Ed Sullivan’s Last Show…Clearing Up Some History
Ed Sullivan’s Last Show…Clearing Up Some History
Over the past week, several sites have reported that Ed Sullivan’s last show was on June 6, 1971. This is partly true, but is not the whole story. Here’s the rest of that very sad tale.
As I understand it, CBS announced the cancellation of the show on Tuesday, March 30, 1971. When Sullivan took to the stage that previous Sunday night, March 28th, he did not know that would be his last show, but it was. They did not even allow him to do a farewell show. Having been on air talent for many years, I can tell you this is unfortunately “how it’s done”. Most employers that fire talent feel that another chance on the air to say goodby also opens the door for possible triads against them, so, they do it this way. It’s quite cruel.
Sullivan was furious and very hurt by this and really never forgave CBS for not letting him hit the 25 year mark and for the shabby way they parted ways. After Ed Sullivan’s last live-to-tape show, reruns from that twenty third season ran till June 6th. The last original Sullivan show telecast ( #1068) was on March 28, 1971 with guests Melanie, Joanna Simon, Danny Davis & The Nashville Brass, and Sandler and Young.
The last show to air on June 6, 1971 was episode 20 from February 7, 1971 with Gladys Knight & the Pips singing “If I Were Your Woman” & “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Jerry Vale sang “I Want To Make It With You”, Caterina Valente sang “The Girl from Ipanema” and Peter Nero played the theme from “Love Story” on his piano. Sid Caesar & Carol Channing performed a scene from the play “Four on a Garden”. For comic relief, there was Robert Klein and Pat Henry. The End. Literally.
[…] The Ed Sullivan Show probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of the “rural purge,” but it was one of the shows that was dumped unceremoniously by elitist urban network executives who wanted to destroy anything that “middle America” enjoyed. It’s rather like today’s urban media attacks against country music. Eyes Of A Generation article about Ed Sullivan’s last show. […]
To me there is a malady associated with that show. I call it the “Ed Sullivans”. This phenomena occurs on Sunday nights when the intro music for the show started and I immediately got this sick feeling in my stomach. That music heralded the end of the weekend, the homework that did not get done, the last glimpse of freedom until the agony played itself out and another Sunday night rolled in to take its place. Soon after the show started, though, I was rewarded with the likes of Myron Cohen, Alan King, Topo Gigio and some obscure acrobats from Eastern Europe. On the nights when this oracle opened it’s doors to the Beatles,The Stones and so many other acts that could not yet get any airplay, he provided a venue that we could barely appreciate the value of at the time. And, yes, Bye Bye Birdie nailed it.
He wasn’t a jerk. He wasn’t aloof & shy. He’d just rather be writing his newspaper column vs hosting a tv show. But he enjoyed finding talented performers to showcase on his show.
Was Sullivan the jerk he appeared to be, or just aloof and shy?
Very,very sad that it had to end that way,especially since Ed Sullivan passed away 3 years later in 1974. He deserved so much better.
That’s pretty shabby. Just 4 years earlier CBS named the theater after him. With this they basically said “Don’t let the door of the theater we named after you hit you in the a$$ on the way out.” Ed Sullivan contributed in a big way to the CBS image as the “Tiffany network.”
just a shame on Cant Be Serious
Not exactly the end. He did a few specials after that: Ed Sullivan’s Broadway and one about Clowns. He was no longer mentally fit for the job he loved.
Sad commentary. CBS made boatloads of money on Sullivan’s show, and it was “Appointment TV” on Sunday nights long before that term was minted. Also, he was too classy to dis CBS on the air. He deserved a graceful exit.
Bye Bye Birdie DEIFIED the show. Strange that CBS killed it’s most powerful god.
Ed Sullivan was another one of the programs that I’d love to have on DVD. Sandler and Young were a favorite of mine… interesting thing I saw Ralph Young here in Palm Springs at a CD signing for Keely Smith a few years ago. Had a nice chat with him. Johnny Carson learned from this and that’s why he announced his retirement… since NBC was going to cancel him.
I was very fortunate to have attended TESS in Feb, 1970 as a freshman on a college tour of NYC. Luckily, we were placed down front near the stage in what was really a very small seating area. Nearly half of the seating was taken up by Ray Bloch’s orchestral. BJ Thomas was the musical guest doing Raindrops Keep Falling…..but it was pre recorded as it employed blue screen Chroma Key for special effect of rain. Guess the set up was too elaborate to do live.
A sad statement on the transiency of a career in show business. I watched this show every Sunday my entire childhood. Ed was a star maker for sure. Humble from what I can see.
I’m always a big fan of Ed Sullivan & his show! It is true, CBS should be the ones to blame for not having Ed continue his show on the 25th year. To me, I’ve always imagined how Ed would do his farewell on the 25th year. God Bless Ed.
He did do several specials for CBS after 1971, according to his obituary in The New York Times.
“The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.” – Hunter S. Thompson
That sucks. He made so many stars. No one should be treated like that.
I hope he knew how much the fans appreciated him & his years of Entertainment
Thanks for this. I knew that the last show was a repeat. I watched it every week for many years.