On Sunday night the AMC television drama Mad Men closed out it's 4th season. Whether or not you approved of the finale, it is hard to argue against the fact that over the past four seasons Mad Men has done a thorough job depicting the social mores, changing moods and political correctness of 1960s America.  The historical context in which Mad Men is set coincides with the height of The Ed Sullivan Show, harking back to the days when families...

Stiller and Meara, the husband and wife comedy team who made numerous appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show throughout the 1960s and 70s, are back and still as funny as ever.  Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, with the help of their son Ben Stiller and his production company Red HourFilms , have launched a Stiller and Meara Yahoo! channel that features a weekly web series covering current events, pop culture and whatever else is on their minds.  The comedy icons have a back and...

On this day in 1974, Ed Sullivan passed away from esophageal cancer at the age of 73.  He died just a few years following the cancellation of his show in 1971 and one year after the heartbreaking loss of the love of his life, Sylvia.  A ceremony was held for Ed Sullivan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City before he was laid to rest at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. Ed Sullivan was best known as the...

Joan Sutherland, a flawless soprano world renowned for her power and range, passed away on October 10, 2010 at the age of 83.  The Australian born opera singer, labeled “La Stupenda,” was a draw at the most legendary opera houses including La Scala, La Fenice, The Royal Opera House and The Metropolitan Opera.  Sutherland’s performances of the beautiful arias by composers like Verdi, Donizetti and Bellini, marked by her enormous range, effortless flights and expressive, vibrant sound, earned her standing...

Leona Gage appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on July 21, 1957, just days after having the Miss USA title stripped from her.  Gage had won the contest representing the state of Maryland, but when pageant officials found out she was married and a mother of two children they revoked the crown.  It was also soon revealed that Leona Gage was only 18 years old although she had said she was 21 when she entered the contest. Shortly after news of the...

  When people talk about The Ed Sullivan Show the conversation almost always reverts back to Elvis Presley’s 1956 appearance watched by 60 million viewers, The Beatles first US live television performance on February 9, 1964 and, shockingly enough, the little Italian mouse named Topo Gigio . It was on December 9, 1962 when Topo Gigio crossed the Atlantic Ocean and made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.  Prior to appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, Topo Gigio was a character on an Italian and Spanish...

On this day in 1901 Ed Sullivan was born in New York City.  Most people are familiar with the legendary television host’s variety show, The Ed Sullivan Show, which featured star-studded musical performances by the likes of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Jackson 5 and The Doors.  You may also recall the comedic routines of Richard Pryor , Rodney Dangerfield , George Carlin and Joan Rivers mixed in with the novelty acts of Topo Gigio and Zippy “The Roller Skating Chimp.” ...

This past Monday The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame unveiled "ELVIS 1956: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer." The exhibit features roughly 40 photos documenting Elvis Presley’s rise to fame in the year 1956. Alfred Wertheimer was sent to cover the 21-year-old Elvis Presley in January 1956.  This coincided with Presley’s debut single “Heartbreak Hotel” and his first national television appearance on The Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Stage Show.  As the year progressed, Elvis’s national popularity was on the rise as he made television appearances...