''Big Top'' is a children's

television show A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed betw ...

that aired on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

from July 1, 1950, to 1957. The cast included

Ed McMahon Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. (March 6, 1923 – June 23, 2009) was an American announcer, game show host, comedian, actor, singer, and combat aviator. McMahon and Johnny Carson began their association in their first TV series, the ABC game sh ...

Johnny Carson John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host, comedian, writer and producer. He is best known as the host of ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' (1962–1992). Carson received six Pr ...

's future sidekick, as Ed the Clown and America's Most Muscular Man

Dan Lurie Dan Lurie (April 1, 1923 – November 6, 2013) was an American bodybuilder, television personality, entrepreneur, and world record holder. He was regarded as a pioneer in physical fitness and a founding father of bodybuilding. Lurie had won the ...

as "Sealtest Dan The Muscle Man". The program originated live from the 32nd St. and Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia Armory. The series debuted on July 1, 1950, and ran at 7:00 p.m.

Eastern Time The Eastern Time Zone (ET) is a time zone encompassing part or all of 23 states in the eastern part of the United States, parts of eastern Canada, the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico, Panama, Colombia, mainland Ecuador, Peru, and a small port ...

on Friday until September 1950, when it moved to 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday, where it remained through January 6, 1951.Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, ''The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (Sixth Edition)'', New York: Ballantine Books, 1995, , p. 106. It then moved to Saturday at noon, where it remained through the end of its run in 1957.

References

External links

* 1950s American children's television series 1950 American television series debuts 1957 American television series endings American live television series CBS original programming Circus television shows Television shows set in New Jersey {{US-child-tv-prog-stub