Ed Sullivan

This article is about Ed Sullivan, the person. For his TV show, see The Ed Sullivan Show. For other uses, see Edward Sullivan (disambiguation).

Ed Sullivan
Sullivan in 1955
Born
Edward Vincent Sullivan

(1901-09-28)September 28, 1901
New York City, U.S.
DiedOctober 13, 1974(1974-10-13) (aged 73)
New York City, U.S.
Burial placeFerncliff Cemetery
Occupation(s)Television host, reporter, newspaper columnist
Years active1932–1974
Spouse
Sylvia Weinstein Sullivan
​
​
(m. 1930; died 1973)​
Children1[1]

Edward Vincent Sullivan (September 28, 1901 – October 13, 1974) was an American television host, impresario,[2] sports and entertainment reporter, and syndicated columnist for the New York Daily News and the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate. He was the creator and host of the television variety program Toast of the Town, which in 1955 was renamed The Ed Sullivan Show. Broadcast from 1948 to 1971, it set a record as the longest-running variety show in U.S. broadcast history.[3] "It was, by almost any measure, the last great American TV show", said television critic David Hinckley. "It's one of our fondest, dearest pop culture memories."[4]

Sullivan was a broadcasting pioneer during the early years of American television. As critic David Bianculli wrote, "Before MTV, Sullivan presented rock acts. Before Bravo, he presented jazz and classical music and theater. Before the Comedy Channel, even before there was The Tonight Show, Sullivan discovered, anointed and popularized young comedians. Before there were 500 channels, before there was cable, Ed Sullivan was where the choice was. From the start, he was indeed 'the Toast of the Town'."[5] In 1996, Sullivan was ranked number 50 on TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time".[6]

  1. ^ "Elizabeth 'Betty' Sullivan Precht". Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. June 9, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  2. ^ Maguire 2006, p. 222.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference abouted was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Nachman 2009, Kindle location 7662–7670.
  5. ^ Nachman 2009, Kindle location 7670.
  6. ^ "50 Greatest TV Stars Of All Time". TV Guide (December 14–20). 1996. ASIN B0061QIQ6C.