“Thrilling performance gems: rock ‘n’ roll, Motown, comedy
— something for every conceivable generation.”
— USA Today
THIS MAY, THE TV DVD ARCHIVISTS AT STARVISTA ENTERTAINMENT/TIME LIFE WILL RELEASE A SPECTACULAR DVD COLLECTOR’S EDITION FROM THE LONGEST-RUNNING AND MOST ICONIC PRIME-TIME VARIETY SHOW
IN TELEVISION HISTORY
THE BEST OF THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW
Culled from Over 1,000 Hours of Classic Television, This New, 6-Disc
Retail Collection ($59.95srp) Delivers Unforgettable Performances and Rare Appearances from the Biggest Names in Music, Comedy and Variety, Including Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Carol Burnett, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, Barbra Streisand, and Many More!
Includes Over 2 Hours of Bonus Programming on a New-to-Retail DVD Set Featuring the Only Surviving On-Camera Interview with Ed and Sylvia Sullivan, as Well as Exclusive Interviews with Milton Berle, Phyllis Diller, Johnny Mathis, Michelle Phillips and More
Fairfax, VA (March 10, 2015) – No one had a better eye for talent than Ed Sullivan. That simple fact was confirmed by the broad range of incredible acts he brought into America’s living rooms from his Broadway stage between 1948 and 1971 on the greatest, longest-running prime timevariety show in the history of television. This May, StarVista Entertainment/Time Life will bring home audiences front row seats for THE BEST OF THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW, a 6-disc collector’s set never before available at retail. Priced to add to every TV aficionado’s collection at $59.95srp, the special edition release delivers the biggest names in music, comedy and variety captured in the prime of their careers, as well as all the astonishing novelty acts selected by Ed as his personal favorites, culled from over 1,000 hours of classic television!
Comedian Alan King famously said,”Ed Sullivan can’t sing, can’t dance and can’t tell a joke, but he does it better than anyone else.” And while the host of the eponymous show may not have been as talented as his guests, he had an uncanny ability to spot top-notch talent and welcomed everyone to his stage: politicians, poets, sports idols, Broadway stars, musicians — be they rock, classical, jazz, opera, gospel, pop, rhythm and blues — as well as comedians, novelty acts, children’s entertainment legends, and acts that defied label. Sullivan filled his weekly showcase with something for everyone, and he was so successful at it that he became America’s most powerful cultural arbiter. Presiding over many “firsts” on American television, including appearances by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Jack Benny, Hank Williams, Jr., Itzhak Perlman and Harry Belafonte, Sullivan is probably best remembered for bringing us Elvis Presley’s three historic appearances in 1956/’57, and the Beatles’ three earth-shattering performances in 1964.
In its 23-year run, The Ed Sullivan Show presented a remarkable array of over 10,000 performers and celebrities, including the most spectacular ensemble of stars in show business and THE BEST OF THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW reflects that across 6 carefully curated DVDs: “Unforgettable Performances,” “The All-Star Comedy Special,” “World’s Greatest Novelty Acts,” “Amazing Animal Acts,” the “50th Anniversary Special” and an exclusive bonus disc never before available at retail. The collection includes:
- Rare appearances by Barbra Streisand, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Marlon Brando, Humphrey Bogart, Fred Astaire and more
- Rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest — including Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Buddy Holly, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Byrds, Janis Joplin and more
- Comedic talents Milton Berle, Carol Burnett, George Carlin, Rodney Dangerfield, Phyllis Diller, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, the Smothers Brothers, Flip Wilson and more
- Classic Broadway performances from My Fair Lady, Man of la Mancha and West Side Story
- The best of the daring acrobats, challenging balancing acts and dexterous jugglers-selected by Ed as his personal favorites
- Zippy the roller-skating chimp, Heidi the Talking Dog, the legendary Lipizzaner stallions and more than a dozen other amazing animal acts
- Sullivan in a rare comic sketch with comedy legends Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Day-and-date, StarVista Entertainment/Time Life will also release the DVD single THE BEST OF THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW: UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCES. Hosted by another TV icon, Carol Burnett, this volume features the very best of the sensational talent that Sullivan gathered over the years, including Presley, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, influential performers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, James Brown and Sammy Davis Jr, comedy legends Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, rare performances from Barbra Streisand and Bobby Darin and more. It will retail for $12.95srp.
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THE BEST OF THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW (6 DISCS)
Street Date: May 12, 2015
Price: $59.95srp
Run time: Approx. 7 hours 24 minutes
THE BEST OF THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW:
UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCES (SINGLE)
Street Date: May 12, 2015
Price: $12.95srp
Run time: 98 minutes
