The Big Show was a sophisticated radio variety program that aired on NBC from November 5, 1950, to April 20, 1952. It featured 90 minutes of comic, stage, screen, and music talent and was hosted by stage actress Tallulah Bankhead. The show aimed to keep radio competitive against the growing television industry by attracting an impressive lineup of famous guests and investing a considerable budget into each episode. The Big Show featured top talents of the time such as Fred Allen, Jimmy Durante, Groucho Marx, Ethel Merman, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, and Frank Sinatra, among many others. Yet despite the show's high quality, NBC canceled it after two seasons due to financial losses and difficulties in attracting more advertisers.