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Ed Sullivan
1902-1974
Television
Over the course of two decades Ed Sullivan
brought over 10,000 performers into the homes of American
viewers on his Sunday night television show. Some of America's
favorite stars gained national exposure for the first time
on his show, most notably the Beatles, Woody Allen,
Rowan & Martin and Richard Pryor. Ed was the "king
of variety" on TV for 23 years. He had little stage presence
and sometimes slurred his words (Rillly big shew!), but had
a knack for picking talent that America would enjoy. His early
career included jobs as a sports reporter, gossip columnist
and radio presenter. In the 1930s-40s he acted in some comedy
films and musicals. In 1948 he was hired by CBS to host the
network's first variety show. It was called 'The Toast of
the Town', and was later renamed after Sullivan. The Ed Sullivan
show ran until 1971. He played a few cameo parts in films
until 1974. This Irish American was a television pioneer who
may be best remembered by his words "Here they are ---The
Beatles!"
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