Sundays with Sullivan: How the Ed Sullivan Show Brought Elvis, the Beatles, and Culture to America (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Ed Sullivan, who could not sing, dance, or act, was TV's greatest showman in its early years. For 23 years, from 1948 to 1971, he hosted America's premiere variety show every Sunday night on CBS, on which he introduced an eclectic array of talent that included everything from opera singers to dancing bears to Elvis Presley and the Beatles. This book is an inside view of The Ed Sullivan Show and the unusual story of one of the most unlikely television stars who played host to such diverse talents as Van Cliburn, Rudolf Nureyev, Robert Goulet, Richard Pryor, and The Rolling Stones. With his distinctive nasal voice, Sullivan regularly promised audiences a really big shew and delivered by offering up virtually every form of twentieth-century entertainment. Bernie Ilson, the Sullivan show's P.R. man for eight years, takes us on a trip down memory lane to revisit one of the most popular shows in television history.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (December 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589793900
• ISBN-13: 978-1589793903
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #262,012 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a Gem, February 1, 2009

By	Robert Malina (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For anyone who enjoyed "The Ed Sullivan Show" -- or who just wants to know more about one of television's historic successes -- this book is a gem. Full of backstage tidbits and inside info on Ed and his frequent guests. Wonderful vignettes about the early years of television from the perspective of a real insider.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sundays with Sullivan, January 25, 2009

By	Gilbert Gotfried (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Interesting to learn how Ed Sullivan grew from young sports reporter to a renowned TV impresario. What I found to be most fascinating was the operations of his press agent, Bernie Ilson, who is also the auther of this book. The many clear photos added much enjoyment and value in the reading.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating read, February 3, 2009

By	Edwina Marks (Copiague, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A book for every generation --- those of us who remember our own family's Sundays with Sullivan; and the younger people who want to know more about how Elvis got his start and how The Beatles began. Ilson explains how Ed Sullivan brought the cultural world into the homes of people all across the U.S. who wouldn't otherwise have known the joys of Ballet, Opera, etc.
A great gift - filled with terrific photos.