Souvenir Program: Apollo 11 Extravaganza

Program for the star-studded welcome-home celebration Houston threw for the Apollo 11 crew at the Astrodome on Saturday, August 16, 1969, five days before the astronauts left on their round-the-world “Giant Step” goodwill tour. Frank Sinatra served as master of ceremonies, backed by Buddy Brock and his Orchestra, with performances by Nancy Ames, Bill Dana, Marguerite Piazza (who also sang the National Anthem), Dionne Warwick, and Flip Wilson, all donating their talents; the show was produced by David Merrick with Giles Tippette as associate producer, under honorary chairman Jack Valenti. Speeches came from Houston Chamber of Commerce president E. Clyde McGraw, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center director Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, and Houston mayor Louie Welch, who closed the evening by presenting the assembled astronauts, introduced by Neil Armstrong. The program includes short biographies of NASA Administrator Dr. Thomas O. Paine and Dr. Gilruth, along with welcome messages from Mayor Welch and McGraw recalling the city’s earlier welcome of the Manned Spacecraft Center’s staff to the Sam Houston Coliseum on July 4, 1962. The inside cover carries the familiar Armstrong/Collins/Aldrin crew portrait against a lunar backdrop — captioned “Mr. Neil A. Armstrong” alongside “Colonel Michael Collins, USAF” and “Colonel Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., USAF,” reflecting Armstrong’s earlier resignation from the Air Force and transition to NASA civilian status. Closing credits list the Houston Municipal Band under conductor Ralph Liese, the Houston Sports Association (Astrodome), stage and decorations by National Decorators, Inc., and a music grant from the Music Performance Trust Funds via AFM Local 65.