Operetta - The first operetta to be televised was The Pirates of Penzance written by Gilbert and Sullivan. The program was broadcast June 20, 1939 from station W2XBS, New York City with Margaret Daum and Ray Heatherton. It was conducted by Harold Sanford. The Parrott was the first operetta composed for commercial television (on commission) for a commercial sponsor (Armstrong Cork Company). It debuted on the highly acclaimed NBC dramatic anthology series ARMSTRONG CIRCLE THEATRE on March 24, 1953 from WNBT, New York City. The twenty-three minute opera directed by Garry Simpson told the story of an eccentric old lady who left her fortune to a parrot. The opera was based on the book by Frank P. De Felitta. The musical score was composed by Darrell Peter.