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"Mistress of Ceremonies" Tallulah Bankhead hosted what has now become known as one of old time radio's most extravagant and highly entertaining variety programs on air. The Big Show was big in every way, featuring high-flying acts, comedic stunts as well as good old-fashioned drama that kept the nation glued to their radio sets every Sunday Night. In fact, the show was so enthralling that it was able to stand toe-to-toe with other Sunday night old radio shows like "The Jack Benny Program" and "The Charlie McCarthy Show" and compete for the public's attention.

With all the great names working on this project, it was no wonder that it received many sponsors and supporters which enabled the producers to keep coming up with over-the-top performances week after week. Entertainers of note that graced the show with their talent and presence were Fred Allen, Groucho Marx, Judy Garland, Gary Copper, and Bob Hope to name a few. Click here to read more about Big-Show


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Please enjoy these 29 old time radio episodes:

Air Date Title Synopsis Rating
 N/A big show 510429 jimmy durante, milton berle

+ Sponsored by: Canon Towels, Chesterfield, Anacin, RCA. Ethel Merman opens the show with, "There's...
 N/A big show 510506 fred allen, georgie jessell

+ Sponsored by: Anacin, RCA, Canon Towels. The last show of the season. Groucho Marx does a funny d...
 N/A big show 510930 george sanders, bea lillie

+ NBC net, WNBC, New York aircheck. The first show of the season. The program originates from the L...
 N/A big show 520309 richard eatham, joe frisco

+ Sponsored by: Reynolds Aluminum, Chesterfield, Anacin, Dentyne. Fibber McGee and Molly celebrate ...

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This show was Network Radio's last gasp effort at a variety program. It features Tallulah Bankhead as "mistress of ceremonies," with Fred Allen as a regular in support. Great program, with each show packed with guest stars.

BIG SHOW

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Tallulah, star of The Big Show
Welles' participation on the ABC-produced week-long coverage of Sumner Welles' 1945 Peace Conference Forum led to another short, half-hour series hosted by Welles to futher explore the Peace Effort, also over ABC (from April 29 1945 Billboard magazine)
Bill Lear, circa 1950, Inventor, Engineer, and founder of Lear Development, makers of Lear Radios and Wire Recorders.
Orson Welles Almanac spot ad from September 30 1945
The Billboard from September 14 1946 cites a 'shortage of radio parts' as the reason that Lear Radios stopped sponsoring Orson Welles Almanac
The Negro Theatre Unit of The Federal Theatre Project mounted an All-Negro Macbeth set in Haiti, with Welles' direction and quidance.
The finale of All-Negro performance of Macbeth as part of the Works Progress Administration.
The infamous and scurilous Red Channels periodical which served as little more than a commercialized extortion vehicle directed against the alleged communists and fascists the publication compiled from the files of the House Un-American Activities Committee
Lear Radio's Orson Welles Almanac aired over ABC Key Station WJZ during 1946
Welles' 1946 broadcasts were recorded and broadcast over KECA, Hollywood
Orson Welles, ca. 1937
Welles publicity photo, ca. 1939
A Welles sketch for The Mercury Shakespeare book.
Welles rehearses Mercury Theatre for its next play the day after The War of The Worlds broadcast, Oct. 31, 1938
Welles is quizzed by reporters after The War of the Worlds broadcast.
Tall, husky Welles, taking a meeting with a collaborator, ca. 1942
Welles as Lamont Cranston, The Shadow, ca. 1937
Orson Welles, John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson record a BBC broadcast of Sherlock Holmes, ca. 1948
Welles assesses a set for a Stage production, ca. 1972
Welles as The Third Man, walks into the mist, ca. 1949
The Big Show 1950 Premiere over WIBA from Nov. 5 1950
Meredith Wilson and Tallulah Bankhead take bemused direction from baby-faced Director Dee Engelbach (right) during Radio's The Big Show circa 1950
NBC Veep Charles 'Bud' Barry promoted the concept of The Big Show for NBC's Silver Jubilee Year
Tallulah Bankhead paces and smokes while rehearsing with Elthel Merman circa 1951. Bankhead reportedly puffed an estimated 150 cigarettes per day.
The Big Show 1951 Premiere over WIBA from Sep. 30 1951
Anacin sponsored 30 minutes of each The Big Show broadcast
http://www.digitaldeliftp.com/DigitalDeliToo/Images/1950-Ford-Tudor.png
RCA Victor Television sponsored 30 minutes of each The Big Show broadcast
The roll-out of the 1951 Ford was also a participating sponsor for The Big Show
Reynolds Aluminum signed up to sponsor The Big Show in an effort to roll-out their Reynolds Wrap product.
Optimistic Billboard article touting NBC's confidence in Radio and The Big Show from October 28 1950
Billboard magazine announces the premature cancellation of The Big Show from May 24 1951
Talullah Bankhead circa 1929
Femme Fatale age 4
Tallulah Bankhead circa 1934
Tallulah Bankhead circa 1934
Tallulah Bankhead circa 1934v
Tallulah with her real lion cub 'Winston Churchill' a gift to herself while in Reno obtaining her divorce from John Emery
Tallulah Bankhead gets 'watered down' at Hitchcock's direction for her award-winning role in Lifeboat (1944)
Tallulah hobnobs with Ethel Barrymore at a 1950 Hedda Hopper shindig.
In 1951 Tallulah recorded two songs with Jazz pianist Joe Bushkin for Columbia. Of the experience, she observed ''After two song recordings I'm frazzled by my own folly. But there's bouce in us Bankheads. I was up before the bell.''
A life-long Jazz fan Tallulah here knocks off an impromptu rendition of ''Melancholy Baby'' with Louis Armstrong.
Tallulah mugs with three prize-winning Maltese at the 1951 Dog Show at Madison Garden
Tallulah mugs with three prize-winning Maltese at the 1951 Dog Show at Madison Garden
Meredith Wilson and Tallulah Bankhead take bemused direction from baby-faced Director Dee Engelbach (right) during Radio's The Big Show circa 1950
Ronald Colman circa 1917
Gary Cooper
Clive Brook
Clive Brook
Bob hope's show.
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ethel merman
Ed Wynn
Bob Hope
Paul Kelly
Charles Ray
Big Show
Tullah
Meredith Wilson
Robert Cummings, My Living Doll
ROBERT CUMMINGS (1910 – 1990)
Actor Fred Allen
Fred Allen
Big Show 510401 Groucho Marx Bob Hope
Big Show 510429 Jimmy Durante Milton Berle
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Big Show 501231 Vivian Blaine Jose Ferrer
Fred and Portland
Fanny Brice
Bob Hope
Big Show 501203 Fred Allen Phil Silvers
Fred and Portland
Carmen Miranda
Big Show 510930 George Sanders Bea Lillie
Big Show 510225 Jack Haley Paul Kelly
Big Show 510211 Groucho Marx Judy Garland
Fred and Portland Allen
on our 400th episode(!), THE BIG SHOW with Tallulah Bankhead, THE BICKERSONS, and more JACK ARMSTRONG on THE GOLDEN AGE OF RADIO
Big Show
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