From left: comedy team of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, 1946 poster

The duo of Dean Martin (“straight man”) and Jerry Lewis (“comedian”) first
met in 1945 and staged their first show together as a replacement act when
the scheduled singer was unable to perform at Club 500 in Atlantic City, NJ.

Their success at the club led to a series of well-paying engagements up
and down the Eastern seaboard, culminating with a triumphant run at New
York’s Copacabana. The team split up in 1956.

  Wonga Phillip "Phil" Harris (June 24, 1904 – August 11, 1995)

Harris was a singer, songwriter, jazz musician, actor, and comedian. He
was successful as an orchestra leader, but is remembered today for his
recordings as a vocalist, and his voice work in animation, one being Baloo
in Disney’s The Jungle Book (1967). Phil Harris was also a pioneer in radio 
situation comedy, first with Jack Benny, and then in a series in which he co- 
starred with his wife, singer-actress Alice Faye, for eight years. 

 
Phil Harris and Alice Faye

From left: Guests Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin on Toast of the Town

In 1948, the CBS television network was planning a weekly variety series
and  Newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan was chosen as host. The series
premiered on June 20, 1948 as the Toast of the Town. The show featured
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis performing along with singer Monica Lewis
and Broadway composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. On
September 18, 1955, the series was given its new title The Ed Sullivan Show.

Ed Sullivan surrounded by the lovely June Taylor Dancers

Milton Berle

The Texaco Star Theatre was one of the most popular shows in the history of
television. In the first year, Milton Berle was not the permanent emcee, but once
he replaced the rotation, the show soared to Number One in 1950-51. NBC TV
dominated Tuesday night, and Berle became, "Mr. Television". The basic format
of the show was modeled after a vaudeville variety hour, spotlighting Berle’s jokes,
sight gags, and costumes.

The Dave Clark Five made a total 18 appearances on The Ed Sullivan
Show, the most of any British Invasion group.

The Dave Clark Five with Ed Sullivan