Ed Sullivan - Wikipedia

I remember watching this every week with my parents and sister. He launched so many careers, music and comedy, was always a gentleman and then there was his little "mouse" companion. Great blast from the past Maj Marty Hogan and thanks for the tag LTC Stephen F.
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Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that September 28 is the anniversary of legendary performer and master of ceremonies Ed Sullivan, who became the host of the long-running TV variety program The Ed Sullivan Show, is born in New York City.
I well remember the antics of Topo Gigio as well as seeing The Beatles perform along with Herman's Hermits :-)


JOHNNY CARSON INTERVIEW ED SULLIVAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pL7UT9n69w

Images:
1. Ed Sullivan with Topo Geejo.
2. Ed Sullivan with The Beatles.
3. Ed Sullivan and his wife Sylvia arrive for the opening of the Met Opera at Lincoln Center.
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Background from imdb.com/name/nm0838047/bio
"Ed Sullivan Biography
Overview
Born September 28, 1901 in New York City, New York, USA
Died October 13, 1974 in New York City, New York, USA (esophageal cancer)
Birth Name Edward Vincent Sullivan
Nickname 'The Great Stone Face'
Height 5' 7½" (1.71 m)

Bio
The beloved graven image of TV variety from 1948 to 1971 on CBS, Ed Sullivan originally made his name as a newspaper sportswriter, radio broadcaster and theater columnist for the New York Daily News. His column focused primarily on Broadway shows and juicy items about its stars. Hired in 1932 by the CBS network as a rival of radio commentator Walter Winchell, future radio stars introduced on Sullivan's program included Jack Benny. Sullivan made his film debut as himself in Mr. Broadway (1933), which he also wrote. His subsequent screenplay and story involvements included the screwy comedy There Goes My Heart (1938) and the Universal musical Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me (1940). So successful was he on radio that CBS hired him to do The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) just as TV sets were becoming a home staple. The show, which balanced amazing novelty acts with singing and comedy talents, both legendary and up-and-coming, was broadcast from CBS Studio 50 on Broadway in New York City. In 1967 the studio was aptly renamed the Ed Sullivan Theater. As of this writing, it is the home for David Letterman's late-night show. Although Sullivan himself had zilch stage or camera presence and had an unlikely habit of forgetting performers' names as he was about to present them, audiences were taken by his charming idiosyncrasies and mellow, almost funereal approach. He and the show became a resounding success. Moreover, Sullivan had a knack for identifying talent and his Sunday night variety platform became a springboard for a number of stars, including comics Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis and singers Elvis Presley and The Beatles. He also was color blind when it came to talent, generously promoting a number of black crossover acts, such as The Supremes and other Motown artists, when few other TV shows would. Sullivan appeared as himself in such films as Bye Bye Birdie (1963), The Patsy (1964) and The Singing Nun (1966), among others. The irrepressibly stiff, hunch-shouldered emcee was unmercifully parodied by a parade of impressionists over the decades, including Will Jordan, John Byner and David Frye. Sullivan died in his beloved New York of esophageal cancer in 1974, three years after the cancellation of his series.

Spouse Sylvia Weinstein (28 April 1930 - 16 March 1973) ( her death) ( 1 child)

Trivia (21)
1. Interred at Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York, USA.
2. Daughter's name is Betty. She was born on 22 December 1930 and married Robert Precht in 1952.
3. Sullivan paid out of his own pocket for the funeral of dancer Bill Robinson ("Bojangles"), who died penniless. It was one of the many acts of quiet personal generosity for which Sullivan was known among his friends.
4. Reportedly columnist Harriet Van Horne wrote of Sullivan, "He got where he is not by having a personality, but by having no personality; he is the commonest common denominator." Sullivan sent her a short note back reading: "Dear Miss Van Horne, You bitch. Sincerely, Ed Sullivan.".
5. In 1961, CBS asked him to fill in for an ailing Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Hour(1951). Rather than simply being a host, Sullivan donned the costumes and makeup and successfully performed Skelton's characters in the written comedy sketches, including one character renamed "Freddie the Freeloader.".
6. Although Elvis Presley made his debut on Sullivan's show on September 9, 1956, Sullivan was not actually the host that evening. Less than a week earlier, Sullivan was involved in a near-fatal auto accident that knocked out all his teeth and broke his ribs. Nonetheless, he was watching from his hospital room when guest host Charles Laughton introduced Presley in New York, followed by Presley's segment live from CBS Television City in Hollywood, as Elvis was in Hollywood filming Love Me Tender (1956).
7. A gentle, compassionate showman, there was still another side to Sullivan. He could be very quick to take offense if he felt that he had been crossed or betrayed and could hold a grudge for a long time. Comedian Jackie Mason and the rock group The Doors were two cases in point who got on Ed's bad side. In the case of The Doors, Jim Morrison agreed to change what Sullivan considered inappropriate lyrics in performing their rendition of "Light My Fire." Come air time Morrison sang the offensive lyrics anyway. The group never returned to his show. As for Mason, the comedian noticed some off-stage finger gestures from Ed which meant for him to end the routine. According to Mason, he jokingly took the moment to comment on the signs by saying "and here's a finger for you, and one for you . . . " Sullivan thought that Mason was really giving him "the finger" on the air. Outraged, he barred Mason from any further appearances on his program. The controversy over the "finger" damaged Mason's career. He retaliated with a libel suit in the New York Supreme Court and won, but his career was hurt nevertheless. Sullivan and Mason eventually patched up their differences and Mason returned to do a guest appearance on the show in 1967.
8. Singer Roberta Peters appeared on Sullivan's show more than anyone else--67 times.
9. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6101 Hollywood Blvd
10. One of the songs in the rave Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie" was a choral, evangelical song sung by the McAfee family, who have just found out they are going to appear on Ed's show. On June 12, 1960, the cast of "Bye Bye Birdie," fronted by patriarch Paul Lynde, appeared on Sullivan's 12th anniversary program to perform the complete song, with dialog, that led up to "Hymn for a Sunday Evening" and Paul's declaration, "Ed, I love you!"
11. From the moment that Elvis Presley hit #1 on the charts in 1956, Sullivan insisted that his act was vulgar, distasteful and that he would never stoop to displaying that kind of entertainment on his show. However, when Steve Allen booked Elvis on his show in July, it turned out to be a ratings blockbuster. The very next day, despite everything he had previously said, Sullivan booked Elvis, who appeared the following September and made two more appearances in October 1956 and later in January of the next year.
12. He has always been a very popular target for impressionists, even by Wak (Robert Picardo), a fictional alien in Explorers (1985). He is also one of the few celebrities to have had impressionists (such as Jerome Patrick Hoban and Nick Toth) who have made a career just out of impersonating him.
13. Is portrayed by Will Jordan in I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), The Buddy Holly Story(1978) (voice), The Doors (1991), Mr. Saturday Night (1992) and Down with Love (2003).
14. Like Elvis Presley and Liberace, both of whom guested on his show at various times, Sullivan was the survivor of a pair of twins, the other of whom was stillborn.
15. Appears on a 44¢ USA commemorative postage stamp, issued 11 August 2009, in the Early TV Memories issue honoring "The Ed Sullivan Show" (which began as The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)).
16. Irish-American.
17. Sullivan, who played himself in Bye Bye Birdie (1963), would later reprise the "One Last Kiss" segment "for real" on his weekly variety show. During Dec. 1966 Gary Lewis & The Playboys performed the song, on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948), shortly before Lewis' actual induction into the US Army.
18. In 1967 controversy arose on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) with the use of the word "higher" in The Doors' performance of "Light My Fire". The next year The Associationperformed their 1966 hit, "Along Comes Mary" on the show with its reference to marijuana: "Now my empty cup is sweet as the punch". That got past the censors, practically unnoticed.
19. During a Nov. 20, 1955, telecast, Sullivan expressed dismay that Bo Diddley performed his self titled recording of "Bo Diddley", prior to his performance of "Sixteen Tons", a 1955 million seller for Tennessee Ernie Ford. Bo had performed "Sixteen Tons" during rehearsal for the show. Ed said he was "double-crossed". Bo would later explain that he read both "Bo Diddley" and "Sixteen Tons" on the cue card and thought he was expected to sing two songs. Though considered a legendary performer, Diddley never returned to the show, and that may have cost him spots on other TV and film venues.
20. Had a twin brother Danny that died before their first birthday.
21. Father-in-law of Robert Precht.

Personal Quotes (5)
1. Tonight, we have a real big show...
2. I am the best damned showman in television.
3. I've tried every way I know to smile into a camera, but I can't do it.
4. In the conduct of my own show, I've never asked a performer his religion, his race or his politics. Performers are engaged on the basis of their abilities.
5. She's given the world so much darn enjoyment, Lucille Ball is the best loved star in show business."

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A really big show.