1985: CBS Presents Star-Studded Adaptation of 'Alice in Wonderland'
December 9, 2020
| By TV WW
On this day in 1985, CBS premiered the first part of Alice in Wonderland, a star-studded, two-part adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass.
Nine-year-old Natalie Gregory portrayed the adventurous Alice, and throughout the story she encounters a cast of colorful Wonderland characters, portrayed by a Who's Who of TV and film actors, including: Red Buttons, Sherman Hemsley, Donald O'Connor, Shelley Winters, Scott Baio, Sammy Davis, Jr., Martha Raye, Imogene Coca, Telly Savalas, Mickey Rooney, Roddy McDowall, Arte Johnson, Jayne Meadows, Sid Caesar, Ringo Starr, Carol Channing, Harvey Korman, Jack Warden, Sally Struthers, Donna Mills, Ann Jillian, Merv Griffin, Patrick Duffy, Steve Allen, Pat Morita, George Gobel, Eydie Gormé, Steve Lawrence, Karl Malden, Jonathan Winters, John Stamos, Ernest Borgnine, Beau Bridges, Lloyd Bridges. (Seriously, the cast alone makes this a must-see for classic TV fans.)
The film (which is available on DVD) concluded the following night. Here's a sampling of scenes featuring Natalie Gregory with Lloyd Bridges, Ann Jillian, Carol Channing, Sid Caesar and Ringo Starr: