Ed Sullivan with the Beatles
February 9, 1964
The Super Bowl is one of the most highly watched television events of the year and yesterday’s was no exception. But 61 years ago, another team stepped in front of the camera and change music and lives forever: the Beatles.
Boomers will remember the night that the lads from Liverpool took the stage on one of the most popular talent variety shows of all time: The Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles were already well known in the UK and Europe, but their February 9 appearance for the first time on American TV on an iconic show created immediate market share for their music.
But every product needs great distribution, and the Beatles owe much to Mr. Sullivan’s plan to bring them to America. “The debut episode was a television hit. Its 73 million viewers represented more than 60 percent of all television viewers in the U.S. that evening. The episode instantly became the most-watched TV event of its time.”
The argument can be made that but for Ed Sullivan, the Beatle’s ultimate success might have been delayed or diminished. If you weren’t around to watch their appearance on the show, or were and are up for a little nostalgia, take a few minutes for a music history lesson (a short video of the Fab Four performing): On This Day in 1964, 73 Million Americans Tuned in to Watch the Biggest Act in Music.
