First Aired: June 1st, 1948
Status: Ended
Network: CBS
Summary: Welcome to the Toast of the Town guide at TV Tome.
The Toast of the Town guide covers the first 8 seasons of Ed Sullivan's long-running variety series. (Seasons 9 through 24 are on the The Ed Sullivan Show guide.) In 1948, the fledgling CBS television network was planning a weekly variety series. Newpaper columnist Ed Sullivan was chosen as host. The series premiered on June 20, 1948. From the very first broadcast, Mr. Sullivan was criticized for his lack of charisma. He looked stiff, awkward and uncomfortable. But Sullivan had an understanding of show business and his show gradually gained a following.
On September 18, 1955, the series was given its new title The Ed Sullivan Show Thanks to everyone who's helped on this guide, including - --Jim Brent (of Burbank, CA), who provided most of the guest lists from 1952 through 1960.
--Ben Hallums Rowe And thanks to Historic Films for their on-line database. Their website has been very helpful in verifing guest li
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Season 4
Episode 1: Hedy Lamarr; Pat O'Brien; Mimi Benzell
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Hedy Lamarr --Pat O'Brien --Mimi Benzell
Episode 5: Sarah Churchill / John O'Hare / Myron Cohen
Air Date: -
Summary: --Jacques Cordon (from France) - unicyclist doing stunts. --Carol Bruce (singer) - ""My Bill"" and ""Blues in the Night"" --Myron Cohen (stand-up comedian) - comedy monologue --Lauritz Melchoir (tenor, of the Metropolitan Opera) - sings ""Longren's Farewell"" and ""Without A Song."" --Tim Herbert and Don Saxon (comedians) - Psychiatrist Routine --Sarah Churchill and John O'Hare perform the balcony scene from ""Romeo and Juliet"" --Reginald Gardiner (British actor & comedian) --Audience bow - Harry Newman (former All-American Michigan quarterback) --Audience bow - Tommy Kerrigan (pro-golfer)
Episode 6: Peggy Lee; Dave Barbour; Jerome Hines; Flora Robson
Air Date: -
Summary: Guests - --Peggy Lee - ""Show Me the Way to Get Out of This World"" & "" La Vie en Rose"" --Dave Barbour (Peggy Lee's husband, accompanying her on guitar) Additional guests (scheduled to appear) - --Jerome Hines (opera singer) --Flora Robson (British actress) - performing scenes from her Broadway play ""Black Chiffon""
Episode 7: Margaret Truman; Victor Borge; Smith & Dale; Cornelia Otis Skinner
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Margaret Truman (singer, daughter of Harry S. Truman)
--Victor Borge (comedian, pianist) --Smith and Dale (comedy team) --Cornelia Otis Skinner (actress & author)
Episode 8: King Cole Trio; Nanette Fabray; Buster Keaton; Milton Berle
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --The Nat King Cole Trio --Nanette Fabray --Buster Keaton --Milton Berle
Episode 9: Buster Keaton; Arthur Lake; Jimmy Nelson; Mayor Impellitteri
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Buster Keaton --Arthur Lake --Jimmy Nelson --Vincent R. Impellitteri (New York City mayor)
Episode 10: Victor Borge; Jerome Hines; Victor Moore
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Victor Borge --Jerome Hines --Victor Moore
Episode 12: Roberta Peters; Jean Carroll; Ana Ricardo; Ben Wrigley
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Roberta Peters (opera singer) --Jean Carroll (comedian) --Ana Ricardo --Ben Wrigley
Episode 13: Buster Keaton; Mimi Benzell; Jack E. Leonard
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Buster Keaton --Mimi Benzell --Jack E. Leonard (comedian) --Princeton Triangle Club
Episode 14: Victor Borge; Phil Rizzuto; Nancy Walker; Eleanor Steber
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Victor Borge --Phil Rizzuto --Nancy Walker --Eleanor Steber --Cornelia Otis Skinner
Episode 15: David Niven; Ted Mack; Lauritz Melchior
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --David Niven --Ted Mack --Lauritz Melchior
Episode 16: Mimi Benzell; Ben Wrigley; George Johnstone
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Mimi Benzell --Ben Wrigley --George Johnstone
Episode 18: Anna Maria Alberghetti / James Melton / Sam Snead
Air Date: -
Summary: Guests - --Anna Maria Alberghetti (14-year-old singer) - sings the Aria from ""Nightingale"" & ""The Rose"" --Joey Adams (stand-up routine, with Ed) --Billy Graves & Sons (tap dancing routine) --Joey Adams, Billy Graves & Sons - tap dance to ""Sunny Side Of The Street"" --James Melton (from the Metropolitan Opera) - ""Somewhere Beyond The Sea"" & ""Soul Is A Witness For My Lord"" --The Carters (roller skating family) - skate to ""California Here I Come"" --Audience bows - James Edwards, Bob Williams, Sugar Ray Robinson --Sam Snead (golf pro) - gives golf lesson, with broken wrist. Joined on stage by Sugar Ray Robinson & Bob Williams. --Moira Shearer (ballet dancer) --Moira Shearer & John Hart - dance the Adagio from ""Sleeping Beauty""
Episode 19: Margaret Truman; Jan Murray; Roland Young; Jimmy Wakeley
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Margaret Truman (singer, daughter of Harry S. Truman) --Jan Murray --Roland Young --Jimmy Wakeley (cowboy singer)
Episode 20: Gloria Swanson; Roberta Peters; Vaughn Monroe
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Gloria Swanson (actress) --Roberta Peters (opera singer) --Vaughn Monroe --The Harmonicats --Harold Barnes --Granny Hamner (of the Philadelphia Phillies)
Episode 21: Nancy Walker; Margot Fonteyn; Russell Nype
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Nancy Walker --Margot Fonteyn --Russell Nype
Episode 25: Helen Forrest; James Melton; Byron Nelson; Trini Reyes
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Helen Forrest --James Melton --Byron Nelson --Trini Reyes (flamenco dancer) --Chaz Chase
Episode 29: Les Paul & Mary Ford / Douglas Fairbanks Jr. / Phil Spitalny
Air Date: -
Summary: Guests - --Les Paul & Mary Ford - ""On How High The Moon,"" ""Crying"" & ""Old Fashioned Motel In The Sky."" --Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (actor) - talks about his European adventure & reads from Kipling's ""If"" --The Irish Memory Review - performs an Irish Jig --Martin Keane (Irish tenor with step dancers) - ""A Little Bit Of Heaven"" --Mickey Carton, Francis Flanagan & Irish Step Dancers - ""Rickets Hornpipe"" --Artie Dan (correct name?) - fast talking comedian --Phil Spitalny and His Hour of Charm Orchestra - ""Voices Of Spring"" by Strauss, Mendelssohn's ""Spring Song"" & ""April Song"" --Nino (trained animal act, with dog tricks)
--Audience bow - Jane Wunter (Miss New York press photographer) --On-stage bow - Jack Dempsey
Episode 31: Jane Froman; Harvey Stone; Bill Tabbert; Peter Lind Hayes & Mary Healy
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Jane Froman --Harvey Stone --Bill Tabbert --Peter Lind Hayes & Mary Healy --Byron Nelson --The Dunhill Trio --The Shyrettos
Episode 38: Frankie Laine; Roberta Peters; Pinky Lee; Tucson Boys Chorus
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Frankie Laine --Roberta Peters --Pinky Lee --Tucson Boys Chorus --Elsa and Waldo
Episode 39: Jan Peerce; Walter Abel; Bil Baird; Joyce Bryant
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Jan Peerce (opera singer) --Walter Abel (actor) --Joyce Bryant (actress) --Bil Baird (puppeteer) --Hammond's Birds
Episode 45: Robert Merrill; Jane Morgan; Jersey Joe Walcott
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Robert Merrill (baritone opera singer) --Jane Morgan (singer) --Jersey Joe Walcott (heavyweight boxer) --Eddie S. Dworchek
Episode 51: Dolores Gray; Buster Keaton; Arlene Dahl; Henny Youngman
Air Date: -
Summary: Scheduled guests - --Dolores Gray (guest host) --Buster Keaton --Arlene Dahl --Henny Youngman (comedian) --Dick Danna --Andre and Bonnie
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