The Ed Sullivan Show was TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from
Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan (above). It is one of the few entertainment
shows to have been run in the same weekly time slot on the same network for
more than two decades. Virtually every type of entertainment from opera singers
to circus acts appeared on the show. The format was essentially the same as
vaudeville.

Ed Sullivan with The Beatles

Ed Sullivan backstage with Elvis Presley

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour aired on CBS-TV from 1967 to 1969. After
conflicts over controversial skits or comments made on the variety show, CBS
television network CEO and President, William S. Paley, abruptly canceled the
show. The reason given was based on the Smothers’ refusal to provide material 
to provide program material content in order to accommodate a review by the
censors before airing. This cancellation led the Brothers to file a successful
breach of contract suit against the network. The show never returned to the 
air, but did win the Emmy Award for that year for best writing.

Shown, left to right, is Jack Benny and the Smothers Brothers, Tommy
and Dick