TOAST OF THE TOWN

Sunday night we watched a PBS special, “Ed Sullivan presents Rock and Roll of the 1960s.” Man, oh, man! Talk about a rippin’ trip down Memory Lane. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Animals, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Mamas and the Papas, Bee Gees, Beach Boys, Herman’s Hermits, Doors. Ed, the old geezer, had ’em all.

Now, Big Bore was just a little whip when Sullivan filled the CBS 7 PM Sunday TV time slot after “Lassie,” but I can well remember feeling groovy watching the show on Mama Bore’s black and white RCA in our dining room. It was here that I picked George as my favorite Beatle and where I was fashionably inspired by Michelle Phillips’ colorful granny gowns with the empire waists. Mom made me one, in which I still lounge around the house occasionally. It’s one of those “one size fits all” designs, so no matter what condition my body is in, I can wear it. The material must be woven with Kryptonite. It’s indestructible.

BB says he dug the mellow sound of the Mamas and the Papas, as well as Michelle’s long, straight hair, which she was constantly swishing about, hypnotizing all horny, young males in the viewing audience. He was also a Beatles fan. “Their song lyrics meant something. They told a story.”

There’s nothing on TV today that comes close to being what The Ed Sullivan Show was 40-50+ years ago. Not only did he feature wildly famous rock groups, but he also had other acts--ventriloquists, dancers, comedians, gymnasts, animal tricks, jugglers, and a manic guy who’d spin plates. Lots and lots of big plates. All at the same time. Would the manic guy keep them spinning? Would they fall to the floor? Would Ed be sweeping up fine china after the show? Oh, the suspense! Well, okay, maybe you had to be there. --And if you weren’t, you really missed out on, in Ed’s legendary words, a “really big shoooo!!”