The Greatest Show on Earth

The Greatest Show on Earth Season 1: Episode Guide & Ratings

Season 1 Episodes

1. Lion on Fire

September 17th, 1963

2. Silent Love, Secret Love

September 24th, 1963

3. No Middle Ground for Harry Kyle

October 1st, 1963

4. Don't Look Down, Don't Look Back

October 8th, 1963

5. Garve

October 15th, 1963

6. The Loser

October 22nd, 1963

7. Uncaged

October 29th, 1963

A circus aerialist is charged with robbery and murder.

8. The Circus Never Came to Town

November 5th, 1963

Mentally retarded Willie Simple still harbors his childlike daydream of becoming a clown. Slate takes pity on him, giving the boy a job although he has been warned that he might cause problems.

9. An Echo of Faded Velvet

November 12th, 1963

10. The Hanging Man

November 19th, 1963

11. Leaves in the Wind

November 26th, 1963

12. The Wrecker

December 3rd, 1963

13. Lady in Limbo

December 10th, 1963

Johnny Slate (Jack Palance) is trying to decide which act to send to Russia for a cultural exchange program with the Moscow Circus. Horse trainer Kate Reynolds (Lucille Ball) wants the coveted spot. Menagerie feeder Charles is mauled by one of Kirov's trained bears and dies, leaving his young son Jeff alone in the circus. Coldy ambitious Kate takes care of the boy until Slate locates his Aunt Agatha, a spinster living near Washington DC. Jeff wants to stay with Kate and their separation is surprisingly difficult for her. Kate reveals to Slate that she was a 17 year-old widow with a child on the way, but that she lost the baby. Unhappy, Jeff runs away from his Aunt and returns to the circus in hides with the help of Kirov. Kate and Agatha agree that Jeff belongs with the circus and Kate will be his guardian.

14. A Black Dress for Gina

December 17th, 1963

15. Where the Wire Ends

January 7th, 1964

16. Corsicans Don't Cry

January 14th, 1964

17. Big Man from Nairobi

January 21st, 1964

18. The Show Must Go On-- to Orange City

January 28th, 1964

19. A Place to Belong

February 11th, 1964

20. Man in a Hole

February 18th, 1964

21. Clancy

February 25th, 1964

22. The Last of the Strongmen

March 3rd, 1964

23. The Night the Monkey Died

March 10th, 1964

24. Of Blood, Sawdust, and a Bucket of Tears

March 17th, 1964

25. Rosetta

March 24th, 1964

26. The Glorious Days of the Used to Be

March 31st, 1964

27. Love the Giver

April 7th, 1964

28. This Train Don't Stop Till It Gets There

April 14th, 1964

29. There Are No Problems, Only Opportunities

April 21st, 1964

30. You're All Right, Ivy

April 28th, 1964

Joan Blondell, Buster Keaton and Joe E. Brown portray a trio of veteran performers, now reduced to handling menial chores around the circus. Slate's most pressing problem, however, is an uninterested young man who's been turned over to him to ""learn the business."" Over this barrier of gloom climbs spirited and ambitious Ivy Hatch, who has run away from home to join the circus. Ivy has one drawback: She doesn't have any special talent.