What started as a radio comedy-variety show made the leap to television in 1948. In 1950 the show that made a household name of Milton "Mr. Television" Berle was number one (the only time NBC would enjoy the top spot for the entire decade).

In the heyday of blatant show sponsorship, TST featured prominently Texaco employees, usually appearing as smiling "guardian angels" performing good deeds and a quartet of Texaco singers.

The show, with Berle as host, is credited with driving American television set sales. The number of TVs sold duing the show's 1950's run is said to have grown from 500,000 to over 30 million when the show ended in 1956