THE BIG SHOW

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 2/4/51 (Live)
NETWORK: NBC
RUNNING TIME: 90 Minutes

The Cast
Fred Allen
Robert Cummings
Laraine Day
Jimmy Durante
Leo Durocher
Portland Hoffa
Judy Holliday
Frankie Laine
Jane Pickens
Meredith Willson and The Big Show Orchestra & Chorus
Tallulah Bankhead (Host)

Click here to listen to excerpts from this program

Show Format

SEGMENT #1: Tallulah Bankhead talks baseball and acting with Leo Durocher and his wife Laraine Day.

SEGMENT #2: Portland Hoffa makes her presence known to Tallulah Bankhead.

SEGMENT #3: Meredith Willson and The Big Show & Chorus perform the song "The New Ashmolean Marching Society and Students Observatory Band" from the Broadway show "We're Sorry".

SEGMENT #4: Judy Holliday performs a scene from Born Yesterday. The scene is where Harry Brock sits in on Bille Dawn's tutoring session with Paul Verrall. Martin Blane plays Paul Verrall and Ralph Bell plays Harry Brock. The segment runs 6 and a half minutes.

SEGMENT #5: Tallulah Bankhead talks to Judy Holliday. Click here to read a transcript of their conversation. The segment runs 5 minutes.

SEGMENT #6: Tallulah Bankhead talks with Robert Cummings about Hollywood parties and Broadway shows. Judy Holliday advises Tallulah how to attract Mr. Cummings.

SEGMENT #7: Skit - Fred Allen tells Tallulah Bankhead about his new job as a "junior executive" at a local movie theater. Robert Cummings plays Allen's boss. Portland Hoffa, Leo Durocher, Laraine Day and Judy Holliday play customers.

SEGMENT #8: Frankie Laine performs the song "Sunny Side of the Street".

SEGMENT #9: Tallulah Bankhead talks with Frankie Laine about Tallulah's latest recording.

SEGMENT #10: Jane Pickens performs the song "I Can't Give You Anything But Love".

SEGMENT #11: Fred Allen instigates an argument between Tallulah Bankhead and Jane Pickens.

SEGMENT #12: Tallaluh Bankhead talks to Jimmy Durante about his new health regimen. Durante also sings a song.

SEGMENT #13: Tallulah Bankhead and Robert Cummings perform a scene from Noel Coward's "Private Lives".

SEGMENT #14: Skit - Judy Holliday and Jimmy Durante perform a comic spoof of the same scene that Bankhead and Cummings just did.

SEGMENT #15: Tallulah Bankhead, Meredith Willson and The Big Show Orchestra & Chorus perform the song "Easter Time".

SEGMENT #16: The entire cast take turns singing the verses of the show's closing theme song, "May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You"

Show Credits*

Produced and Directed by Dee Engelbach

Written by Goodman Ace, Selma Diamond, George Foster, Mort Greene and Frank Wilson

Announcer Ed Herlihy

*Credits were announced only on a time permitting basis. These are general credits for the radio series "The Big Show" and may have differed from week to week.