The Stones’ first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show shocked parents, thrilled kids, and gave many people their first glimpse of “the most historically important ‘Burst” – Keith Richards’ 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard. Guitar dealer Richard Henry retraces its history. On this day, in 1964, the Rolling Stones made their historical debut on The Ed […]

Ten of the most memorable and best-loved Motown performances in the distinguished broadcast history of The Ed Sullivan Show have been compiled in one seven-minute clip, on the long-running variety series’ official YouTube channel. They include unforgettable appearances by the Supremes and the Temptations, both together and separately the Jackson 5; the Four Tops; and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. The clips cover […]

A short location feature in which Ed Sullivan visits actor Harry Belafonte on the set of the movie Odds Against Tomorrow is now available to view on the official YouTube channel of Sullivan’s celebrated variety series. The two-minute clip is taken from the October 18, 1959 edition of The Ed Sullivan Show. The October 1959 show also featured appearances by […]

The song rose to No.16 on the Billboard Hot 100, the group’s third Top 20 hit after the chart-topping ‘Good Lovin’ and ‘You Better Run.’ The Young Rascals’ vibrant performance of “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long” on The Ed Sullivan Show of February 12, 1967 has been added to the series’ official YouTube channel. The ever-expanding archive […]

Noted filmmakers Margo Precht Speciale and Andrew Solt joined host Kenneth Womack to talk about how the Beatles really got booked on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” the lasting legacy of the television program on its 75th anniversary and more on a special bonus episode of “Everything Fab Four,” a podcast co-produced by me and Womack (a music […]

It’s a television show that made history over and over again, on multiple levels. No one could have realized the impact The Ed Sullivan Show would have not only on TV, but on American culture when it debuted 75 years ago, on June 20th, 1948. For the next 23 years, the show featured live performances by those […]

When he first appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1956, Elvis Presley had yet to earn the nickname the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” But Ed Sullivan was very much a kingmaker. Producer-director Andrew Solt, who owns the Ed Sullivan archives, says Sullivan – who could make or break a career – had been […]

The sheer brilliance and theatricality of James Brown’s live show is captured in an extended medley performance now available on the official YouTube page of The Ed Sullivan Show. In the clip, from the edition of October 30, 1966, the Godfather of Soul is seen with members of his band – including the ever-present Bobby Byrd – […]

Ed Sullivan wasn’t kidding when he’d announce, “We have a really big ‘shoe’ tonight.” Over the variety show’s 24 seasons and over 1,000 episodes, the who’s who of music, comedy, and dance appeared on stage to wow America with incredible performances.  Here are some of The Ed Sullivan Show’s most famous acts: The Best Acts from The Ed Sullivan […]

Ike and Tina’s indelible cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song became a massive hit in 1971 and remained one of Tina’s signature songs IT WAS ALL happening for Tina and Ike Turner in 1970. They’d spent the Sixties building a steady head of steam in the U.S., and especially abroad, with hits like “So Fine,” […]