The Greatest Show on Earth is an American drama series starring Jack Palance about the American circus, which aired on ABC from September 17, 1963, to April 28, 1964. It was produced by Desilu, the production company founded by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Sr. Plot Guest stars Don Ameche John Astin Lucille Ball Edgar Bergen Joan Blondell Patricia Breslin Geraldine Brooks Joe E. Brown Ellen Burstyn Red Buttons Spring Byington Rory Calhoun James Coburn Yvonne De Carlo William Demarest Bruce Dern Brandon deWilde Tony Dow Bill Erwin Stuart Erwin Fabian Nina Foch Anthony Franciosa Annette Funicello Billy Gray Dabbs Greer Dwayne Hickman Dennis Hopper Betty Hutton Buster Keaton Ruby Keeler Russell Johnson Jack Lord Dorothy Malone Ricardo Montalbán Joanna Moore Agnes Moorehead Bill Mumy Barry Nelson Julie Newmar Sheree North Edmond O'Brien Cliff Robertson Ruth Roman Dean Stockwell Russ Tamblyn Russell Thorson Brenda Vaccaro Deborah Walley Tuesday Weld James Whitmore Episodes Reception The Greatest Show on Earth faced competition from two comedy programs on CBS: Petticoat Junction, Bea Benaderet's burgeoning spin-off of The Beverly Hillbillies (which was in its first year of a successful run), and the long-running The Jack Benny Program. NBC aired The Richard Boone Show at the same 9 p.m. Tuesday slot. The series was canceled after one season. References External links 1963 American television series debuts 1964 American television series endings 1960s American drama television series American Broadcasting Company original programming Black-and-white American television shows Circus television shows English-language television shows Television series by CBS Studios Television series by Desilu Productions