“Bring me a dream, Mr. Sandman.” “Make him the cutest I’ve ever seen.” The year is 1958. Eisenhower is President, and rock-and-roll as we know it is beginning to emerge. Don’t say it to the Chordettes. Sheboygan’s harmonizing girls—Janet, Alice, Lynn, and Jinny—wowed the radio with their primarily a cappella renditions of “Mr. Sandman” and “Lollipop.”

In this live TV performance, the Chordettes, who have been compared to a barbershop quartet, show off their skills. Remember all of the “bum-bum-bums” from the song? You’ll be shocked to observe how each “bum” is sung in rapid succession by a different member of the group. How did they do that without skipping a beat?

These women conjure a sense of past properness with their long, proper robes and charm, even as the lyrics, which are racier than you might imagine, implore Mr. Sandman to bring them a cute man to bed.

In one amusing moment produced specifically for this performance, Mr. Sandman himself appears onscreen to answer their call, and boy is he young and attractive. You’ll laugh at this insert picture while swooning to the tune of the iconic “Mr. Sandman.”