The Ed Sullivan Thread

[Tzara]

If you are American, and of a certain age, you watched the Ed Sullivan Show.

I mean, you did. Everyone did.

And, if you're my age, you watched it, if for no other reason, than for the first American performance of the Beatles.

But there was more. Much more.

 

[Tzara]

I mean, where else would you find such completely cool plate spinningingness?

 

[Tzara]

Or the immortal Topo Gigio?

 

[Tzara]

Or, or, or... Señor Wences.

I know. Explains a lot, doesn't it?

 

[bluerains]

Or, or, or... Señor Wences.

I know. Explains a lot, doesn't it?

Alice

 

[Tzara]

Hey. We can't all be rock stars, even secondary, or even tertiary rock stars. Why I love this clip which is some guy with the right equipment (Vox organ & Continental bass?) being Ray Manzarek through the Doors Ed S. appearance playing in the background on that little teensy TV.

Padraic, you nailed it. God bless you.

 

[Tzara]

Alice

Yeah, yeah, yeah, but what is that weird organism hanging over Jack's bass at the start of the clip?

Creepy.

 

[bluerains]

Alice

opps ...this one was...one that was banned...at the time...but....I remember...

 

[EroticOrogeny]

If you are American, and of a certain age, you watched the Ed Sullivan Show.

I mean, you did. Everyone did.

And, if you're my age, you watched it, if for no other reason, than for the first American performance of the Beatles.

But there was more. Much more.

I'm of that age, and American, but never really watched it. We didn't watch much TV at our house when I was growing up. A few special shows, often on the Chicago PBS affiliate (does anyone remember Gerald McBoingBoing ?) or World of Disney on Sunday evening. When my parents went out we could watch more with the babysitter.

And it turns out that Sullivan show occurred when I was in England, so didn't even hear about it. My junior high girl friend wrote all excited and wondered if I'd seen them over in England. I hadn't, of course, and don't recall hearing much music while over there. Back home in the states we generally had on WFMT, which was a commercial classical station and now has a nationwide presence, often the source of symphony concerts you can hear on your local NPR station.

 

[bluerains]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, but what is that weird organism hanging over Jack's bass at the start of the clip?

Creepy.

reptile...frog...I get it

 

[bluerains]

ohhh

the history of great ones...old telly...I hold tight to the memories...blue

I'm of that age, and American, but never really watched it. We didn't watch much TV at our house when I was growing up. A few special shows, often on the Chicago PBS affiliate (does anyone remember Gerald McBoingBoing ?) or World of Disney on Sunday evening. When my parents went out we could watch more with the babysitter.

And it turns out that Sullivan show occurred when I was in England, so didn't even hear about it. My junior high girl friend wrote all excited and wondered if I'd seen them over in England. I hadn't, of course, and don't recall hearing much music while over there. Back home in the states we generally had on WFMT, which was a commercial classical station and now has a nationwide presence, often the source of symphony concerts you can hear on your local NPR station.

 

[bluerains]

opps ...this one was...one that was banned...at the time...but....I remember...

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bob-dylan-walks-out-on-the-ed-sullivan-show

 

[Tzara]

I'm of that age, and American, but never really watched it.

Okey dokey, this may just be my personal twistiething, then.

That's OK. I'm used to being selfcenterèd. I don't have to deal with it, since it's my own thang, but y'all do.

Merry Christmas.

Ooh, Stones.

Carry on.

 

[Tzara]

I'm of that age, and American, but never really watched it. We didn't watch much TV at our house when I was growing up. A few special shows, often on the Chicago PBS affiliate (does anyone remember Gerald McBoingBoing ?) or World of Disney on Sunday evening. When my parents went out we could watch more with the babysitter.

And it turns out that Sullivan show occurred when I was in England, so didn't even hear about it. My junior high girl friend wrote all excited and wondered if I'd seen them over in England. I hadn't, of course, and don't recall hearing much music while over there. Back home in the states we generally had on WFMT, which was a commercial classical station and now has a nationwide presence, often the source of symphony concerts you can hear on your local NPR station.

WFMT is a great station, of course, appealing to my main love, which is classical music. But, hey, EO! Doncha have some guilty pleasure stuff from youngsterage? Even if it's Richard Strauss? (Which I would, like, super approve, y'know.)

I'm kind of kited tonight, as if you couldn't tell.

 

[Angeline]

Okey dokey, this may just be my personal twistiething, then.

That's OK. I'm used to being selfcenterèd. I don't have to deal with it, since it's my own thang, but y'all do.

Merry Christmas.

Ooh, Stones.

Carry on.

I remember the great stone face. The first time the Beatles were on the show, my sister and I sat in front of the television and screamed. My parents were convinced we had lost our minds. I think we sort of had. And ever after my father called every Beatle George. Lol, he knew their names; he was just teasing.

And I remember that Ed Sullivan and his wife lived at the very posh Sherry Netherland Hotel on the Upper East Side of NYC. Whenever I'd walk past it I'd think "Ed Sullivan lives there," and that it must be the very height of sophistication to live there. Never saw him, but I did once see Gene Rayburn coming out of the hotel.

And sorry I couldn't find the clip from Bye Bye Birdie, but here are the lyrics for the immortal Hymn for a Sunday Evening, a song that celebrates Ed's cultural significance.


(Performed by Ann-Margret, Paul Lynde, Mary LaRoche & Bryan Russell)

PAUL:
Me on the Ed Sullivan show?
Ed Sullivan
Me, Harry McAfee appearing with
Ed Sullivan

PAUL & MARY:
E-e-e-e-ed, Ed Sullivan

PAUL, MARY & ANN MARGRET:
E-e-e-e-ed, Ed Sullivan

ALL:
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah Ed Sullivan
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah Ed Sullivan
Ed, Ed, Sull, Sull
Ed Sullivan, Ed Sullivan
We're gonna be on Ed Sullivan

MARY & ANN-MARGRET:
How could any family be
Half as fortunate as we

ALL:
We'll be coast to coast
With our fav'rite host
Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan, Ed Sullivan
We're gonna be on Ed Sullivan

PAUL:
I've got a wonderful wife
Two swell kids
A good business
And now this!
Hah-hah-hah-hah-hah

ALL:
Someday we'll recall
The greatest day of all

PAUL:
Ed, I love you!

ALL:
Ed Sullivan!

 

[Angeline]

I'm of that age, and American, but never really watched it. We didn't watch much TV at our house when I was growing up. A few special shows, often on the Chicago PBS affiliate (does anyone remember Gerald McBoingBoing ?) or World of Disney on Sunday evening. When my parents went out we could watch more with the babysitter.

And it turns out that Sullivan show occurred when I was in England, so didn't even hear about it. My junior high girl friend wrote all excited and wondered if I'd seen them over in England. I hadn't, of course, and don't recall hearing much music while over there. Back home in the states we generally had on WFMT, which was a commercial classical station and now has a nationwide presence, often the source of symphony concerts you can hear on your local NPR station.

I had the book Gerald McBoingBoing when I was a kid. Totally loved it.

 

[bluerains]

ahhh....if

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GqINI82vf0

 

[bluerains]

luv the memory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A-lkDvYywQ

 

[EroticOrogeny]

WFMT is a great station, of course, appealing to my main love, which is classical music. But, hey, EO! Doncha have some guilty pleasure stuff from youngsterage? Even if it's Richard Strauss? (Which I would, like, super approve, y'know.)

I'm kind of kited tonight, as if you couldn't tell.

We had a 78 down in the basement after we got a new 33.
Collection was somewhat limited, but I recall my favorite was Stravinsky's Petrushka.
One piece of classical music I got totally tired of was the 'Going Home' movement from Dvorak's 9th symphony. They played the song when swimming lessons were ended - time to get out and go home.

 

[Tzara]

I remember the great stone face. The first time the Beatles were on the show, my sister and I sat in front of the television and screamed. My parents were convinced we had lost our minds. I think we sort of had. And ever after my father called every Beatle George. Lol, he knew their names; he was just teasing.

And I remember that Ed Sullivan and his wife lived at the very posh Sherry Netherland Hotel on the Upper East Side of NYC. Whenever I'd walk past it I'd think "Ed Sullivan lives there," and that it must be the very height of sophistication to live there. Never saw him, but I did once see Gene Rayburn coming out of the hotel.

And sorry I couldn't find the clip from Bye Bye Birdie, but here are the lyrics for the immortal Hymn for a Sunday Evening, a song that celebrates Ed's cultural significance.


(Performed by Ann-Margret, Paul Lynde, Mary LaRoche & Bryan Russell)

PAUL:
Me on the Ed Sullivan show?
Ed Sullivan
Me, Harry McAfee appearing with
Ed Sullivan

PAUL & MARY:
E-e-e-e-ed, Ed Sullivan

PAUL, MARY & ANN MARGRET:
E-e-e-e-ed, Ed Sullivan

ALL:
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah Ed Sullivan
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah Ed Sullivan
Ed, Ed, Sull, Sull
Ed Sullivan, Ed Sullivan
We're gonna be on Ed Sullivan

MARY & ANN-MARGRET:
How could any family be
Half as fortunate as we

ALL:
We'll be coast to coast
With our fav'rite host
Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan, Ed Sullivan
We're gonna be on Ed Sullivan

PAUL:
I've got a wonderful wife
Two swell kids
A good business
And now this!
Hah-hah-hah-hah-hah

ALL:
Someday we'll recall
The greatest day of all

PAUL:
Ed, I love you!

ALL:
Ed Sullivan!

Um, just knowing Bye Bye Birdie dates you, sweetness.

But I assume e² knows this, of course. (Swell to huge crescendo of luverliness.)

Bless you both, of course.

 

[Tzara]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A-lkDvYywQ

I love the pompadour and little shark suit.

I was maybe 11 at the time, loading my hair with Brylcreem, trying to get it to stand up like Bobby's hair when, oop, the Beatles and the Stones did one huge smackdown on that whole pop singy thing.

Ah, well. Disneyland lost its luster, too.

 

[Tzara]

We had a 78 down in the basement after we got a new 33.
Collection was somewhat limited, but I recall my favorite was Stravinsky's Petrushka.
One piece of classical music I got totally tired of was the 'Going Home' movement from Dvorak's 9th symphony. They played the song when swimming lessons were ended - time to get out and go home.

I love Petrushka.

But then I love Dvořák's Ninth Symphony as well. Sorry.

I gotta music Jones goin' on, or something. My problem, not yours.

I seem to have lost Ed. Oh, well.

 

[Tzara]

Tom Jones on The Ed Sullivan Show (what's with that weird jerkiness thing, anyway? Do girls like that?)

Tom Jones, in some other medium, revised and in Spanish.

 

[Tzara]

And sorry I couldn't find the clip from Bye Bye Birdie, but here are the lyrics for the immortal Hymn for a Sunday Evening, a song that celebrates Ed's cultural significance.


(Performed by Ann-Margret, Paul Lynde, Mary LaRoche & Bryan Russell)

PAUL:
Me on the Ed Sullivan show?
Ed Sullivan
Me, Harry McAfee appearing with
Ed Sullivan

PAUL & MARY:
E-e-e-e-ed, Ed Sullivan

PAUL, MARY & ANN MARGRET:
E-e-e-e-ed, Ed Sullivan

ALL:
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah Ed Sullivan
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah Ed Sullivan
Ed, Ed, Sull, Sull
Ed Sullivan, Ed Sullivan
We're gonna be on Ed Sullivan

MARY & ANN-MARGRET:
How could any family be
Half as fortunate as we

ALL:
We'll be coast to coast
With our fav'rite host
Ed Sullivan
Ed Sullivan, Ed Sullivan
We're gonna be on Ed Sullivan

PAUL:
I've got a wonderful wife
Two swell kids
A good business
And now this!
Hah-hah-hah-hah-hah

ALL:
Someday we'll recall
The greatest day of all

PAUL:
Ed, I love you!

ALL:
Ed Sullivan!

Here's the soundtrack for Angie's (well, and my) nostalgicalistininess.

Rest in piece, Paul Lynde.

 

[Angeline]

Here's the soundtrack for Angie's (well, and my) nostalgicalistininess.

Rest in piece, Paul Lynde.

How did you find that?! I looked and looked last night and I found every high school and church production's video of Bye Bye Birdie, but not the film. And I wanted to link to the soundtrack because as you noted it's all about Paul Lynde. He was just perfect in that role.

And btw Bye Bye Birdie was my high school's senior musical. Yes, I was in it. I was Albert's mother. "Albert I'm sticking my head in the oven now." Typecasting? Uh huh.

Some great Sullivan moments:

Richard Pryor

Flip Wilson

The Hippy Dippy Weatherman

and not to forget music:

The Four Seasons

The Young Rascals

The Jackson Five (with Michael's talent all but bursting through your tv screen)

Edith Piaf

La Streisand

Great thread T-zed. Fanks for the memories.