Most of us know Ed Sullivan as, well, Ed Sullivan—the legendary host of “The Ed Sullivan Show,” which ran from 1948 to 1971.
Most of us know Ed Sullivan as, well, Ed Sullivan—the legendary host of “The Ed Sullivan Show,” which ran from 1948 to 1971, and was responsible for playing a role in introducing some of the most iconic music stars in history from Nat King Cole, Elvis and James Brown, to The Jackson 5, The Beatles and The Supremes. If you know your music history, then you're already more than aware that “The Ed Sullivan Show” was the defining place for an artist to perform throughout the late 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s.
I’ve said this before, and I will say it again: if you were on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” you knew you had officially made it big, and many of our biggest musical legends delivered some of their most noteworthy televised performances on the show. What “Sunday Best” also explores, however, is Sullivan’s early career as a sportswriter, diving specifically into his days working at the “New York Evening Graphic.”
It was here where Sullivan began taking an opposing stance towards racial divide, criticizing N.Y.U.’s football program for benching a Black player when the University of Georgia came to town. Of the experience, Sullivan is heard telling David Frost in an interview, “My parents knew these things were wrong … it wasn’t broad-minded, it was just sensible.”
Netflix/Getty Images
Additionally, in a column entitled "N.Y.U. Draws Color Line,” Sullivan added, “What a shameful state of affairs this is — Myers risking his neck for a school that will turn around and bench him because the University of Georgia asks that the color line be drawn. If a New York university allows the Mason-Dixon Line to be erected in the center of its playing field, then that university should disband its football season for all time.”
Another heartfelt, standout piece by Sullivan is an article entitled “Blackbird,” written for the August 7, 1936, edition of the “Daily News,” which chronicled Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics. In it, Sullivan wrote, “A Blackbird traveled 4,000 miles to Berlin, and sang his song better than it had ever been sung before...And it gave him gold medals and three little oak trees on which to perch, but the Blackbird three times was coldly and cruelly snubbed…Adolf Hitler snubbed him because there is a new and cruel philosophy that a man who hates Jews is better than a colored man…It is an interesting point.”
Newspapers/MPS Legacy
He continued: “Let’s weigh the evidence…Just what types of Jews were killed? On the outskirts of Berlin, one sunny day, they killed a Jew who was a father of five children, the oldest of whom was 11…They were very ordinary children…They played with dolls, and they ate bread and milk, and they played house, and they had their little friends down the street. And with their friends, they played jacks and tic-tac-toe and the other games children delight in playing. At night, they rushed to the door of their house to greet their father, and they kissed him. They did not know he was a Jew…They only knew in their tiny hearts that they loved him, and he loved them.”
*The full piece is above*
As for “Sunday Best,” you’re greeted with HD archival footage, and interviews conducted with Smokey Robinson and Harry Belafonte before his passing in 2023, alongside an interview with Jackie and Tito Jackson before the latter’s passing in late 2024, as they recalled The Jackson 5’s first time performing on the show (which also marked their national television debut). Additional historic performances include The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Elvis, Tina Turner, Nina Simone and more.
If you are looking for an engaging watch that is a literal journey through music history, I highly recommend giving “Sunday Best” a watch. You will laugh, sing, dance and cry all at the same time.
MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS:
- The Nike Ja 3 is officially on the way (and it's fire)
- I tried Paige Bueckers' new (and favorite) Wingstop meal—here's my review
- Stephen Curry reveals his true feelings on Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us'
- Taylor Rooks shares surprise wedding with guests Kevin Durant, Jack Harlow
- Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen is now the ‘Director of Billustration’ at New Era
Category: General Sports
