Some people were meant for the spotlight of show business and some were not. And although Ed Sullivan was a well-respected newspaper columnist, few would have ever imagined him in the role of television host. With his odd way of speaking, quirky mannerisms and clear awkwardness in front an audience, it seemed painfully obvious that Ed wasn’t going to last very long as the star of his own variety series. But there was one thing that network execs didn’t count on – that millions of television viewers would embrace this unlikely host, imperfections and all, thanks to his uncanny ability to spot up-and-coming talent. As a result, he would become a beloved television personality for the astounding 24 seasons that The Ed Sullivan Show remained on the air.

Making his television debut in 1948, Ed’s first show was The Toast of the Town, a variety show resembling the bygone days of vaudeville. The show boasted an unusual and eclectic mix of every type of performer one could imagine, from ballet dancers to opera singers, from comedians to circus performers, and eventually, some of the biggest acts that a new type of music called "rock and roll" would ever produce. As an example of Ed’s formidable booking skills, his debut episode featured Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and for good measure, some singing firemen, a boxing referee, a ballerina, and a classical pianist. Ed had managed to cover just about any viewer’s particular entertainment tastes.

The critics may have found plenty to complain about and ridicule, but audiences kept tuning in, and in 1955, the overwhelming popularity of the show convinced the powers that be to rename it The Ed Sullivan Show. Ratings eventually went through the roof when Ed booked a young singer from Tupelo, Mississippi named Elvis Presley, and again a few years later when he introduced four British lads who called themselves The Beatles. Also extraordinary for the era was Sullivan’s insistence on spotlighting black artists, with stars such as Dionne Warwick, Sammy Davis Jr., The Supremes, Aretha Franklin and the Jackson 5 all getting a chance to perform.

Throughout the 50s and 60s, The Ed Sullivan Show was must-watch television for millions of American families. As the 70s approached, however, the show’s ratings started to fumble with younger viewers, and CBS, ever mindful of this important demographic, finally decided to pull the plug on Ed in 1971. He passed away three years after the show’s demise, having made a profound impact on the history of television, in no small part due to his formidable ability to spot talent, and his bravery in presenting it. Today, the theater that hosted his show proudly bears his name, and now presents today’s performers via another quirky host with odd mannerisms named David Letterman.