"Toast of the Town" (1948)TV series 1948-1971

Directors:

Tim Kiley
Kenneth Whelan

Writers:

Jerry Bresler (writer)
Lyn Duddy (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25

Release Date:

20 June 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Music

Plot:

The classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and its rock music performances.

Plot Keywords:

Audience Participation | Variety | Non Fiction

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Ed Sullivan

...

Himself - Host / ... (425 episodes, 1948-1971)

Also Known As:

The Ed Sullivan Show (USA) (new title)
You're the Top (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (1965-1971) | Black and White (1948-1965)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

CBS Television

Trivia:

Cancelled in 1971 by CBS. The decision was a controversial one, since it was made at the end of the 1970-71 season and did not give Sullivan the opportunity to mount a farewell show after more than 20 years on the air. Sullivan would return for a few specials over the next year, however. The Canadian comedy duo of Wayne & Shuster appeared on the show more often than any other act - nearly 80 appearances.

Quotes:

[Bob Hope has walked in on Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby singing' Road to Morocco']
Bing: What's the problem?
Bob: [pointing at Frank] You're singing our song with him.
Frank: I said I was sorry.
Bob: After all, Dean wouldn't do this to Jerry.
Bing: Bob, I'll tell you what happened. I didn't know you were in town. I heard, or I figured at least, that you'd gone for a ride on the Russian moon.
Frank: [indicating Bob] Ladies and Gentlemen, here's the first man to entertain the troops in Outer Space.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Tap (1989)

Soundtrack:

Mahna Mahna

Perhaps the most important variety show of the 1950s and 1960s.

It was officially called "Toast of the Town", but to most of us it was simply "The Ed Sullivan Show." If I recall correctly, it came on Sunday nights, in glorious black and white. We always looked forward to seeing his show. Sullivan himself was not much to look at, in fact it is safe to say most would consider him 'funny looking.' Nor did he have a particularly good speaking voice. One of his catch phrases, 'we're going to have a really big show' came out 'a really big shoe.' That's the way he pronounced words. But regardless of his personal lack of charisma, Ed Sullivan knew how to bring in the big stars.

One of them was Elvis Presley before he became wildly popular. In fact, being on the Ed Sullivan show was perhaps the biggest springboard to his success. But there was a problem with Elvis, his hips moved just too much, were considered far too suggestive for this family program, so the TV cameras showed Elvis only above the waist.

Ed Sullivan also got the Beatles in the early 1960s, when they were still relatively unknown in the USA. I don't know if he was the first, but his show certainly went a long way towards introducing America to this group from England. And the rest, as they say, is 'history'!!