Entertainment In The 60’sEntertainment In The 60’s

Rock ‘n’ RollRock ‘n’ Roll&&

The Counter CultureThe Counter Culture

The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show was the longest was the longest

running variety series in the history of running variety series in the history of television (1948-1971).television (1948-1971).

““Every Sunday night for more than two Every Sunday night for more than two decades this homely newspaper columnist decades this homely newspaper columnist with peculiar diction and awkward gestures with peculiar diction and awkward gestures brought an incredible variety of brought an incredible variety of entertainment into American homes.”entertainment into American homes.”

The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show Sullivan had no performing ability Sullivan had no performing ability

whatsoever. Comedian Alan King joked, whatsoever. Comedian Alan King joked, “Ed does nothing, but he does it better than “Ed does nothing, but he does it better than anyone else on television.”anyone else on television.”

What Sullivan did have was a keen eye for What Sullivan did have was a keen eye for talent, new talent, comedy and a sense of talent, new talent, comedy and a sense of what would entertain all Americans.what would entertain all Americans.

A former sports columnist, Sullivan also A former sports columnist, Sullivan also enjoyed having athletic heroes on his show.enjoyed having athletic heroes on his show.

The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show Sullivan did not pander to the lowest Sullivan did not pander to the lowest

common denominator.common denominator. His acts ranged from high brow ballet and His acts ranged from high brow ballet and

singers from the Metropolitan Opera.singers from the Metropolitan Opera. He introduced Broadway legends like Pearl He introduced Broadway legends like Pearl

Bailey, Richard Burton and Yule Brynner.Bailey, Richard Burton and Yule Brynner. He also dared to introduce teen culture with He also dared to introduce teen culture with

performers like Elvis Presley, the Beatles performers like Elvis Presley, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.and the Rolling Stones.

The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show Called the ‘Great Stone Face” Sullivan was Called the ‘Great Stone Face” Sullivan was

anything but off camera.anything but off camera. He fought conservative sponsors over his He fought conservative sponsors over his

practice of booking black musicians and practice of booking black musicians and entertainers.entertainers.

He was willing to book teenage counter He was willing to book teenage counter culture acts and fight the network censors to culture acts and fight the network censors to do so.do so.

The Shows DemiseThe Shows Demise

The key to the success of the show was that The key to the success of the show was that Sullivan always had something for every Sullivan always had something for every part of American society and it was all held part of American society and it was all held together with humor and comedy.together with humor and comedy.

Sullivan became the talent scout and Sullivan became the talent scout and cultural commissar for the entire nation, cultural commissar for the entire nation, introducing more than 10,000 performers introducing more than 10,000 performers throughout his career.throughout his career.

CancellationCancellation

Despite being one of the networks highest rated Despite being one of the networks highest rated shows, CBS felt that with the nation divided shows, CBS felt that with the nation divided politically because of the Vietnam War, the politically because of the Vietnam War, the demographics of audiences would become demographics of audiences would become fractured, ending the appeal of Ed Sullivan’s show.fractured, ending the appeal of Ed Sullivan’s show.

So it was that Sullivan went out on top, not by So it was that Sullivan went out on top, not by choice, but because of a network executive’s choice, but because of a network executive’s decision to “modernize” the CBS line-up. Thus, decision to “modernize” the CBS line-up. Thus, the nation’s talent scout was out of a job.the nation’s talent scout was out of a job.

The Ed Sullivan Theater TodayThe Ed Sullivan Theater Today

Today the Ed Sullivan Theater has been Today the Ed Sullivan Theater has been renovated and is in daily use, thanks to late renovated and is in daily use, thanks to late night television host David Letterman who night television host David Letterman who admired Sullivan.admired Sullivan.

The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show

Ed Sullivan introduced Ed Sullivan introduced the Beatles to the the Beatles to the United States on United States on television.television.

This episode remains This episode remains one of the highest one of the highest rated shows in the rated shows in the history of television, history of television, earning a 60 share.earning a 60 share.

Elvis PresleyElvis Presley The King in his entirety may The King in his entirety may

have been photographed in this have been photographed in this photo performing on photo performing on TheThe Ed Ed Sullivan ShowSullivan Show, but this is not , but this is not what the viewing audience at what the viewing audience at home saw.home saw.

In order to get the censors to In order to get the censors to allow Sullivan to broadcast the allow Sullivan to broadcast the King, Sullivan had his camera King, Sullivan had his camera crews film Elvis from the waist crews film Elvis from the waist up, so the viewing audience up, so the viewing audience would not see his “gyrating hips” would not see his “gyrating hips” and be spared the obscene and be spared the obscene dancing of the King.dancing of the King.

The Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones

The World’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll BandThe World’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band

The Controversial BandThe Controversial Band

The Stones, as usual, were a source of The Stones, as usual, were a source of controversy and good for ratings.controversy and good for ratings.

Jagger refused to change the lyrics to Jagger refused to change the lyrics to SatisfactionSatisfaction..

Sullivan simply wiggled the plug to the Sullivan simply wiggled the plug to the camera when the questionable lyric “girlie camera when the questionable lyric “girlie action” was sung. America never saw or action” was sung. America never saw or heard Jagger for that brief instant.heard Jagger for that brief instant.

Sullivan the Task MasterSullivan the Task Master The Stones returned to follow up their highly rated 1964 The Stones returned to follow up their highly rated 1964

performance several times.performance several times. In 1967 they were to perform their hit single, In 1967 they were to perform their hit single, Lets Spend Lets Spend

The Night Together.The Night Together. Sullivan said change the words or you don’t go on. The Sullivan said change the words or you don’t go on. The

Stones refused only to see Sullivan call their bluff.Stones refused only to see Sullivan call their bluff. They relented and changed the lyrics to “lets spend some They relented and changed the lyrics to “lets spend some

time together. time together. The Stones were about to launch a U.S. tour and feared The Stones were about to launch a U.S. tour and feared

the damage Sullivan could do by canceling their the damage Sullivan could do by canceling their performance on his show.performance on his show.

Sullivan had helped to launch the Stones in the U.S. and Sullivan had helped to launch the Stones in the U.S. and could damage them just as easily.could damage them just as easily.

The Highest Rated Show EverThe Highest Rated Show Ever

When Sullivan introduced the Beatles to When Sullivan introduced the Beatles to America, that night’s episode earned a 60 America, that night’s episode earned a 60 share.share.

It is still the highest rated television show It is still the highest rated television show episode.episode.

The British Are ComingThe British Are Coming

While Rock ‘N’ Roll had its roots in the U.S. While Rock ‘N’ Roll had its roots in the U.S. and the black bluesmen, the British elevated and the black bluesmen, the British elevated the music and made a triumphant invasion the music and made a triumphant invasion of the United States.of the United States.

Some of the bands of the British Invasion Some of the bands of the British Invasion include well known acts such as The include well known acts such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Yardbirds and others.Kinks, The Yardbirds and others.

Protest MusicProtest Music

As the decade of the 60’s dragged on and As the decade of the 60’s dragged on and became mired in Civil Rights protests and became mired in Civil Rights protests and anti-war protests over the conflict in anti-war protests over the conflict in Vietnam, the music of the era began to Vietnam, the music of the era began to reflect the civil unrest as well, spawning a reflect the civil unrest as well, spawning a genre of rock music known as protest genre of rock music known as protest music.music.

Bob DylanBob Dylan This new folk singer changed American pop This new folk singer changed American pop

music.music. One of the few new acts that was not booked on One of the few new acts that was not booked on

the Ed Sullivan Show.the Ed Sullivan Show. Dylan refused to change the controversial song he Dylan refused to change the controversial song he

wanted to play – Sullivan pulled the plug on the wanted to play – Sullivan pulled the plug on the booking.booking.

Dylan, while successful in his own right as a Dylan, while successful in his own right as a performer, had perhaps even more influence as a performer, had perhaps even more influence as a songwriter.songwriter.

WoodstockWoodstock

One of the definitive moments of the 1960’s One of the definitive moments of the 1960’s took place at the music festival that was took place at the music festival that was staged on a farm in Woodstock, New York.staged on a farm in Woodstock, New York.

The event was plagued by bad weather, The event was plagued by bad weather, drug use, and other problems including poor drug use, and other problems including poor event management.event management.

The event though launched numerous rock The event though launched numerous rock bands into stardom such as Jimi Hendrix.bands into stardom such as Jimi Hendrix.

Altamont – The End Of An EraAltamont – The End Of An Era

Leave it to the “bad boys” of Rock ‘n’ Roll.Leave it to the “bad boys” of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The Stones gave a free concert at Altamont, The Stones gave a free concert at Altamont,

California.California. In their typical desire to be rebellious and In their typical desire to be rebellious and

different, the hired the Hells Angels different, the hired the Hells Angels motorcycle gang to do security for the motorcycle gang to do security for the concert.concert.

Altamont:Altamont: The End of the Summer of Love The End of the Summer of Love

The Stones arrived by helicopter.The Stones arrived by helicopter. Shortly into the concert one of the Hells Angels Shortly into the concert one of the Hells Angels

stabbed one of the concert goers to death near the stabbed one of the concert goers to death near the stage.stage.

The incident was captured on film.The incident was captured on film. Jagger tried to calm the crowd and the Stones Jagger tried to calm the crowd and the Stones

fled.fled. Historians declare the Altamont Concert to be the Historians declare the Altamont Concert to be the

end of the Summer of Love, bringing the turbulent end of the Summer of Love, bringing the turbulent 60’s to a close.60’s to a close.