Over the course of two decades, Ed Sullivan (1902-1974) brought 10,000 performers into the homes of American viewers on his Sunday night television program. Some of America's favorite stars gained national exposure for the first time after appearing on his show, most notably The Beatles, but also Woody Allen, Jackie Mason, Phyllis Diller, the Singing Nun, Richard Pryor, and Rowan and Martin.

Ed Sullivan was a stone-faced, awkward man who brought more talent and sparkle to television than perhaps anyone else, reigning as TV's "king of variety" for 23 years. He had a knack for picking the acts that America would enjoy. He could read an audience. If his test audience did not like the performer in question, the rest of the country would not see that performance on their televisions on Sunday night.

Early Influences

Edward Vincent Sullivan was born in an Irish and Jewish section of Harlem in...