Bringing the magic of the circus into living rooms around the country each week, Ringmaster Jack Sterling hosted The Big Top, a collection of trapeze artists, acrobatics and other spectacular circus acts - all broadcast live from Camden, New Jersey.

The Big Top was the largest live television productions ever assembled when it debuted in 1950 - boasting a crew of over 300 people, a full orchestra, led by Joe Basile, and an army of clowns, led by future Tonight Show sidekick, Ed McMahon ( cleverly disguised by heavy makeup and a big red nose, of course.)  Each week, the show would spotlight six or seven different circus acts including lion tamers, knife throwers, and high-wire walkers.

For the first six months, the show was broadcast in prime time, but for the remainder of its seven-year run, it would remain a Saturday morning staple – allowing people to start their weekend with a good dose of circus fun each and every week.