ED SULLIVAN SHOW {A.K.A. TOAST OF THE TOWN} (LUCILLE BALL, DESI ARNAZ, THE AMES BROTHERS, ORSON WELLES, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN, RICKIE LAYNE) (TV)
Summary
One in this series of variety programs presided over by Ed Sullivan.
This program begins with Sullivan explaining why Lucille Ball was scheduled to appear on the show, until plans changed. By way of explanation, a sketch features Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz portraying themselves at home when learning about Sullivan’s request to have them as guests. When Sullivan stops by the home, Ball offers to show a scene of domestic bliss from her new film with Arnaz, "Forever, Darling," on Sullivan's show. However, the clip that she plays for Sullivan shows the couple bickering, after which Ball mangles the film print and raises Sullivan's wrath. The scene cuts to Sullivan explaining that Ball will no longer be on the show, and that Arnaz will instead appear to sing the film's title tune with The Ames Brothers. As the quartet members walk on stage with Arnaz, Ball tries to pass herself off as a fifth Ames brother, Irving. When her ruse is discovered, she slinks off and Arnaz and the brothers sing the song. Next, The Ames Brothers sing "I'm Going to Love You," after which each brother takes a turn recreating the singing style of popular performers Frankie Laine, Billy Epstein, Nat King Cole, and Ezio Pinza when crooning a signature tune. Ball then returns to the stage and she and Sullivan "make peace" when discussing Ball and Arnaz's ongoing work with the American Heart Association.
Sullivan then introduces songwriting team Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. He asks them about their new Broadway show, "Pipe Dream," and questions how they turned John Steinbeck's novel "Cannery Row" into a musical. They explain that they are continuing to make changes to the production, despite the fact that it has already had its official Broadway opening. They subsequently show clips of four songs performed in the show: Judy Tyler (Suzy) singing ""Everybody's Got a Home But Me"; William Johnson (Doc) singing "The Man I Used To Be"; G.D. Wallace (Mac), Mike Kellin (Hazel), Jenny Workman (Kitty) and Annabelle Goldas (Sonya) singing "A Lopsided Bus"; and Tyler and Johnson singing "All at Once You Love Her."
Next, Orson Welles performs a scene from the NYC production he is currently directing of "King Lear," in which he plays the title role. Lastly, ventriloquist Rickie Layne and his dummy Velvel perform a comedy skit with Sullivan before Sullivan signs off for the night. Also includes in-studio commercials for Lincoln-Mercury automobiles from Sullivan, as well as a promo for the following week's show.
(Series title varies; as "Toast of the Town,"1948-1955; as "The Ed Sullivan Show," 1955-1971.)
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: February 5, 1956 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:27
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: 106009
- GENRE: Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Music; Variety
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1948-1971
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Lincoln-Mercury automobiles
- TV - Promos - "The Ed Sullivan Show"
CREDITS
- Marlo Lewis … Producer
- Ed Sullivan … Producer
- John Wray … Director
- Ray Bloch … Music by
- Ed Sullivan … Host
- Desi Arnaz … Guest, Performer
- Lucille Ball … Guest, Performer
- Orson Welles … Guest, Performer
- Ames Brothers, The … Guest, Performer
- Rickie Layne … Guest, Performer
- Richard Rodgers … Guest
- Oscar Hammerstein II … Guest
- Judy Tyler … Performer
- William Johnson (See also: Bill Johnson) … Performer
- G.D. Wallace … Performer
- Mike Kellin … Performer
- Jenny Workman … Performer
- Annabelle Goldas … Performer
- Nat King Cole
- Billy Epstein
- Frankie Laine
- Ezio Pinza
- John Steinbeck