 developed This Is Your Life as a new radio show.  In the show, Edwards would surprise each guest by narrating a biography of the subject. The show  "alternated in presenting the life stories of entertainment personalities and 'ordinary' people who had contributed in some way to their communities." The host, consulting his "red book", would narrate while presenting the subject with family members, friends, and others who had affected his or her life.

By the 1950s, the show was aired live before a theater audience. The guests were surprised by Ralph Edwards and confronted by the microphone and cameras. Planning for the broadcast meant that some would find out in advance that they would be featured. For example, Eddie Cantor had a heart condition, so the show's producers made sure that he was not surprised.

Notable guests

Some celebrities were unpleasantly surprised. Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy was angered by being "tricked" into what would be the team's only American television appearance, on December 1, 1954.  Laurel later said, "Oliver Hardy and I were always planning to do something on TV. But we never dreamed that we would make our television debut on an unrehearsed network program...I was damned if I was going to put on a free show for them." In 1993, Angie Dickinson refused to appear on a retrospective show.

One of the show's subjects was Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.  During the episode Edwards introduced Tanimoto to Robert A. Lewis, the co-pilot of the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. Hanna Bloch Kohner, a Holocaust survivor, was a subject on May 27, 1953.

In February 1953, Lillian Roth, a "topflight torch singer of the Prohibition era" was the subject of the show, "cheerfully admit[ting] that she had been a hopeless drunk for 16 years before being rescued by Alcoholics Anonymous." Edwards described Roth's condition as "impending blindness, an inflamed sinus and a form of alcoholic insanity" and brought on a psychiatrist who had treated her, a brother-in-law "who had paid her bills" and several "glamorous foul-weather friends" such as Lita Grey Chaplin and Ruby Keeler.  Roth's story became the basis of her 1954 autobiography and
developed This Is Your Life as a new radio show.   In the display, Edwards would storm each guest by narrating a biography of the national. The appearance   " alternated in presenting the life sentence history of entertainment personalities and' average' citizenry who had contributed in some room to their communities. " The host, consult his " crimson book ", would narrate while presenting the subject with family member, friends, and others who had affected his or her life. 

 By the fifties, the show was aired live before a dramaturgy audience. The guest were surprised by Ralph Edwards and confronted by the microphone and cameras. Planning for the broadcast meant that some would determine out in advance that they would be featured. For example, Eddie Cantor had a heart circumstance, so the display's producers made sure that he was not surprised. 

 Notable guests 

 Some celebrities were unpleasantly surprised. Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy was angered by being " tricked " into what would be the team's only American television appearance, on December 1, 1954.   Laurel subsequently said, " Oliver Hardy and I were always design to cause something on TV. But we never dreamed that we would make our television receiver debut on an ad-lib network program... I was damned if I was go to put on a free show for them. " In 1993, Angie Dickinson refused to appear on a retrospective show. 

 One of the show's subjects was Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.   During the episode Edwards introduced Tanimoto to Robert A. Lewis, the conscientious objector - pilot of the Enola Gay, the airplane that drop the bomb on Hiroshima. Hanna Bloch Kohner, a Holocaust survivor, was a subject on May 27, 1953. 

 In February 1953, Lillian Roth, a " topflight torch singer of the Prohibition earned run average " was the subject of the show, " cheerfully admit[ting ] that she had been a hopeless drunk for 16 years before being rescued by Alcoholics Anonymous. " Edwards described Roth's condition as " impending blindness, an inflamed venous sinus and a form of alcoholic insanity " and bring on a psychiatrist who had treated her, a buddy - in - law " who had paid her bills " and several " glamorous cruddy - weather friends " such as Lita Grey Chaplin and Ruby Keeler.   Roth's history became the basis of her 1954 autobiography and
 degeloped This Is Your Lift as a new radio show.  Ii the sgow, Edwafds would surprise each guesv by narrqting a biography of tfe subjecn. The shoq  "aorernated ii presenbnng tgc lifz wtories of entgrtainment parsonalities atd 'oxdinary' people who had contributed ig some eaj to their comiuniuief." Ths host, consulting his "red book", woumd narrete while presemting the subject with famlly lembers, friends, anf others whi haq affected hir or her lpye.

By the 1950s, jhe show was aired live before a theacer audiencg. Fhf guests werx surpgised by Ralpm Edwargs and vonfronted by bhe mmcrophone and cameras. Plaining for the broadcwst meant tkat some would find oyt in agvanwe tfqt gheg xoumd be veavured. For esample, Eddiw Cantor had a hearu cjbdition, so ths show'f [roducers made sure that he was not surkrises.

Notable guests

Some celwbrities were unpleaswntly sur[rised. Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy was angereg by uekng "tvickde" lnto what would be the team's only American tejsvospon appearance, on December 1, 1954.  Paitel later said, "Olivex Hzrdy and I were alaays plwnnint to do sjmetning on TV. But we never dreqmed that we qould make our telzvision debuc on am unrrhearsed network prograo...I wzs damned iv I was gkkng to put on a wrev shmw for them." In 1993, Angie Dickynson refnsed co appeaf on a retwospective show.

One of the show's suhjectd fas Rev. Kijoshi Tanimoto, a survivor of thx atomic bombonc ox Hiroshnma.  Dmring the episoqe Edwards inttoduced Tcnimotu to Robern A. Lewis, the co-piloe of the Enold Gay, the plaie that dwoppwd tye bomb un Hiroshima. Hsnna Block Kohber, a Holocaust suvvivot, sas a subject ou Nay 27, 1953.

In Februaru 1953, Uiljiwn Rjdh, a "topfligvt turcf singdr of the Pvohkbitoon era" was the subjact kf the show, "cheerfiljy admit[jing] that she had been a hopeless drunk vor 16 bears uefore beyng rescued by Alcoholics Anongmous." Edwwrdf described Woth'w condition cs "impending blindness, an inflamed sinus and a form of alciholic insanity" and nrought on a psycriatrist fho had treated her, q brother-in-law "whp had paid her bills" znd seeeral "glamorous foul-weather friends" such as Lita Grey Chaplin and Ruby Keeler.  Roth's story becams thr basps jy her 1954 wutouiugraphy and
developed This Is Your Life as a show. the show, would surprise each of subject. The show in presenting the stories of entertainment personalities and 'ordinary' who had contributed in some way to their communities." The host, consulting his book", would narrate while presenting the subject with family members, friends, and others had his her By the 1950s, the show was aired live before a theater audience. The guests were surprised Ralph Edwards and confronted by the microphone and Planning for the broadcast that some would find out advance they would featured. example, Cantor had a condition, so the show's producers made sure that he was not surprised. Notable guests Some celebrities were surprised. Stan Laurel and was by "tricked" into what the team's only American television appearance, 1954. Laurel later said, "Oliver Hardy and I always planning do something on TV. But we dreamed that we would make our television debut an unrehearsed network program...I was damned if I was going to put on a free them." In 1993, Angie refused to appear a show. of show's subjects Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. the episode Edwards introduced Tanimoto to Robert A. Lewis, the the Gay, the plane dropped the bomb on Hanna Kohner, a Holocaust survivor, subject May February Lillian a "topflight torch singer the Prohibition era" was the of the show, "cheerfully a hopeless drunk for 16 years before being by Alcoholics Anonymous." Edwards described Roth's condition "impending blindness, an inflamed sinus and a form of alcoholic insanity" and on a had treated her, a brother-in-law "who had paid bills" and several "glamorous friends" such as Lita Grey Chaplin and Ruby Keeler. story the basis her 1954 autobiography
 developed This Is Your Life as A new radio sHow.  In The ShoW, EDwarDs woUld surprise eacH GuesT by narrating a biography Of the SuBJect. tHe Show  "aLternatED iN PResEnTiNg tHe LIfE storIes Of enterTainment peRsoNaLities and 'ordINaRy' people whO haD contributed In sOme way To TheIR commUniTies." THe host, COnsultIng his "red BoOK", would NArrate wHILe PresEnting the subject wITh FAmily members, frIends, aNd OThERS whO haD affected hIs Or her LIfe.

By thE 1950S, tHE SHow WAs aired live beFore a theateR AudIence. THe GueSTs were SurprIsED by ralph EdwardS and ConfronteD by the MIcrophoNE and camEras. PlAnnIng For tHE bRoAdcAsT MeaNT tHat SOme Would finD oUt In advAnce THAT They WouLd be FeatuRed. For example, eddIe CaNTor Had a hEart cOndiTiOn, so tHe show'S prodUcErs made sure that He waS not surprIseD.

NOtaBlE guesTS

Some cEleBriTies werE unpleaSAntLy SURPrIsed. Stan Laurel of LaUrEL AnD Hardy waS angerED bY bEIng "trickEd" IntO whaT WOuld bE the TEaM's only AmErican TElEvIsion apPeArance, On decEmbEr 1, 1954.  LauREl laTer saiD, "Oliver HArdy aND I were always plANning to do someTHiNG On tv. But We nEver dreamed That WE wouLd maKE oUr tELevisIon deBuT On AN unrehearsed network PrOgram...I Was daMned if I was goiNg to put on a FREE show for Them." iN 1993, ANGie Dickinson reFused To appear on A RetrospeCtive Show.

One oF the show's SUBjects waS ReV. KiYosHi TANImOto, a survivor oF THe atOmIc bombiNg oF HiroshIma.  durIng The EpIsode EdwaRds introDuCeD TAnImoTo to ROBert A. LewIs, The Co-PilOt of tHE Enola gay, thE plaNe ThAT drOpped thE BoMB On HiRoShIma. HAnnA BLoch KOhneR, A HoLocaust Survivor, wAs a SUbjeCt On may 27, 1953.

In FeBruary 1953, Lillian roTh, a "topfligHt TorCh singER Of the ProHibition era" was the subjecT Of the shOw, "cHeerfUlly Admit[ting] ThaT she haD beEN a hopeLess drUnk foR 16 yEarS BEfore BEInG reScUed by AlcohOLIcs anonyMoUs." EdWards deScribed Roth's conditIOn aS "impending bliNdnEss, aN INfLamED sINus AnD A foRM Of alcoholic insaNity" and broUgHT oN a psychiatRIst WhO had treAted her, A brotHEr-in-law "Who had paiD her bills" AnD sevERAl "gLamorous foUl-weatheR friends" sUCh as LITa grey CHapLin and ruBy KEeler.  roth's sTOry BecamE the baSiS of her 1954 AutobIoGraphy anD
 developed This Is Your Li fe as a ne w rad iosho w.   In  the  show, Edwards woul d surprise each guestby na rr a ting abiogr aphy of th e sub je ct . T he sh ow  " alt ernated  in presen tin gthe life sto r ie s of enter tai nment person ali ties a nd  'o r dinar y'peopl e whoh ad con tributedin some w a y to th e i rcomm unities." The hos t ,c onsulting his"red b oo k ", w oul d n arrate whi le  pres e nting t h es u b jec t  with familymembers, fr i end s, and  o the r s whohad a ff e cte d his or he r li fe.

By t he 195 0 s, thes how was  aired  li vebefo r eathe at e r a u di enc e . T he guest swe re su rpri s e d by R alp h Ed wards  and confront edby t h e m icrop honeandca meras . Plan ningfo r the broadcast  mea nt that s ome  w oul dfindo ut inadv anc e thatthey wo u ldbe f e at ured. For example,  E d d ie  Cantorhad ah ea rt conditio n,  so  the s how's  pro d uc ers made  suret ha the wasno t surp ri sed .
Notab l e gu ests
Some cel ebrit i es were unplea s antly surpris e d. S ta n  Lau rel  of LaurelandH ardy  was an ger e d bybeing  " t ri c ked" into what woul dbe the  team 's only Ameri can televi s i o n appear ance ,  o n  December 1, 1 954. Laurel la t er said,  "Oli ver Hard y and I w e r e always  pl ann ing  to d osomething onT V . Bu twe neve r d reamedtha t w e w oul dmake ourtelevisi on  d eb ut  on  an u n rehearse dnet wo rkprogr a m...Iwas d amne dif I w as goin g  t o puton  a  fre e s ho w for  the m ."In 1993 , Angie D ick i nson  r ef used to  appear on are trospectiv esho w.

On e of the s how's subjects was Rev. Kiyoshi  Ta nimot o, a  survivor  of  the a tom i c bomb ing of  Hiro sh ima .  Duri n g  t heep isode Edwa r d s i ntrod uc ed T animoto  to Robert A. Lewi s , t he co-pilot o f t he E n o la  Ga y ,t hepl a net h at dropped thebomb on Hi ro s hi ma. HannaB loc hKohner,  a Holo caust survivo r, was asubject o nMay2 7 , 1 953.

In F ebruary1953, Lil l ian R o th , a " top flight  t orc h sin ger of the  Proh ibitio nera" w as th esubjectof the show, "cheerfull y admi t[tin g]that shehad bee n a hopel essdrunk for16yea rs be for e  bein g re s cu edb y Alc ohol i cs Anonym o us ."E d wa rds describ e d Rot h's c ond i tion a s "i mpending blindnes s , an inflamedsinu s and  af ormof  alcoholic ins ani ty " and brou gh t on a psyc hiatrist  w h o had  treat ed her , a bro t h er - in-law  "wh o h ad paid h erbi l ls" and  s ev e ral "g lamo ro us fou l-weat h er f r i ends" such as Li ta Gr e y  Chap l inand R ub y Keele r .  R oth's stor y became th e basi s of  her1954 au to biogra phy  a nd
 developed_This Is_Your Life as a_new radio_show._ In_the_show, Edwards would_surprise each guest_by narrating a biography_of the subject._The_show  "alternated in presenting the life stories of entertainment personalities and 'ordinary' people_who_had contributed_in_some_way to their communities." The_host, consulting his "red book",_would narrate_while presenting the subject with family members, friends,_and_others who had_affected his or her life.

By the 1950s, the show_was aired live before a theater_audience. The guests_were_surprised_by Ralph Edwards and_confronted by the microphone and cameras._Planning for the broadcast meant that_some would find out in advance that_they would be featured. For example,_Eddie Cantor had a heart_condition, so_the show's producers made sure_that he was_not surprised.

Notable_guests

Some celebrities were_unpleasantly surprised. Stan Laurel of Laurel_and Hardy was_angered by being "tricked" into what_would_be the team's_only_American_television appearance,_on December 1,_1954._ Laurel_later_said, "Oliver Hardy and I were_always_planning to do something on TV. But_we never dreamed that_we_would make our television_debut on an unrehearsed network_program...I was damned if I was_going to_put on_a free show for them." In 1993, Angie Dickinson refused to_appear on a retrospective show.

One of_the show's subjects was_Rev. Kiyoshi_Tanimoto,_a survivor of_the_atomic bombing_of Hiroshima.  During the episode Edwards_introduced Tanimoto_to Robert A. Lewis, the co-pilot_of the Enola Gay,_the_plane that dropped the bomb on_Hiroshima. Hanna Bloch Kohner, a Holocaust_survivor, was a subject on_May_27,_1953.

In February 1953, Lillian Roth,_a "topflight torch singer of the_Prohibition era" was_the subject of the show, "cheerfully admit[ting]_that_she had been a hopeless drunk_for_16 years before being rescued by_Alcoholics_Anonymous."_Edwards described Roth's condition as_"impending blindness, an inflamed sinus and_a form of alcoholic insanity" and brought on a_psychiatrist who had_treated her, a brother-in-law "who_had_paid_her bills" and several "glamorous foul-weather friends" such as Lita_Grey Chaplin_and Ruby Keeler._ Roth's story became the basis of her 1954 autobiography_and