This was a revelation to me. Who knew that
Ed Sullivan was woke. If you are of my generation, you grew up watching the
Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday nights. He had everyone on at some point in his
23-year run. He was a fan of vaudeville and after it began to die, he transferred
it to his show and it was called a variety show. After the popularity of
Sullivan's show, variety shows sprung up on all the channels. Three at the
time. I love seeing the old variety shows, Sullivan, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop.
A chance to see wonderful acts. And some very obscure acts. Sullivan didn't
just have musical performers on - he had jugglers, ventriloquists, acrobats,
puppeteers. Whoever he thought the audience would like.
He had the personality of a plank of wood.
He didn't tell jokes or anecdotes. He just introduced the guests. It was
about them. Maybe that was why he lasted so long. You don't get tired of
a plank of wood. But this very enjoyable documentary focuses on his support
for black performers and his refusal to back off from inviting them on his
show and showing them affection. He began in the 1950s and we all know how
racial matters were. Particularly. in the south. This documentary delves
very much into the state of the country at the time. Sullivan invited all
the great black performers on to his show. The clips of them are wonderful.
I have always thought Sullivan was a dick. Not sure why. Perhaps his inability
to smile. And maybe he was at times, but at least he had the courage of his
convictions. More than most people these days. He was on CBS. Now they would
capitulate to political pressure.
