Big Top is a children's television show that aired on CBS from July 1, 1950, to 1957. The cast included Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson's future sidekick, as Ed the Clown and America's Most Muscular Man Dan Lurie as "Sealtest Dan The Muscle Man". The program originated live from the 32nd St. and Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia Armory.
The series debuted on July 1, 1950, and ran at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday until September 1950, when it moved to 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Friday, where it remained through January 6, 1951.[1] It then moved to Saturday at noon, where it remained through the end of its run in 1957.