|
Elvis Presley Ed Sullivan article page
of the Elvis Presley biography story
This Elvis Presley biography Ed Sullivan page is dedicated to providing quality Elvis Presley biography information, pictures and articles for your entertainment. The contents of this Elvis Presley site is written by a fan for his fans about Ed Sullivan.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Edward Vincent Sullivan (September 28, 1901 √ October 13, 1974) was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the emcee of a popular TV variety show that was at its height of popularity in the 1950s and 1960s.
Sullivan was originally a newspaper sportswriter and theater columnist for the New York Daily News. His column concentrated on Broadway shows and gossip. He also did show business news broadcasts on radio. Sullivan continued writing for The News throughout his broadcasting career.
In 1948, the CBS network hired Sullivan to do a weekly Sunday night TV variety show, Toast of the Town, which later became The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from CBS Studio 50 on Broadway in New York City, which in 1967 was renamed the Ed Sullivan Theater (and is now the home of The Late Show with David Letterman).
Sullivan himself seemed to have little acting ability and his mannerisms on camera were somewhat awkward and often caricatured by comedians who called him "Old Stone Face" due to his deadpan delivery. Columnist Harriet Van Horne alleged that "he got where he is not by having a personality, but by having no personality; he is the commonest common denominator." According to the crazyabouttv.com website, Sullivan replied with a short note:
Dear Miss Van Horne, You bitch. Sincerely, Ed Sullivan
Somehow Sullivan still seemed to fit the show; he appeared to the audience as an average guy who brought the great acts of show business to their home televisions. Sullivan had a healthy sense of humor about himself, and permitted- even encouraged- impersonators such as John Byner and Rich Little to imitate him on his show.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Sullivan was a respected starmaker because of the number of performers that became household names after appearing on the show. He had a knack for identifying and promoting top talent and paid a great deal of money to secure that talent for his show.
There was another side to him, he could be very quick to take offense if he felt that he had been crossed and could hold a grudge for a long time.
Jackie Mason, Bo Diddley and The Doors became intimately familiar with that negative side of him. The Doors were banned in 1967 after they were asked to remove the lyric "Girl, we couldn't get much higher" from their song "Light My Fire" (as CBS censors believed it was too overt a reference to drug use) and sang the song with the lyrics intact. (The Rolling Stones was a different story. They agreed to change the Lyrics from "Let's Spend the Night Together" to "Let's Spend Some Time Together".)
Jackie Mason was banned from the series in 1962 when Sullivan gestured to wrap things up and Sullivan believed Mason replied on live television with the finger.
On November 20, 1955, Bo Diddley was asked by Sullivan to sing Tennessee Ernie Ford's hit "Sixteen Tons". Come air time, Diddley sang his #2 hit song, "Bo Diddley". He, too, was banned from the show.
In 1961. Sullivan was asked by CBS to fill in for an ailing Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show. He performed some of Skelton's characters successfully. One character was renamed "Eddie the Freeloader" (normally "Freddie the Freeloader).
In August of 1956 he was injured in an automobile accident that occurred near his country home in Southbury, Connecticut and had to take a medical leave from the show missing the September 8 appearance of Elvis Presley on his show (something he earlier stated never would happen but he later changed his mind).
The fact he had to play catch up to featuring such a star on his show made him determined to get the next big sensation first. In 1964, he achieved that with the first live American appearance of The Beatles. The Beatles first appearance, on February 9, 1964, was the most-watched program in TV history to that point, and remains one of the most-watched TV programs of all time.
Sullivan paid for the funeral of dancer Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson out of his own pocket. He also defied pressure to exclude African American musicians from appearing on his show.
He was married to Sylvia Weinstein from April 28, 1930 until her death on March 16, 1973, and they had 1 child.
Sullivan died at the age of 73 in 1974 of cancer of the esophagus and is interred in the Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York.
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6101 Hollywood Blvd.
During the 1920s, as a theatre critic, Sullivan once suggested that Swedish playwright August Strindberg needed to re-write the second act of a play. Unfortunately, Strindberg had been dead for a decade.
Download the free autobiography book version of "Elvis Presley Forever" with his life story in full
This autobiography page is dedicated to providing quality Elvis Presley biography information, pictures and articles for your entertainment. The contents of this Elvis Presley biography site is written by a fan for his fans.
What Elvis Presley biography information are you looking for?
Try a local search of our site for your answers
Back to Top of page
Terms of Use |
Privacy Policy |
Site Map |
Elvis Presley Forever Links Directory |
Contact Us |
Subscribe to "Elvis Presley Forever!" newsletter |
Download Site as a Book |
HOME PAGE |
Elvis Presley biography Blog |
About Us
=================================================
SITE DISCLAIMER: The Elvis Presley biography information and resources on this Elvis Presley biography site are provided for your entertainment only. No content on this site is intended to be a substitute for therapy or professional advice. While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this Elvis Presley biography publication, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the Elvis Presley biography or Elvis Presley picture subject matter herein. There is no guarantee of validity of accuracy of any Elvis Presley biography content. Any perceived slight of specific people or organizations is unintentional. This Elvis Presley biography website and its creators are not responsible for the content of any sites linked to.
The Elvis Presley biography contents are solely the opinion of the author and should not be considered as a historical fact or authority on the facts. The author and the Publisher of Elvis Presley biography assume no responsibility or liability and specifically disclaim any warranty, express or implied for any products or services mentioned, or any techniques or practices described. The purchaser or reader of this Elvis Presley biography publication assumes responsibility for the use of these Elvis Presley biography materials and articles and information. Neither the Elvis Presley biography, author nor the Elvis Presley biography Publisher assumes any responsibility or liability whatsoever on the behalf of any purchaser or reader of these Elvis Presley biography, materials.
Description of Elvis Presley biography site contents: This site contains Elvis Presley biography information, Elvis Presley biography, history on Elvis Presley life story, Elvis Presley pictures and photos, Elvis Presley song lyrics, Elvis Presley movie resources, free e-books and articles listed for your convenient search in subjects of: Elvis Presley pictures and photos, Elvis Presley song lyrics, Elvis Presley movie resources, Elvis Presley childhood, Elvis Presley Band members biography, Elvis Presley girlfriends, Elvis Presley biography, Elvis Presley spiritual medium stories, Elvis Presley Memphis mafia stories, Elvis Presley biography, Elvis Presley diary quotes, Elvis Presley movie and music details in relation to the Elvis Presley autobiography and interviews of friends and family members for the Elvis Presley biography website written by a fan for his fans.
=================================================
Back to Top of page Elvis Presley biography
|
|
