The Bigelow Show

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The Bigelow Show is an American television variety program that was broadcast on NBC October 14, 1948 - July 7, 1949, and on CBS October 5, 1949 - December 28, 1949. [1]

Contents

Overview

Ventriloquist Paul Winchell was host of the program, which featured mentalist Joseph Dunninger. [1] Winchell and his dummy, Jerry Mahoney, provided comedy; Dunninger performed mind-reading acts with guests who were sometimes at sites away from the studio. [2] He also did mind-reading acts with people in the studio audience, "always with a noted personality present to judge the honesty of the performance." [3] He offered to pay $10,000 to anyone who could prove that he read minds with assistance from an accomplice. [3] Guests included:

On October 28, 1949, Winchell and Dunninger took the show to Camden, New Jersey, for a two-hour production that included all of the TV show's features. The presentation raised money for a fund that provided activities for underprivileged children in the Camden area. [7]

Production

The producing agency was Young & Rubicam, Inc., with Frank Telford as the producer and Preston Wood as the director. [8] Dan Seymour was the announcer. Music was recorded. [9] The sponsor was Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Company. [7] . On NBC The Bigelow Show was broadcast on Thursdays from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time. [3] Its competition included Actors Studio on ABC. The trade publication Billboard reported in May 1949 that after NBC's 8-8:30 program was canceled, the three shows that followed it "were said to be insecure", but the Bigelow program seemed stronger than the others. [10] When the program moved to CBS, it was on Wednesdays from 9 to 9:30 p.m. E. T. [3]

Critical response

A review of the premiere episode in the trade publication Variety indicated that aspects of production needed to be improved for the show to achieve its potential. The review praised the talents of Winchell and Dunninger, but it said that use of better staging and better sets would have resulted in a better program. "Sets for both the stars", it said, "comprised merely unattractive drapery backdrops and a couple of tables and chairs tossed together." [11] The review also said that Dunninger's act "left too much room for skepticism" despite the reward offered to anyone who might prove that he had cheated. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 97. ISBN   0-14-02-4916-8.
  2. 1 2 "Radio and Television; Billy Rose Will Be the Subject of Dunninger on Video Premiere on NBC Thursday" . The New York Times. October 11, 1948. p. 46. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 103. ISBN   0-345-42923-0.
  4. ↑ "Dunninger Will Try to Read Mind Of Congressman" . Buffalo Evening News. June 9, 1949. p. 2. Retrieved December 14, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Sister Kenny Appears Tonight On WBEN-TV" . Buffalo Evening News. October 28, 1949. p. 31. Retrieved December 14, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Boxing, wrestling prelims, football top full TV week" . Buffalo Evening News. October 10, 1949. p. 4. Retrieved December 14, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "'Bigelow Show' Billed In Camden Oct. 28 to Aid Under-Privileged" . Courier-Post. New Jersey, Camden. September 20, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved December 14, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Add Comedy-Variety". Ross Reports. October 23, 1949. p. 7. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  9. ↑ "NBC". Ross Reports. March 4, 1949. p. 3. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  10. ↑ "NBC Thurs. TV Sked Shaky, With 3 Shows Held Insecure". Billboard. May 28, 1949. p. 11. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Bigelow Show". Variety. October 20, 1948. p. 26. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
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