Circus Time

{{Short description|American TV variety series (1956–1957)}} {{italic title}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} '''''Circus Time''''' is a variety program presented in the United States by television network ABC on Thursday evenings from October 4, 1956, to June 27, 1957.<ref name="Woolery">{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series |date=1985 |publisher=The Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-1651-2 |pages=120–121}}</ref>

''Circus Time'' was not an actual circus broadcast but rather a circus-themed program, in which both traditional circus acts and more traditional mainstream forms of entertainment were presented. The host, or "ringmaster" in the show's parlance, was ventriloquist Paul Winchell, who was "assisted" by his dummies Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff. Mainstream musical guests appearing on the program at times included; The Diamonds, Mickey and Sylvia,the Dell Vikings and Charlie Gracie.

Martin Stone Associates produced the program. Hartz Mountain Products and Bauer & Black were sponsors.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=January 23, 1957 |page=19 |title='Circus Time' Gets Additional Sponsor |magazine=Variety |url=https://archive.org/details/variety205-1957-01/page/n487/mode/1up?view=theater |accessdate=May 26, 2023}}</ref>

==References== <references/> * Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows''

Category:1956 American television series debuts Category:1957 American television series endings Category:1950s American variety television series Category:American Broadcasting Company original programming Category:American circuses Category:Circus television shows