"Your Show of Shows" (1950) TV series 1950-1954

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Creator:

Sylvester L. Weaver Jr.
(more)

Seasons:

3 | unknown

Release Date:

25 February 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Live, original comedy originally featuring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. Carl Reiner and Howard Morris joined the show later...

Plot Keywords:

Variety | Cult TV

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Imogene Coca	...	Regular Performer (139 episodes, 1950-1954)
Howard Morris	...	Regular Performer (139 episodes, 1950-1954)
Sid Caesar	...	Regular Performer (113 episodes, 1950-1954)
Carl Reiner	...	Regular Performer (113 episodes, 1950-1954)
James Starbuck	...	Regular Performer (111 episodes, 1951-1954)

(more)

Series Directed by
Nat Hiken		(unknown episodes)
Max Liebman		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Mel Brooks		(139 episodes, 1950-1954)
Larry Gelbart		(139 episodes, 1950-1954)
Lucille Kallen		(139 episodes, 1950-1954)
Danny Simon		(139 episodes, 1950-1954)
Neil Simon		(139 episodes, 1950-1954)
Mel Tolkin		(139 episodes, 1950-1954)
Joseph Stein		(unknown episodes)
Sylvester L. Weaver Jr.		(unknown episodes)
Tony Webster		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Max Liebman	....	producer (1 episode, 1950)

Series Original Music by
Irwin Kostal		(unknown episodes)
Johnny Mandel		(unknown episodes)
Alex North		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Frederick Fox		(139 episodes, 1950-1954)

Series Costume Design by
Paul Dupont		(unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Jerry Weiss	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1952)
Bill Hobin	....	camera director (unknown episodes)
Marcia Kuyper	....	assistant camera director (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Clay Warnick	....	choral director (139 episodes, 1950-1954)
Charles Sanford	....	orchestra leader (111 episodes, 1951-1954)
Johnny Green	....	conductor (unknown episodes)
Ralph Hermann	....	music arranger (unknown episodes)
Irwin Kostal	....	conductor (unknown episodes)
Aaron Levine	....	music librarian (unknown episodes)
Max Liebman	....	composer: theme "Stars Over Broadway" (unknown episodes)
Mel Tolkin	....	composer: theme "Stars Over Broadway" (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Hal Janis	....	network liaison (unknown episodes)
Heino Ripp	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
David Tebet	....	press agent (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Max Liebman Productions

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1950-1954) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• New Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Sid Caesar's Show of Shows" (UK) (rerun title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

International Theatre - 5 Columbus Circle, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Max Liebman Productions

Trivia:

In 2000, 137 original scripts from the show were found in a closet in the City Center in Manhattan. The closet had been locked for 40 years.

Movie Connections:

Version of "The Dickie Henderson Half-Hour" (1958)

Soundtrack:

Stars Over Broadway

Simply Unique

To understand why "Your Show of Shows" (YSOS) is so highly regarded, just take a look at the list of the cast and crew. The confluence of all that talent took place at a time when the industry was still being burped on the shoulders of its fathers. But, in retrospect, it was an experiment that worked.

If the episodes don't seem as hilarious today as they did when the show was originally broadcast, it's because so many subsequent programs have absorbed, borrowed and reused elements of YSOS. The brilliant Carl Reiner's "Dick van Dyke Show" was undoubtedly inspired by YSOS, but that's an obvious example, and a classic in its own right.

The strain of putting on a 90-minute live TV show, with the same lead characters in harness week after week, must have drained even the most sturdy contributors.

I recall the last show of the run. Pat Weaver was there to help say good-bye. I had tape-recorded about a dozen programs on a reel-to-reel machine. At least I had those episodes to soften the blow.

Fortunately today episodes aplenty are available for home viewing, and that's something to celebrate.