"The Ed Sullivan Show" (1948) "Toast of the Town" (original title), TV series 1948-1971

Director:

Kenneth Whelan

Writers:

Jerry Juhl (sketch writer)
Frank Shuster (1958-1970)
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

Release Date:

20 June 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

The classic prime time variety show most famous for its vaudeville acts and its rock music performances.

Plot Keywords:

Rock Music | Variety | Actor Name In Title | Live Audience | Singer

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Ed Sullivan

...

Himself - Host / ... (1,054 episodes, 1948-1971)

Series Directed by
John Moffitt		(76 episodes, 1968-1970)
Tim Kiley		(5 episodes, 1962-1965)
John Wray		(4 episodes, 1949-1959)
Kenneth Whelan		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Norman Corwin		(2 episodes, 1969)
Frank Shuster		(unknown episodes, 1958-1970)
Johnny Wayne		(unknown episodes, 1958-1970)
Jerry Juhl		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Ed Sullivan	....	executive producer / producer (23 episodes, 1955-1967)
Marlo Lewis	....	executive producer / producer (17 episodes, 1948-1959)
Jack McGeehan	....	associate producer (5 episodes, 1962-1965)
Bob Precht	....	producer (5 episodes, 1962-1965)
Chester Feldman	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Ray Bloch		(7 episodes, 1949-1965)
Buddy Arnold		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Jack Babb		(1 episode, 1962)

Series Art Direction by
Bill Bohnert		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Eddie Pasternak		(5 episodes, 1962-1965)

Series Costume Design by
Leslie Renfield		(4 episodes, 1964-1965)

Series Production Management
Herman Glazer	....	production supervisor (3 episodes, 1964)
Tony Jordan	....	production manager / production supervisor (2 episodes, 1962-1965)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Moffitt	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1964-1965)

Series Art Department
Sam Cecere	....	graphic artist / graphic arts (5 episodes, 1962-1965)
Bill Bohnert	....	settings designer (4 episodes, 1964-1965)

Series Sound Department
Bob Miller	....	audio (2 episodes, 1964)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Greenfield	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1962-1965)
Pat McBride	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
George Moses	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
William McHone	....	costumes (1 episode, 1962)

Series Music Department
Robert Arthur	....	music coordinator (3 episodes, 1962-1964)
Ray Bloch	....	conductor / musical director (2 episodes, 1948-1953)
Will Schaefer	....	orchestrator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Charles Grenier	....	technical director (5 episodes, 1962-1965)
Hugh Lambert	....	choreographer (4 episodes, 1962-1964)
Jack Babb	....	talent coordinator (4 episodes, 1964-1965)
Ken Campbell	....	assistant to producer (4 episodes, 1964-1965)
John Wray	....	choreographer (3 episodes, 1949-1950)
Eddie Brinkman	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Bob Daily	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Kenneth Whelan	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
David Winters	....	choreographer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1948-1971)
• Sullivan Productions (1964-1971)

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1948-1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• The Ed Sullivan Theatre  taping location

Also Known As:

"Toast of the Town" - USA (original title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (1965-1971) | Black and White (1948-1965)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

Cancelled in 1971 by CBS. The decision was a controversial one, since it was made at the end of the 1970-71 season and did not give Sullivan the opportunity to mount a farewell show after more than 20 years on the air. Sullivan would return for a few specials over the next year, however. The Canadian comedy duo of Johnny Wayne & Frank Shuster appeared on the show more often than any other act - nearly 80 appearances.

Quotes:

[Bob Hope has walked in on Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby singing' Road to Morocco']
Bing:What's the problem?
Bob:[pointing at Frank] You're singing our song with him.
Frank:I said I was sorry.
Bob:After all, Dean wouldn't do this to Jerry.
Bing:Bob, I'll tell you what happened. I didn't know you were in town. I heard, or I figured at least, that you'd gone for a ride on the Russian moon.
Frank:[indicating Bob] Ladies and Gentlemen, here's the first man to entertain the troops in Outer Space.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Elvis: The Great Performances, Vol. 3 - From the Waist Up (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

Mahna Mahna

Ed Really Had A Really Big Show... ***1/2

Toast of the Town was another Sunday night specialty of CBS. What a great show that was with Daily News syndicated columnist, Ed Sullivan, headlining a memorable show. The show was produced by his son-in-law Bob Precht.

Ed always gave an opportunity for has beens to be on. Who can forget Senor Wenses, the mime? He had the last laugh by dying over the age of 100 several years ago.

Remember the various imitations of Sullivan? The imitators would clasp their hands or stretch them. They'd always say that we have a really big "shoe" here.

Ed would never forget those stars of yesteryear from his audience. A brief segment would be devoted to having a star of the past stand up in the audience when their name was called. I remember Lillian Roth's name being called out and she stood up. This was either around the time that her biography "I'll Cry Tomorrow" came out or when the great film starring Susan Hayward came out.

What made "The Toast of the Town" so good was the variety of acts that came out. Obviously, Sullivan spared no expense in hiring show people.

The show began with a rousing dance routine with a great theme played. "The Toast of the Town" was a great part of the New York scene of the late 1950s and 1960s.