The Big Show - Episode 6
Goodman Ace
As the 1950s dawned America was a colossus militarily, economically and culturally. It bestrode a globe it was doing so much to shape in its own image. But it had concerns; the threat of communism. And for the Movies and Radio there was another concern: the emerging rise of Television.
For Radio, still in its golden age of mass audiences and star filled programmes, they had a handy solution with ‘The Big Show’. Its premise was simple but effective. Take 90 minutes of air-time and fill it with the stars of stage, screen and radio doing comedy sketches, drama extracts and musical numbers.
It sounds simple enough and aided by a huge budget from NBC it was a success, staffed by the best writers and technical team in the business.
Hosted by Tallulah Bankhead, with her sharp and acidic wit and her brilliance at ad-libbing ‘The Big Show’ was big entertainment with big stars for a big audience.
Author - Goodman Ace.
Narrator - Clifton Webb.
Published Date - Tuesday, 31 January 2023.
Location:
United States
Description:
As the 1950s dawned America was a colossus militarily, economically and culturally. It bestrode a globe it was doing so much to shape in its own image. But it had concerns; the threat of communism. And for the Movies and Radio there was another concern: the emerging rise of Television. For Radio, still in its golden age of mass audiences and star filled programmes, they had a handy solution with ‘The Big Show’. Its premise was simple but effective. Take 90 minutes of air-time and fill it with the stars of stage, screen and radio doing comedy sketches, drama extracts and musical numbers. It sounds simple enough and aided by a huge budget from NBC it was a success, staffed by the best writers and technical team in the business. Hosted by Tallulah Bankhead, with her sharp and acidic wit and her brilliance at ad-libbing ‘The Big Show’ was big entertainment with big stars for a big audience. Author - Goodman Ace. Narrator - Clifton Webb. Published Date - Tuesday, 31 January 2023.
Language:
English
Chapter 1
Duration:01:29:43