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The Big Show

28 episodes · 1950–1952 · NBC · Variety & Music

Play The Big Show on Radio Days

NBC's ninety-minute Sunday variety show, hosted by Tallulah Bankhead, with Meredith Willson's orchestra and the biggest stars in show business. It was NBC's lavish attempt to hold its radio audience against television.

Sources: RadioGOLDINdex

Episodes

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1950

• Fred Allen, Jimmy Durante November 5, 1950 · NBC · 88 min
  The first show: Tallulah Bankhead hosts NBC's ninety-minute variety hour, and Fred Allen tries a 'Pinch Penny Show.' With Jimmy Durante.
• Groucho Marx, Fanny Brice November 12, 1950 · NBC · 89 min
  Baby Snooks gets an acting lesson from Tallulah, and Groucho Marx teaches Ezio Pinza to sing.
• Eddie Cantor, Mindy Carson November 19, 1950 · NBC · 87 min
  Eddie Cantor and Mindy Carson, and a tribute to Lincoln with José Ferrer.
• Fred Allen, Ed Wynn, Jack Carson November 26, 1950 · NBC · 88 min
  Fred and Tallulah do a breakfast-radio routine, the cast visits Duffy's Tavern, and Ed Wynn explains Carmen.
• Fred Allen, Phil Silvers December 3, 1950 · NBC · 90 min
  Fred Allen and Phil Silvers, the Sons of the Pioneers sing 'Cool Water,' and Margaret Truman trades wits with Tallulah.
• Clifton Webb Jimmy Durante December 10, 1950 · 88 min
  Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “All the Sad Young Men.”
• Bob Hope Phil Harris December 17, 1950 · 88 min
  Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “The Women.”
• Jimmy Durante Robert Merrill December 24, 1950 · 88 min
  Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “A Letter to Virginia.”
• Vivian Blaine, José Ferrer December 31, 1950 · NBC · 87 min
  Gloria Swanson and José Ferrer play a scene from Twentieth Century, and Vivian Blaine sings.

1951

• Danny Thomas January 7, 1951 · 88 min
  Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “New Year's Party.”
• Louis Calhern Jack Carter January 14, 1951 · 86 min
  Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “The Magnificent Yankee.”
• Eddie Cantor January 21, 1951 · 86 min
  Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “Born Yesterday.”
• Ray Bolger, Gary Cooper January 28, 1951 · NBC · 86 min
  Ray Bolger, Gary Cooper and Rudy Vallee.
• Fred Allen, Robert Cummings February 4, 1951 · NBC · 86 min
  Judy Holliday does a scene from Born Yesterday, and Tallulah and Robert Cummings play Private Lives.
• Groucho Marx, Judy Garland February 11, 1951 · NBC · 89 min
  From Hollywood: Groucho sells 'Plebo,' Judy Garland sings, and the Andrews Sisters celebrate fifteen years.
• Jack Carson February 18, 1951 · 86 min
  Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “Billy Budd.”
• Jack Haley, Paul Kelly February 25, 1951 · NBC · 88 min
  Uta Hagen and Paul Kelly in scenes from The Country Girl, and Tallulah spars with Monty Woolley.
• Fred Allen, Clive Brook March 4, 1951 · NBC · 88 min
  Frankie Laine sings, and Clive Brook appears in Second Threshold.
• Bob Burns, Jimmy Durante March 11, 1951 · NBC · 86 min
  Bob Burns tells Arkansas stories, Billy Eckstine sings, and Jimmy Durante drops in.
• Phil Baker March 18, 1951 · 89 min
  Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “Mamba's Daughters.”
• Judy Holliday, Carmen Miranda March 25, 1951 · NBC · 88 min
  Judy Holliday, Carmen Miranda and Jimmy Durante.
• Groucho Marx, Bob Hope April 1, 1951 · NBC · 89 min
  Tallulah and Bob Hope do a routine, and Van Johnson appears in Go for Broke.
• Vivian Blaine April 8, 1951 · 83 min
  Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “Green Pastures.”
• Eddie Cantor, Jack Carson April 15, 1951 · NBC · 87 min
  Jack Carson gives Tallulah a singing lesson, and Olivia de Havilland plays Juliet.
• Fred Allen, Portland Hoffa April 22, 1951 · NBC · 88 min
  Tallulah and Joan Davis compare ailments, and Fred Allen and Portland Hoffa visit.
• Jimmy Durante, Milton Berle April 29, 1951 · NBC · 88 min
  Ethel Merman opens with 'There's No Business Like Show Business,' with Durante and Milton Berle.
• Fred Allen, George Jessel May 6, 1951 · NBC · 88 min
  The last show of the season: Groucho, George Jessel and Fred Allen.

1952

• Richard Eatham Joe Frisco March 9, 1952 · 86 min
  Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “Cask of Amontillado.”