Rocket To Stardom TV Talent Search Program

Television talent search program sponsored by and broadcast live from an automobile dealership in Los Angeles from July 1955 to June 1959. It was broadcast every weekend for between 7 and 19 hours at various points during its run. Primary hosts were dealership owner Bob Yeakel and his sister-in-law Betty Yeakel, though there were also many guest hosts, notably Dirk Dirksen. Many future performers made their television debut on the program. Among them are The Smothers Brothers, Lenny Bruce, Phil Spector, Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, The Four Freshmen and Dennis Hopper.