The Bill Dana show : #26
Subtitle: master of disguise
By: Desilu Productions ; producer, Sheldon Leonard; screenplay, Bill Dana
Contributors: Desilu Productions
Publisher: Desilu Productions
Published: 1964
Place of publication: United States
Language: eng
Number of pages: 2250
Subjects: Television scripts; Jose Jiminez; Television comedies; Variety shows (Television programs); Ethnicity
Work titles: The Bill Dana show (Motion picture : 1964) 35 mm
Description: The fictional character José Jiménez first appeared on the Steve Allen show in 1959. As the character of José Jiménez grew in popularity, comedian Bill Dana took José through various roles including elevator operator, submariner and finally astronaut. The success of "José Jiménez" led to the creation of The Bill Dana show on NBC in 1963. "José, The Astronaut" was adopted by the original seven Mercury astronauts, becoming part of US space history when the first words the NASA team radioed to astronaut Al Shepard, were, "OK, José, you're on your way." The character José Jiménez was also featured on the 1961 sound recording, José Jiménez in orbit (Bill Dana on earth).
Notes: Harvard Film Archive projection print in good condition, HFA Item no. 11274. From The Bill Dana Collection.

Producer, Sheldon Leonard; screenplay, Bill Dana.

Bill Dana (José Jiménez the bellhop), Don Adams (Glick, the hotel detective), Amzie Strickland (Mrs. Philips), Jonathan Harris (Mr. Philips, the hotel manager), Gary Crosby (Eddie the bellhop).

Associated Archival Materials: "The Bill Dana Manuscript Collection" at the American Comedy Archive, Emerson College, Boston, MA.