In the Know About "The Ed Sullivan Show" Quiz

Answer: Toast of the Town

Ed Sullivan hosted the "Toast of the Town" variety show from the first program on June 20, 1948. The name changed to "The Ed Sullivan Show" on September 25, 1955. Before television Ed had been a newspaper columnist and radio show host. He did not sing or dance but was able to get artists on his show that could performed very well. Many artists got their first break on his show.

Answer: The Doors

The Doors were to make their first appearance on the show on September 17, 1967. During rehearsal they were asked to change some words in the song "Light My Fire". They said they would come up with something but during the live performance sang the original version.

This was their first and last time on the show. Ed Sullivan did not particularly like The Rolling Stones, mainly due to their appearance. They were asked to change the lyrics to a song, and unlike The Doors, they obliged, and were invited back.

They appeared six times on the show. The Dave Clark Five appeared 12 times on the show and Herman's Hermits appeared 3 times.

Answer: Martin and Lewis

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis performed on that first night with composers Rodgers and Hammerstein, the American jazz singer Monica Lewis, a ballerina, boxing referee, a singing fireman, another comedian duo and a female dance group called the Toastettes.

Answer: Introduced Holly incorrectly and interfered with the performance

This show December 26, 1958 was their second and last performance on the show. Buddy wanted to sing "Oh Boy" but Ed was against it as he thought it did not fit the audience. Buddy went along with the song and Ed introduced Buddy's name incorrectly and unplugged the amplifier during the guitar sequence.

Answer: Charles Laughton

Ed Sullivan had been involved in a car accident and was still recovering on September 9, 1956. The British actor Charles Laughton was the stand-in host in New York and introduced Elvis in a studio in Hollywood. Elvis was in Hollywood for the opening of his first movie "Love Me Tender". On January 6, 1957, Elvis made his third and final appearance on the show. However, on this occasion he was only shown from the waist up, while on live camera.

Answer: Wayne and Shuster

Wayne and Shuster were a Canadian comedy duo made up of Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster. They appeared on both Canadian and USA television and during WWII they travelled in Europe entertaining troops. They appeared a record 58 times on the show. Topo Gigio appeared 50 times, comedian Jack Carter 49 times and the soprano Roberta Peters made 41 appearances on the show.

Answer: The Dave Clark Five

The Dave Clark Five were the second British group to follow The Beatles on the show. They appeared a record 18 times during the 1960s. The Beatles lead the way for British groups and appeared nine times on the show. The Rolling Stones made six appearances on the show and before one of their performances, Ed Sullivan insisted they wash their hair. Gerry and the Pacemakers appeared only three times on the show and on their second appearance on May 5, 1964 they were accompanied by the Liverpool FC in the audience.

Answer: 73 million

It is estimated that 73 million tuned into the show that night and Fred Kaps, the Dutch magician unfortunately had do the act that followed the Beatles. On that first appearance George Harrison had a temperature and did not speak while being interviewed after the show. The Beatles appeared nine times on the show. It is estimated that 125 million tuned in on February 28, 1983 to watch the last episode of the TV series "M.A.S.H."

Answer: Bob Dylan

Ed Sullivan wanted Bob Dylan to either do a different song or change the lyrics to his proposed song "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues". The studio executives thought the lyrics were too political and and indicating communism in the lines. Bob Dylan stormed out after the dress rehearsal and was never invited back to appear on the show. BB King (1925-2015) made only one appearance on the show and that was on October 18, 1970 together with George Burns, The Carpenters and Tony Bennett. Janis Joplin (1943-1970) made only one appearance and that was on March 16, 1969. James Brown appeared twice on May 1 and October 30 in 1966.

Answer: The Ritz Brothers

The Three Stooges (Moe, Larry and Curly) appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show" a number of times, however, it was on their first appearance on May 14, 1961 that he introduced them as The Ritz Brothers. Why Ed introduced them as The Ritz Brothers has never been known, however, The Ritz Brothers were an American comedy trio who appeared in nightclubs and movies from 1925 to the late 1960s.

The Ritz Brothers did appear on the show on October 29, 1961 along with the Everly Brothers and Robert Goulet. The Smothers Brothers (Dick and Tom) were an American duo act who performed as singers, musicians and comedians.