Trivia for seniors about Ed Sullivan
Who was Ed Sullivan?
A: Edward Vincent Sullivan was an American television personality,
impresario, sports and entertainment reporter, and syndicated columnist for
the New York Daily News and the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate.
He was the creator and host of what television variety
program?
A: The Toast of the Town, which in 1955 was renamed The Ed Sullivan Show.
Broadcast from 1948 to 1971, it set a record as what?
A: The longest-running variety show in US broadcast history.
Sullivan was engaged to champion swimmer Sybil Bauer,
but what happened?
A: She died of cancer in 1927 at the age of 23.
In 1926 who did Sullivan meet and begin dating?
A: Sylvia Weinstein.
Weinstein tried to tell her Jewish family she was
dating a man named what?
A: Ed Solomon, but her brother figured out she meant Ed Sullivan.
With both families strongly opposed to a
Catholic–Jewish marriage, the affair was on-again-off-again for how long?
A: Three years.
When were they finally married?
A: On April 28, 1930, in a City Hall ceremony.
8 months later Sylvia gave birth to Elizabeth
("Betty"), named after whom?
A: Sullivan's mother, who had died that year.
The Sullivans rented a suite of rooms at the Hotel
Delmonico in 1944 after living where for many years?
A: At the Hotel Astor on Times Square
Sullivan rented a suite next door to the family suite,
which he used for what?
A: An office until The Ed Sullivan Show was canceled in 1971.
Sullivan was in the habit of calling his wife after
every program to get what?
A: Her immediate critique.
The Sullivans were always "on the town", eating out how
often?
A: Five nights a week at some of the trendiest clubs and restaurants,
including the Stork Club, Danny's Hide-A-Way and Jimmy Kelly's.
Sullivan socialized with the rich and famous, was
friends with U.S. Presidents and was given audiences with several what?
A: Popes.
Sullivan was what during the early years of American
television?
A: A broadcasting pioneer.
In 1996, Sullivan was ranked where on TV Guide's "50
Greatest TV Stars of All Time"?
A: Number 50.
When was Edward Vincent Sullivan born?
A: On September 28, 1901.
Where was he born?
A: In Harlem, New York City.
His twin brother, Daniel was sickly and lived only how
long?
A: A few months.
Where did Ed grow up?
A: In Port Chester, New York, where the family lived in a small red brick
home at 53 Washington Street.
He was of what descent?
A: Irish.
The entire family loved music, and someone was always
doing what?
A: Playing the piano or singing.
Sullivan was a gifted athlete in high school, earning
how many athletic letters at Port Chester High School?
A: 12.
He played halfback in football; he was a guard in
basketball; in track he was a what?
A: A sprinter.
What was Sullivan with the baseball team?
A: He was catcher and team captain, and he led the team to several
championships.
Where did Sullivan land his first job?
A: At the Port Chester Daily Item: a local newspaper for which he had
written sports news while in high school and then joined the paper full-time
after graduation.
In 1919, he joined what?
A: The Hartford Post.
The newspaper folded in his first week there, but he
then landed another job on what?
A: The New York Evening Mail as a sports reporter.