All Star Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor

The children’s charity Variety Club International honoured Elizabeth with All Star Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor, a TV special that aired on CBS on December 1, 1977. It was a family affair that evening at Burbank Studios, as Elizabeth was joined at her table not only by her husband, John Warner, but by her beloved daughter, Liza, and mother, Sara.

Some of the celebrities on hand to pay tribute to Elizabeth included Robert Blake, Debbie Boone, Henry Fonda, Frank Gorchin, Monty Hall, Bob Hope, Rock Hudson, Paul Newman, Carroll O’Connor, Dan Rowan, and Dick Martin. There was even a reunion of the March sisters as Elizabeth’s Little Women (1949) co-stars June Allyson, Janet Leigh, and Margaret O’Brien graced the stage. Not to be outdone, three of her early male co-stars “who adored you then and adore you still”—Roddy McDowall, Jimmy Lydon, and Tom Drake—serenaded her with “Elizabeth,” a song written just for the occasion.

The previous year’s honouree, John Wayne, was the final star to pay tribute to Elizabeth that evening. “I know you to be a lady of courage, enormous talent, and great compassion for those less fortunate than yourself,” he said. “By being here tonight, you’re helping the most important people, [...] in the world, children. We thank you.” He shared that a new wing for handicapped and underprivileged children would be added to a Variety Club hospital in Elizabeth’s name.

Wayne next invited Elizabeth to come up “so everyone can show you how much they love you.” “I must say that tonight has been one of the best night’s of my life,” she said, “at least where a crowd is concerned.” Elizabeth joked: “What a thrill it is for a farmer’s wife from Virginia to be in the room with so many Hollywood celebrities.”

Elizabeth took the opportunity to thank each participant individually, before sharing: “It’s a thrill to me knowing that this evening will mean much to unfortunate children everywhere, and that my name will be associated with the building of a new wing of a children’s hospital of the Variety Club. I thank you, Monty Hall, and everybody with the Variety Club, particularly because, as you may know, I’m quite familiar with hospitals, having spent a little time there myself. But the best of them—and there are many fine, dedicated hospitals in the world—can never match being in your own home, with good, loving people around you. If this evening, in some way, can do that for someone else, I’m very happy. I love you, and thank you for being here tonight. Just thank you.”