The Big Show

Eddie Cantor and Jack Carson

English · Radio, Performing Arts, Humor

The Big Show is a large-scale NBC radio variety program hosted by actress Tallulah Bankhead. Its broadcasts bring together comedy, music, dramatic performances, and guest appearances, with Bankhead serving as the lively center of an ambitious Sunday-night showcase.

The program’s appeal lies in its mix of performers and styles. This broadcast features Eddie Cantor and Jack Carson, whose comic talents contribute to a bill that also draws on the broader variety-show tradition of songs, sketches, and entertainment from a changing roster of guests.

Bankhead’s distinctive, theatrical presence gives the show a playful sense of occasion, while the shifting lineup keeps the listening experience varied. The result is polished, energetic radio variety, moving between comedy and other forms of performance rather than following a single story.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.