''This Is Show Business'' is an American variety television program that was broadcast first 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 ...

and later on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

beginning July 15, 1949, and ending September 11, 1956. It was CBS-TV's first regular series broadcast live from coast to coast. It was originally titled ''This Is Broadway''.

Early years

''This Is Broadway'' debuted on May 11, 1949, on CBS radio, and on July 15, 1949, CBS began a simulcast of the show on its TV network. Irving Mansfield created and produced it and Byron Paul was the director. Like a variety show, it featured entertainment by performers (some established and some new). It also featured a panel whose regular members,

Abe Burrows Abe Burrows (born Abram Solman Borowitz; December 18, 1910 – May 17, 1985) was an American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage. He won a Tony Award and was selected for two Pulitzer Prizes, only one of which was awarded. Ear ...

and

George S. Kaufman George Simon Kaufman (November 16, 1889June 2, 1961) was an American playwright, theater director and producer, humorist, and drama critic. In addition to comedies and political satire, he wrote several musicals for the Marx Brothers and other ...

, were joined by a different guest each week.

Clifton Fadiman Clifton Paul "Kip" Fadiman (May 15, 1904 – June 20, 1999) was an American intellectual, author, editor, radio and television personality. He began his work with the radio, and switched to television later in his career. Background Born in Br ...

was the host. In addition to performing, artists were supposed to discuss with the panel any show-business-related problems that they had encountered. The discussion aspect sometimes provided difficult when the performers felt that they had no problems to discuss. Bern Bennett was the announcer, and

Ray Bloch Raymond Arthur Bloch (August 3, 1902 – March 29, 1982) Career During the 1920s, he performed with small groups on piano and also conducted ballroom bands. Later in the decade he began appearing as a pianist on radio stations. He began working as ...

and his orchestra provided music, Beginning on July 8, 1949, the program moved from its original 9:30-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesdays slot to 9-10 p.m. E.T. on Fridays. Changes came on October 6, 1949, as the Crosley corporation began sponsoring the show. The schedule also changed again, with the show alternating with ''Inside U.S.A.'' on Thursdays, 8:30-9 p.m. E.T. Crosley ended its sponsorship on March 26, 1950. A review of ''This Is Broadway'' In ''Radio Best'' magazine's October 1949 issue said, "Here is a show that started slowly, but built. As of end of summer, it is one of the outstanding variety pieces on the radio side of the dial." It noted that earlier difficulties, primarily presenting guests who really had no problems with which they needed help, had been resolved. In September 1951. ''This Is Show Business'' became CBS's first regular series to be broadcast live coast-to-coast.

Kaufman's dismissal and return

On the December 21, 1952, episode, Kaufman commented, "Let's make this one program on which no one sings 'Silent Night'." Protesting listeners began calling CBS before the episode ended, and letters of complaint went to the sponsor,

American Tobacco Company The American Tobacco Company was a tobacco company founded in 1890 by J. B. Duke through a merger between a number of U.S. tobacco manufacturers including Allen and Ginter and Goodwin & Company. The company was one of the original 12 members ...

, and to CBS in the days that followed. CBS officials responded by asking Kaufman not to return for the three remaining episodes (all that were scheduled at that time). Sources close to the program said that several hundred complaints came in, some of which contained threats to boycott the sponsor if Kaufman did not leave. Kaufman explained that his comment was anti-commercialism, rather than anti-religious, saying, "I was merely speaking out against the use and overuse of this Christmas carol in connection with the sale of commercial products." His dismissal resulted in other protests by people who opposed his being removed from the show, Among them was the Rev. Dr. Truman B. Douglass, chairman of the National Council of Churches' Broadcasting and Film Commission. In a letter to William S. Paley, chairman of the board of CBS, Douglass wrote that what Kaufman said was "more expressive of religious sensitiveness than of any spirit of derision." He added, "The real sacrilege is the merciless repetition of 'Silent Night' and similar Christian hymns by crooners, hillbillies, dance bands and other musical barbarians." American Tobacco Company's sponsorship of ''This Is Show Business'' ended on January 18, 1953, and Kaufman returned as a panelist on January 24, when the program became sustaining. Steve Allen filled in for Kaufman on the remaining sponsored program.

1956

''This Is Show Business'' returned to TV on June 19, 1956, on NBC with Fadiman as host and a panel made up

Dave Garroway David Cunningham Garroway (July 13, 1913 – July 21, 1982) was an American television personality. He was the founding host and anchor of NBC's ''Today'' from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing and relaxing style belied a lifelong battle with depressi ...

Lillian Roth Lillian Roth (December 13, 1910 – May 12, 1980) was an American singer and actress. Her life story was told in the 1955 film '' I'll Cry Tomorrow'', in which she was portrayed by Susan Hayward, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best ...

, and

Walter Slezak Walter Slezak (; 3 May 1902 – 21 April 1983) was an Austrian-born film and stage actor active between 1922 and 1976. He mainly appeared in German films before migrating to the United States in 1930 and performing in numerous Hollywood producti ...

. The format's components were performances by three acts and questions posed by the artists to the panelists. The program's addition to the NBC schedule was announced on June 11, accompanying an announcement of cancellation of plans for a musical program that would have featured

Paul Whiteman Paul Samuel Whiteman (March 28, 1890 – December 29, 1967) was an American bandleader, composer, orchestral director, and violinist. As the leader of one of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s and early 1930s, W ...

. The Hazel Bishop cosmetics company, which would have sponsored the Whiteman program, became the sponsor of ''This Is Show Business''. Mansfield was the producer.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:This Is Show Business 1949 American television series debuts 1949 radio programme debuts 1940s American radio programs 1940s American television series 1950s American television series American live television series American variety radio series Black-and-white television shows CBS original programming CBS Radio programs English-language television shows NBC original programming Radio programs adapted into television shows