"The Big Show" employed some of the best writer's in radio at the time and was the longest (time-wise) radio show in a full 90 minutes every Sunday evening. It was the most expensive radio program ever aired by NBC radio at a cost of over $200.000.00 per show. A great deal of money for 1950.
Thanks for this. Mr. Webb got his start on Broadway as a chorus boy, and true never married and lived with his mother -- as to his sexuality, it's pretty well accepted that he was gay, but who cares -- a great actor. He made his talking picture debut in "Laura" -- quite an auspicious debut. As to the comment that Zanuck didn't like Webb's mannerisms -- he used Webb in many 20th Century Fox films, including "The Razor's Edge", where he was re-teamed with Gene Tierney.
"The Big Show" was on NBC Radio and broadcast live from 1950 until 1952 with a total of 57 90 minute episodes, "The Big Show" was probably the longest running (time-wise) show during the Golden Age of Radio. This episode with Tallulah Bankhead and Clifton Webb was on one of the firs episodes and was quite touching, nostalgic and sentimental. It was possibly based on actual circumstances in both of their lives. Jimmy Durante and Charles Boyer also star in this episode with Mindi Carson and Imogene Coco. Tallulah Bankhead and Clifton Webb were very good friends from many years earlier, and this touching nostalgic skit must have been quite a meaningful one with many realities from their pasts for both of them, probably going back to the F. Scott Fitzgerald days of the roaring 1920's when they were much younger. "You can't recapture the past." This skit is quite well done with Clifton Webb calling Tallulah "Tallu", which was a nickname used only by those very close to Tallulah in real life.
I agree with one of the comments here that states we don't have talent like this anymore from Hollywood. All of the greats have gone and we are left with much less. I loved Tallulah and Clifton's acting and saucy sense of humor.
Just from what is said in this conversation with Tallulah Bankhead and Clifton Webb, it becomes clear the great entertainer's of the past were fast fading from the scene.
@Helenem55 Single or asexual doesn't mean homosexual. He may have been, but not marrying is no parameter. Nor is being oddly devoted to one's mother. Regardless he was certainly a gifted actor.
Radio Archives out of Spokane, Washington has restored the first 27 shows (primarily the first season) and they are available in a 5 CD set with direct downloads also available. Radio Archives has also restored this version (which is in the first season of the show's run) and a few others from the second season which are available in crystal clarity in their Archives Treasures series.
The same Spokane, WA where two men were paid MILLIONS of dollars in a DOWNTOWN office to write torture protocols for the CIA that made Even the CIA agents sick to their stomachs when practiced? Amazing!
I just finished the biography of Webb, "Sitting Pretty" -- if you're a fan, like me, I highly recommend the book - 6 of the chapters were penned by Webb before he gave up on his auto-bio. I learned a lot I never knew, including the fact that we was a successful opera singer. Not that it matters, but I always thought he was gay -- reading the book has changed my opinion. The consensus of friends, associates, etc. is that he was not gay. He was in love with several women and almost got married twice.
People have a tendency to think because someone is not married, they are gay. Such is not always the case. Clifton Webb was probably asexual. He was very close to his mother and lived with her until her death, with his own death following not shortly afterward. It was a very close relationship, and one that met the emotional needs of Clifton Webb. He and Tallulah Bankhead were very good friends and it shows on "The Big Show", especially with the nostalgic number they perform with Charles Boyer and Jimmy Durante. It was a nostalgic skit about not being able to bring back the past, which they remember so fondly.@@stuartlee6622
Can someone tell me why, in 2012, we are still speculating about people's personal sexuality when the issue here is talent and one of the greatest (although short-lived) radio shows of all time?
"The Big Show" wasn't really so short lived, as it was" on NBC Radio and broadcast live from 1950 until 1952 with a total of 57 90 minute episodes, All were broadcast from New York except for 3, one from London, one from Paris, and one from Hollywood. "The Big Show" was probably the longest running (time-wise) show in the history of the Golden Age of Radio. Most radio shows during that time period were either 15 to 30 minutes long, with few 1 hour shows. I've yet to find one that ran a full 90 minutes. Yet, "The Big Show" did run for a full 90 minutes in prime time every Sunday evening. Television was looming on the horizon at the time, and "The Big Show" was NBC's last big effort in maintaining a radio audience, but how could any radio program compete with the new medium of television. The last dramatic radio shows from Hollywood ceased broadcasting in 1961. Considering the length of time "The Big Show" was "On the Air", its' length had probably the biggest roster of entertainer's in that 90 minute time slot in the history of radio. "The Big Show" received great critical acclaim, but that little television screen was soon to spell the end of all such radio programming today referred to as the Golden Age of Radio. But, with "The Big Show" airing on radio during its' closing years, it certainly helped Radio Broadcasting to go out in style.
"The Big Show" employed some of the best writer's in radio at the time and was the longest (time-wise) radio show in a full 90 minutes every Sunday evening. It was the most expensive radio program ever aired by NBC radio at a cost of over $200.000.00 per show.
A great deal of money for 1950.
What an unforgettable voice from the most unforgettable character before TV.
Thanks for this. Mr. Webb got his start on Broadway as a chorus boy, and true never married and lived with his mother -- as to his sexuality, it's pretty well accepted that he was gay, but who cares -- a great actor. He made his talking picture debut in "Laura" -- quite an auspicious debut. As to the comment that Zanuck didn't like Webb's mannerisms -- he used Webb in many 20th Century Fox films, including "The Razor's Edge", where he was re-teamed with Gene Tierney.
"Don't play the startled fawn dear"
"The Big Show" was on NBC Radio and broadcast live from 1950 until 1952 with a total of 57 90 minute episodes, "The Big Show" was probably the longest running (time-wise) show during the Golden Age of Radio. This episode with Tallulah Bankhead and Clifton Webb was on one of the firs episodes and was quite touching, nostalgic and sentimental. It was possibly based on actual circumstances in both of their lives.
Jimmy Durante and Charles Boyer also star in this episode with Mindi Carson and Imogene Coco.
Tallulah Bankhead and Clifton Webb were very good friends from many years earlier, and this touching nostalgic skit must have been quite a meaningful one with many realities from their pasts for both of them, probably going back to the F. Scott Fitzgerald days of the roaring 1920's when they were much younger.
"You can't recapture the past." This skit is quite well done with Clifton Webb calling Tallulah "Tallu", which was a nickname used only by those very close to Tallulah in real life.
I agree with one of the comments here that states we don't have talent like this anymore from Hollywood. All of the greats have gone and we are left with much less. I loved Tallulah and Clifton's acting and saucy sense of humor.
So true. These were two of the greats.
I loved Clifton Webb, I was 13 when he died and I cried.
Just from what is said in this conversation with Tallulah Bankhead and Clifton Webb, it becomes clear the great entertainer's of the past were fast fading from the scene.
Talent! That's what we have here!
Superb! He was my stage hero’s, chief influence. So in a way I suppose he is my professional grandfather!! Lol these two are just lovely!!
she soooo outed him lol !!!!
This reminds you of what clever repartee used to be. Today we have Leno and Letterman. Not quite the same.
@Helenem55 Single or asexual doesn't mean homosexual. He may have been, but not marrying is no parameter. Nor is being oddly devoted to one's mother. Regardless he was certainly a gifted actor.
Radio Archives out of Spokane, Washington has restored the first 27 shows (primarily the first season) and they are available in a 5 CD set with direct downloads also available. Radio Archives has also restored this version (which is in the first season of the show's run) and a few others from the second season which are available in crystal clarity in their Archives Treasures series.
Thank you for the information. Very clear and helpful.
The same Spokane, WA where two men were paid MILLIONS of dollars in a DOWNTOWN office to write torture protocols for the CIA that made Even the CIA agents sick to their stomachs when practiced? Amazing!
thanks from N Z
I adore them both. So bitchy, funny and elegant. They are my personal saints. I wish America entertainment today had 1/10th of their class.
They did not lack for wit.
I just finished the biography of Webb, "Sitting Pretty" -- if you're a fan, like me, I highly recommend the book - 6 of the chapters were penned by Webb before he gave up on his auto-bio. I learned a lot I never knew, including the fact that we was a successful opera singer. Not that it matters, but I always thought he was gay -- reading the book has changed my opinion. The consensus of friends, associates, etc. is that he was not gay. He was in love with several women and almost got married twice.
And you believed every word
People have a tendency to think because someone is not married, they are gay. Such is not always the case. Clifton Webb was probably asexual. He was very close to his mother and lived with her until her death, with his own death following not shortly afterward. It was a very close relationship, and one that met the emotional needs of Clifton Webb. He and Tallulah Bankhead were very good friends and it shows on "The Big Show", especially with the nostalgic number they perform with Charles Boyer and Jimmy Durante. It was a nostalgic skit about not being able to bring back the past, which they remember so fondly.@@stuartlee6622
@@stuartlee6622 why do you care if it's lies or truth, or if he believes it or not-- how does it affect your life ?
Maybe he never met someone he loved. Some people, believe it or not, do not live for sex.
NO !
Can someone tell me why, in 2012, we are still speculating about people's personal sexuality when the issue here is talent and one of the greatest (although short-lived) radio shows of all time?
"The Big Show" wasn't really so short lived, as it was" on NBC Radio and broadcast live from 1950 until 1952 with a total of 57 90 minute episodes, All were broadcast from New York except for 3, one from London, one from Paris, and one from Hollywood.
"The Big Show" was probably the longest running (time-wise) show in the history of the Golden Age of Radio. Most radio shows during that time period were either 15 to 30 minutes long, with few 1 hour shows. I've yet to find one that ran a full 90 minutes. Yet, "The Big Show" did run for a full 90 minutes in prime time every Sunday evening. Television was looming on the horizon at the time, and "The Big Show" was NBC's last big effort in maintaining a radio audience, but how could any radio program compete with the new medium of television. The last dramatic radio shows from Hollywood ceased broadcasting in 1961.
Considering the length of time "The Big Show" was "On the Air", its' length had probably the biggest roster of entertainer's in that 90 minute time slot in the history of radio. "The Big Show" received great critical acclaim, but that little television screen was soon to spell the end of all such radio programming today referred to as the Golden Age of Radio.
But, with "The Big Show" airing on radio during its' closing years, it certainly helped Radio Broadcasting to go out in style.
Glad to see/read a note of sanity! Length of radio show Not an issue!
When Eccentricity Was High Art
"Yankee writers"!