The 17 Most Memorable Performances from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'
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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.
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW; INSETS: CBS/GETTY IMAGES (2)
Here are some of The Ed Sullivan Show’s most famous acts:
The Best Acts from The Ed Sullivan Show
Elvis Presley
Elvis' third and final performance on The Ed Sullivan Show was two days before his 22nd birthday, on January 6, 1957. He performed “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Peace in the Valley.” Sullivan thanked him for the performance and called him “a real decent, fine boy.”
Related: Elvis Presley's Net Worth Is Impressive—See How the Singer Amassed His Fortune
The Supremes
In a double whammy of a show on November 19, 1967, Sullivan had The Supremes sing The Temptations’ hits (“Get Ready” and “I’m Losing You”) and vice versa (“Stop! In the Name of Love” and “Baby Love”).
The Beatles
More than 45 percent of households with televisions were watching The Beatles when they opened The Ed Sullivan Show with “All My Loving” on February 9, 1964. The band’s second appearance on the show was broadcast from The Deauville Beach Resort in Miami Beach. The third, on February 23rd, had been pre-recorded. All three nights were ratings winners for the show.
The Jackson 5
Sullivan introduced The Jackson Five as “a sensational group” on Dec. 14, 1969. After a fantastic reception, they were back on May 10, 1970, in bell bottoms, fringed suede vests and platform shoes. They sang two of their hits “I Want You Back” and “ABC.”
The Rolling Stones
Viewers may remember Mick Jagger rolling his eyes during a Rolling Stones performance on Jan. 15, 1967, when the band was asked to change the lyrics from “Let’s spend the night together” to “Let’s spend some time together.” The Stones played Sullivan six times between 1964 and ’69.
The Doors
The Doors were banned from the show after a Sept. 16, 1967, performance when they failed to change the lyrics to “Light My Fire” as requested (replacing “couldn’t get much higher” because it might be construed as a drug reference).
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was an Ed Sullivan favorite who performed on the show and went with Sullivan to meet U.S. troops on location in Berlin (1961) and Guantanamo Bay (1962).
Zippy the Chimp
Zippy the Chimp of Howdy Doody fame made his debut by riding his bike in circles around the Sullivan Show stage in 1953.
The Muppets
Audiences roared with laughter at the first appearance in September 1966 of The Muppets on the show. They would go on to appear 25 times.
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand (whom Sullivan claimed he discovered in a Greenwich Village nightclub) appeared on the show many times in the ‘60s and ‘70s, beginning in December 1962.
Ike & Tina Turner
The Ike & Tina Turner Revue brought the rockin’ “Proud Mary” to CBS Studio 50 in January 1970.
Ella Fitzgerald
Sullivan, an early supporter of jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, had her on the fifth episode of the show on July 18, 1948, and eight times in all. Said Fitzgerald, “His was one of the first shows that gave everybody a chance to be seen and heard. And that was like a new beginning.”
Richard Pryor
Comedian Richard Pryor, one of the first Black artists to comment on social inequities before an integrated audience, appeared on the show 15 times.
Joan Rivers
On May 22, 1966, Sullivan introduced Joan Rivers as “a funny girl you will all love” —and his audience did. Rivers also worked as a writer on the show, creating sketches for the little Italian mouse. “Topo Gigio paid my car payments for six months,” Rivers said. “God bless that little lousy mouse.”
Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin went on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first and only time on March 16, 1969. In a legendary performance, she sang “Raise Your Hand” and “Maybe.”
Simon & Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel made their only show appearance on January 30th, 1966, singing, “I Am a Rock.” After their performance, the song went to number 3.
Ray Charles
Ray Charles appeared twice on the show in 1967 and 1968. On December 3rd, 1967, he and Billy Preston performed “Agent Double-O-Soul” and Charles sang a cover of “Yesterday” and his hit “What’d I Say.”
The Ed Sullivan Show streams for free on Freevee or check out edsullivan.com or The Ed Sullivan Show on YouTube.
