Your Show of Shows 3/4" Tapes Collection

Collection

Identifier: ACC-MSS 022

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes 289 ¾” U-Matic videocassette tapes (dubbed from the original reels in the 1990s) containing most episodes from all five seasons of the United States variety show Your Show of Shows (1950-1954) and the compilation film Ten From Your Show of Shows (1973). The series was created by Max Liebman and starred comedians Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca, with regularly featured comedic performers including: Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, and Bill Hayes. Musical regulars include: Jack Russell, Judy Johnson, and Marguerite Piazza. Notable performers represented in the collection include: musician Nat King Cole, Russian ballerina Tamara Toumanova in her television debut, singer-actress Eartha Kitt, ballerina Alicia Markova, Native American ballerina Maria Tallchief (who is considered America's first major prima ballerina), and television host Faye Emerson. Notable actor and comedian guest hosts include: Charlton Heston, Angela Lansbury, Burgess Meredith, Rex Harrison, Rudy Vallee, Jack Carson, Robert Cummings, Arlene Francis, Henry Morgan, Fred Allen, Patrice Munsel, Robert Preston, Herb Shriner, Robert Merrill, Dave Garroway, Dennis O'Keefe, Eddie Albert, and Jayne Meadows.

An individual episode is contained within two tapes (generally one 60-minute tape and one 30-minute tape), marked “1 of 2” or “2 of 2.” Some episodes are incomplete and therefore missing a first or second tape. At least fourteen episodes from the series are missing entirely from this collection. The creation date, if available, indicates the date the tape was physically dubbed.

Dates

Broadcast: 1950-03-04 - 1954-06-05
Creation: 1992-08-06 - 1998-05-29
Other: Release of Ten from Your Show of Shows (Motion picture): 1973

Creator

Liebman, Max, 1902-1981 (Television producer, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

At least part of this collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holders. You may need to obtain other permissions for your intended use, such as those related to privacy, publicity, and moral rights. For questions about this statement please contact the Emerson College Archives and Special Collections.

Biographical / Historical

Your Show of Shows was a 90-minute, live, variety show that was televised weekly (for the fifth season, three out of every four weeks) on NBC in the United States from February 25, 1950 to June 5, 1954, for a total of approximately 156 episodes. The show was produced and directed by Max Liebman (whose heir gifted this collection), and starred comedians Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, and Carl Reiner. Notable writers include Mel Brooks (Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, The Producers) and Neil Simon (Biloxi Blues, The Odd Couple, Brighton Beach Memoirs).

Variety shows developed from vaudeville, the most popular form of performing arts entertainment in the United States before the advent of television. The vaudeville format was already familiar to audiences, and performances could be adapted easily to the variety show format. Additionally, the shows could be shot live with inexpensive sets (saving money and time on post-production). While, as a variety show, Your Show of Shows incorporated musical acts and performances from opera to ballet, it is most notable for its comedy sketches. Your Show of Shows is considered historically significant for aiding the evolution of the variety show genre through incorporating sketches that could be considered sitcoms, introducing more narrative structure than was seen in other variety shows of the time.

The show, which won the Emmy Award for Best Variety Show in 1952 and 1953, and received nominations in 1951 and 1954, is considered among the most influential in the era of early, live television comedy. The New York Times credits Your Show of Shows as a “precursor to such hits as That Was the Week That Was and Saturday Night Live,” noting that its popularity impacted Broadway musical attendance on Saturday nights. It has ranked in several lists of best television shows of all time, including those compiled by TV Guide, Time Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and the Writers Guild of America. It spawned two successor programs: Caesar’s Hour (1954-1957), starring Sid Caesar and written by Larry Gelbart (creator of M*A*S*H) and Woody Allen (Annie Hall, Manhattan); and the short-lived Imogene Coca Show (1954-1955). Writer Carl Reiner credited Your Show of Shows as the inspiration for The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966); Mel Brooks says the show inspired his 1982 movie My Favorite Year; Neil Simon’s experience on the show inspired his 1993 play Laughter on the 23rd Floor.

The following articles were consulted to write the biographical and historical notes: Collins, G. (2000, November 14). Mother lode of TV comedy is found in forgotten closet. The New York Times.

Greenspun, R. (1973, February 24). Screen: 'Show of Shows.' The New York Times.

Max Liebman, TV producer, is dead. (1981, July 24). The New York Times.