<P> A television series of the same title, was inspired by the film, with Jack Palance in the role of Charlton Heston's character . The program ran on Tuesday evenings for thirty episodes on ABC during the 1963--1964 season . </P> <P> The self - titled theme song later served as the theme for WGN - TV's long running Bozo's Circus . </P> <P> The Greatest Show on Earth was the first film that director Steven Spielberg saw and he credits it as one of the major inspirations that led him into a film career . He pointed out the film's train crash scene as a major influence, and this influence was later reflected in the 2011 science fiction film Super 8, which he produced . </P> <P> In Steven Spielberg's remake of The War of the Worlds, an early scene shows two kids channel - surfing on their television, and the train - wreck scene from The Greatest Show on Earth is being broadcast . </P>

Where was the movie the greatest show on earth filmed