Behind The Scenes At The ED SULLIVAN SHOW…Part 1 (of 7)
THE RCA TK30 ERA: About the only way I could think of to present these 120+ images from one of television’s most storied shows, is to break the batches down based on the cameras in use. At the time this multi-decade epic began in 1948, the show was called TOAST OF THE TOWN and was broadcast live from CBS Studio 51 (The Maxine Elliot Theater at 109 W 39TH Street, photo above) using RCA TK30 cameras.
These historical images are from the CBS Photo Archives available through Getty Images and are presented here to assist researchers and television historians in identifying the television equipment in use over the decades and is offered here in a purely educational/instructional forum.
To start us off, this photo is from dress rehersal of the debut show, June 30, 1948 and among the guests on stage are composers Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstien II (center behind Ed) and circled are Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin.
NEW YORK – AUGUST 20,1950: Producer Marlo Lewis (L) follows the acts during rehearsal for “Toast of the Town” hosted by Ed Sullivan at the Maxine Elliott Theater in New York, New York.(Photo by Steve Oroz/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 18,1951: Ed Sullivan listens to young Paul Schon play “Army Air Corp” on his clarinet during rehearsal for “Toast of the Town” hosted by Ed Sullivan at the Maxine Elliott Theater in New York, New York.(Photo by Steve Oroz/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)NEW YORK – OCTOBER 28,1951: Anne Jeffreys sings “Dance My Darling” on “Toast of the Town” show hosted by Ed Sullivan at the Maxine Elliott Theater in New York, New York.(Photo by Steve Oroz/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)NEW YORK – OCTOBER 28,1951: Anne Jeffreys sings “Dance My Darling” on “Toast of the Town” show hosted by Ed Sullivan at the Maxine Elliott Theater in New York, New York.(Photo by Steve Oroz/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)NEW YORK – JUNE 29,1952: Guest Hosts Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy perform on the “Toast of the Town” show hosted by Ed Sullivan at the Maxine Elliott Theater in New York, New York.(Photo by Steve Oroz/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)NEW YORK – JULY 18: CBS television variety show, “Toast of the Town” (alt.: The Ed Sullivan Show). The program features host and emcee Ed Sullivan (pictured). Photo Dated: Sunday, July 18, 1948. New York, NY. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – JULY 18: CBS television variety show, “Toast of the Town” (alt.: The Ed Sullivan Show). The program features host and emcee Ed Sullivan. Guests include jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald (pictured right) and tap dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (pictured left). Photo Dated: Sunday, July 18, 1948. New York, NY. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – JULY 18: CBS television variety show, “Toast of the Town” (alt.: The Ed Sullivan Show). The program features host and emcee Ed Sullivan. Guests include, Toy and Wing, Ella Fitzgerald and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Photo Dated: Sunday, July 18, 1948. New York, NY. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – JULY 18: CBS television variety show, “Toast of the Town” (alt.: The Ed Sullivan Show); the program features host and emcee Ed Sullivan, guests include Toy and Wing (pictured: acrobatic tap dance duo of Dorothy Takahashi and Paul Wing). Photo Dated: Sunday, July 18, 1948. New York, NY. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – JULY 18: CBS television variety show, “Toast of the Town” (alt.: The Ed Sullivan Show). The program features host and emcee Ed Sullivan (pictured left). Pictured with host Ed Sullivan is jazz vocalist, Ella Fitzgerald (right) Photo Dated: Sunday, July 18, 1948. New York, NY. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – JULY 18: CBS television variety show, “Toast of the Town” (alt.: The Ed Sullivan Show). The program features host and emcee Ed Sullivan. Pictured: Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (tap dancer) – after a solo dance, does a “Hard Shoe” encore with The Toastettes. Photo Dated: Sunday, July 18, 1948. New York, NY. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – JULY 18: CBS television variety show, “Toast of the Town” (alt.: The Ed Sullivan Show). The program features host and emcee Ed Sullivan. Pictured: Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (tap dancer) – after a solo dance, does a “Hard Shoe” encore with The Toastettes. Photo Dated: Sunday, July 18, 1948. New York, NY. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: CBS television variety show, ‘Toast of the Town’ (alt.: The Ed Sullivan Show). The program features host and emcee Ed Sullivan. Pictured here at left is orchestra conductor Ray Bloch with with The Dennis Sisters (a vaudeville song-and-comedy duo). New York, NY. September 12, 1948. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: CBS television variety show, ‘Toast of the Town’ (alt.: The Ed Sullivan Show). The program features host and emcee Ed Sullivan. Pictured is the Ray Bloch (standing with headset on), musical director of The Ed Sullivan Show, with musicians. September 19, 1948. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 19: CBS television variety show, ‘Toast of the Town’ (alt.: The Ed Sullivan Show). The program features host and emcee Ed Sullivan. Pictured is a cameraman filming Emerson radios. Emerson Radio Corporation was an early sponsor of the program. September 19, 1948. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – JULY 2: Staff and crew members work on the broadcast of an episode of the CBS television program, Toast of the Town (The Ed Sullivan Show). Image dated: July 2, 1948 New York, NY. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – JULY 2: Crew members work on the broadcast of an episode of the CBS television program, Toast of the Town (The Ed Sullivan Show). Image dated: July 2, 1948 New York, NY. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)NEW YORK – AUGUST 20,1950: Ray Bloch leads his orchestra during rehearsal for “Toast of the Town” hosted by Ed Sullivan at the Maxine Elliott Theater in New York,New York.(Photo by Steve Oroz/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
How Nostalgic Here’s an old 3 sided test pattern rack. Notice the ‘Willie Wirehand’ statuette in the background. Willie was the mascot/trademark of the Rural Electrification Association and well known in the ’50s and ’60s. He was called ‘Ready Kilowatt’ too and was a mascot for electric utility companies. Source
Picture Parade #5…Early Color Testing Days At The Colonial Theater It was late November 1952 when the four RCA TK40 prototype cameras arrived at The Colonial. There was a year of almost around the clock testing of cameras, monitors, switching and transmitting equipment. The first production models of the TK40, twenty five in all, were […]
December 24,1951…Behind The Scenes Inside NBC Studio 8H 1st “Hallmark Hall Of Fame”…1st “Amahl And The Night Visitors” This story has two parts. Below the 3 photos of the RCA TK41s shooting this production at NBC Brooklyn, is an interesting first hand account from a TV magazine writer who was there, pointing out the production […]
When CBS televised its first Masters in 1956, the network used seven cameras and covered action from the final four holes. This week at Augusta National, for the 61st consecutive year, considerably more personnel and technology will be in place. CBS will offer nine hours of live coverage this weekend, and it can show action […]
