1962
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Learn about the origins and history of the iconic variety show hosted by Ed Sullivan, who entertained millions of Americans every Sunday night. Find out how Toast of the Town evolved into The Ed Sullivan Show and featured many famous acts.
NBC's was conducted by Arturo Toscanini and CBS's by Alfredo Antonini. The Ed Sullivan Show (originally presented as: The Toast Of The Town) was basically a musical variety show, and thus members of the CBS orchestra were folded into the Ed Sullivan Show Orchestra, conducted by Ray Bloch.
- 1,068
- June 20, 1948 –, March 28, 1971
- 24
- CBS
The Ed Sullivan Show: With Ed Sullivan, The Ray Bloch Orchestra, Ray Bloch, Johnny Wayne. The classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and rock music performances.
- (1.5K)
- 1948-06-20
- Music, Talk-Show
- 60
Learn how Ed Sullivan became the host of the longest-running variety show in TV history, featuring iconic acts from rock 'n' roll, comedy, Broadway and more. The show started as The Toast of the Town in 1948 and changed its name to The Ed Sullivan Show in 1955.
Toast of the Town. Not many people in June of 1948 even owned a television set, but for those who did, this marked the start of television’s most iconic variety show then called “Toast of the Town.” Every Sunday night at 8pm a man who couldn’t sing, dance or spin plates entertained an average audience of 50 million Americans.
Known as the Toast of the Town until 1955, it became The Ed Sullivan Show, in September of that year. Ed Sullivan’s stiff physical appearance, evident discomfort before the camera, and awkward vocal mannerisms (including the oft-imitated description of his programme as a “reeeeeelly big shoe”) made him an unlikely candidate to become a ...
In 1948, producer Marlo Lewis convinced CBS to hire Sullivan to host a weekly Sunday-night television variety show, Toast of the Town, which later became The Ed Sullivan Show. Debuting in June 1948, the show was originally broadcast from Maxine Elliott's Theatre on West 39th Street in New York.
