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.
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Elvis Presley made three appearances on the show. However, for the third and final one he was shot from the waist up to keep from showing his swiveling hips.
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The series was re-titled "The Ed Sullivan Show" on 18 September 1955 (the beginning of the 9th season).
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On 11 August 2009 the US Postal Service issued a pane of twenty 44¢ commemorative postage stamps honoring early USA television programs. A booklet with 20 picture postal cards was also issued. The stamp honoring "The Ed Sullivan Show" (which began as The Ed Sullivan Show) has a picture of its star/host, Ed Sullivan. Other shows honored in the Early TV Memories issue were: The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Dinah Shore Show, Dragnet, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Hopalong Cassidy, The Honeymooners, "The Howdy Doody Show" (original title: The Howdy Doody Show), I Love Lucy, Kukla, Fran and Ollie, Lassie, The Lone Ranger, Perry Mason, The Phil Silvers Show, The Red Skelton Hour, "Texaco Star Theater" (titled The Buick-Berle Show, 1954-1956), The Tonight Show (which began as Tonight!), Twilight Zone, and You Bet Your Life.
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This show was canceled, due to Fred Silverman's infamous "Rural Purge" in 1971. Silverman thought that the show, along with other sitcoms, such as The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres and Hogan's Heroes only appealed to people who lived in rural areas as well as older audiences, especially senior citizens.
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From 1950 until the end of its run in 1971, the show was always telecast in the same time slot, Sunday nights at 8:00 P.M. CBS broadcast it during its entire run.
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