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The Ed Sullivan Show Research Paper

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Born in New York City on September 28, 1901 Ed Sullivan became the host of the well-liked and popular long-running TV variety show “The Ed Sullivan Show”. The show was at the peak of popularity in the 50s and 60s. There were a great many popular entertainers who appeared on the show like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Rudolf Nureyev, Jerry Lewis and Bob Hope.

In the 20s and 30s Sullivan worked as a newspaper reporter and columnist in New York as well as hosting and producing vaudeville shows and benefits. Then in 1948 he became the master of ceremonies for a weekly TV variety show called “Toast of the Town”. The show became popular and in 1955 it was renamed “The Ed Sullivan Show”. Audiences felt drawn to Sullivan and loved the variety of entertainment the show provided including animal acts, comedians, dancers and opera singers. There were also regulars such as Topo Gigio, a mouse puppet with an Italian accent and a ventriloquist named Senor Wences. There were notable moments on the show such as on January 6, 1957 when Elvis Presley appeared on the show and the cameras only filmed him from the waist up so that his gyrating hips wouldn’t be shown on TV. Then on February 9, 1964 over 70 million viewers watched as The Beatles performed. …show more content…

“The Ed Sullivan Show” finished its run in 1971. Sullivan died of cancer on October 13, 1974 at the age of 73. David Letterman has hosted his late-night talk show from this theater since 1993. The Ed Sullivan Theater is located in Manhattan at Broadway and 53rd

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