, Steady, Go programme in 1964.

Lucky chap!

I remember that too. Keith's face was covered in lipstick.

[floyjoy678]

What about Lucy and Desi?

[Jerry Oz]

What about Lucy and Desi?Technically, there is no hispanic 'race'. It's considered an ethnicity. To wit, Cubanos seem to get along [[more or less) in Cuba until they get to our shores at which point they find their respective light and dark corners and become segregated based upon race.

[captainjames]

Kiss on the Lips ? Cheek ? or somewhere else ? please specify.

[Methuselah2]

SWINGIN' TIME SPECIAL
1966

Host Robin Seymour kissed each of The Supremes on the cheek as he presented them with flowers.

[motony]

LOL, no there is big prejudice in Cuba, I still have family in that hell-hole. Castro will equally jail all races....but the big-wigs in the Commie Party , TV announcers, those with best jobs ect are overwhelmingly caucasion.

[johnny_raven]

I think they mean a romantic-style kiss, so the aforementioned examples would not fall into that category.

[midnightman]

Star Trek featured the first one, I think. But I remember reading how it was problematic for a black entertainer and white entertainer to simply touch each other. When Sammy Davis, Jr.'s sweat was wiped by Eric Cantor with his napkin, people protested that. Yeah, things are messed up still but they were way messed up back then.

[sansradio]

Star Trek featured the first one, I think. But I remember reading how it was problematic for a black entertainer and white entertainer to simply touch each other. When Sammy Davis, Jr.'s sweat was wiped by Eric Cantor with his napkin, people protested that. Yeah, things are messed up still but they were way messed up back then.

Do you mean Eddie Cantor?

[soulster]

A peck on the cheek doesn't count. It has to be a full-blown kiss on the lips, so, the Star Trek kiss sounds about right.

I wonder what the first interracial porn movie was. :)

[Jerry Oz]

LOL, no there is big prejudice in Cuba, I still have family in that hell-hole. Castro will equally jail all races....but the big-wigs in the Commie Party , TV announcers, those with best jobs ect are overwhelmingly caucasion.I remember watching Teofilo Stevenson win gold in multiple summer Olympics and wondering if he was seen in the same light as black American Olympians of the day. We received more respect for athletic feats than for societal contributions.

[kenneth]

In 1968, there was quite a controversy because in a segment in a variety show, Petula Clark touched Harry Belafonte on the arm. Supposedly, there was quite an uproar! Hard to believe, isn't it.

I found a fascinating article about it. Apparently, Petula, who along with her husband was the producer of the special, refused to substitute any alternate takes of the performance of that song and said if it didn't air that way, it wouldn't air at all. Go girl!

http://www.pophistorydig.com/topics/petula-belefonte-1968/

Here's the actual segment. Very moving performance.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQXVjY1oqRo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQXVjY1oqRo

[soulster]

Yeah, there was a big issue with the Petula Clark show. The sponsors wanted it cut out, but she stood her ground. I guess the reason Star Trek got away with it is because it was a very low-rated show, and it had a much younger audience.