THE BIG SHOW

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 1/21/51 (Live)
NETWORK: NBC
RUNNING TIME: 90 Minutes

The Cast
Fred Allen
Eddie Cantor
Portland Hoffa
Judy Holliday
Gypsy Rose Lee
Vaughn Monroe
Patrice Munsel
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 and Gypsy Rose Lee trade barbs about their radio shows and theatre careers.

SEGMENT #2: Meredith Willson and The Big Show Orchestra & Chorus perform the song "If You Feel Like Singing, Sing"

SEGMENT #3: Tallulah Bankhead introduces Meredith Willson to Gypsy Rose Lee. Willson recounts the story of how he came to buy one of Miss Lee's mystery novels.

SEGMENT #4: Judy Holliday performs a few scenes from Born Yesterday. The scenes are: Billie Dawn meets Senator and Mrs. Hedges, Harry Brock hires Paul Verrall, and Billie Dawn meets Paul Verrall. Martin Blane plays Paul Verrall and Ralph Bell plays Harry Brock. The segment runs 10 minutes.

SEGMENT #5: Tallulah Bankhead talks to Judy Holliday. Click here to read a transcript of their conversation. The segment runs 4 and a half minutes.

SEGMENT #6: Skit - Fred Allen conducts a "radio survey" about Tallulah and The Big Show. Judy Holliday, Portland Hoffa and Gypsy Rose Lee play radio listeners.

SEGMENT #7: Patrice Munsel performs "The Laughing Song" from the opera "Die Fledermaus".

SEGMENT #8: Tallulah Bankhead talks with Patrice Munsel about the Metropolitan Opera and Tallulah's singing style.

SEGMENT #9: Tallulah Bankhead performs the dramatic death scene of "Camille" from "La Traviata".

SEGMENT #10: Judy Holliday meets Patrice Munsel.

SEGMENT #11: Skit - Judy Holliday performs a comic spoof of the same scene Tallulah Bankhead just performed.

SEGMENT #12: Vaughn Monroe performs the song "The Night Is Young and You're So Beautiful"

SEGMENT #13: Tallulah Bankhead talks with Vaughn Monroe.

SEGMENT #14: Tallulah Bankhead talks with Eddie Cantor.

SEGMENT #15: Eddie Cantor sings and performs a comedy routine about the "Good Old Days"

SEGMENT #16: Tallulah Bankhead gives Eddie Cantor's wife advice on how to speak properly.

SEGMENT #17: Skit - The entire cast performs a "Country-Western Opera"

SEGMENT #18: 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.