The Big Show

The Big Show was a 90-minute variety show that ran on NBC for two seasons from fall 1950 till spring 1952. It featured many of the show business greats from the era, such as Groucho Marx, Jose Ferrer, Jimmy Durante, and Frankie Laine.

The show was a mix of skits, songs, and conversation much like many of the great television variety shows of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Tallulah Bankhead's quick wit and facile tongue received much of the credit for the show's success.

The Big Show was one of radio's attempts to compete with the rising popularity of television. Ultimately, those efforts failed and an attempt to recreate The Big Show as a television show, All Star Review, in 1953 lasted only one short season.

To learn more, see Wikipedia.

Series description provided by Frank Bell.