User Reviews

This is all four Ed Sullivan Shows on which the Beatles appeared in 1964 and 1965 complete with all the other performers and the original commercials. It is fascinating to not only see the Beatles singing about six songs per show, but also to see the type of entertainment that America liked during those years. In fact, it gives us a glimpse of what entertained America before The Beatles changed everything, since many of the acts you will see were well known before the Beatles. One notable performance from 2/9/64 is Frank Gorshin, an impressionist, acting out what it would be like if "the stars ran the country" and then giving us his rendition of Frank Sinatra as President of the United States and a large cast of others as Secretary of War, Senators, etc. It was downright prophetic. Also entertaining is the ever-so-brief commercial breaks. After watching a whole show, you will crave biscuits, brownies and Lipton Tea (Orange Pekoe flavor)- and you'll be convinced that a certain pain reliever will cure depression, anxiety and fatigue as well as headaches.

In 1964, I hated Sunday evenings because I had to return to school the next day, and my parents and grandparents always watched the Ed Sullivan Show. Sullivan's guests usually were unfunny (to kids) comedians, pointless variety acts, 1940s singers, guys who spun plates, and other acts that a 7-year-old just doesn't like. Then...on February 9, something astounding and unprecedented appeared--The Beatles!! The Beatles appeared on 3 consecutive Sullivan shows in February 1964, and again in 1965. Compared to Sullivan's usual fare, the band was electrifying, with driving, creative, live rock-and-roll accompanied by hysterical fans. I just watched the shows in astonishment...and the next day all anyone could talk about at my second-grade class in a small Midwestern town was the Fab Four.

The videos are nearly pristine, the direction is professional, and the sound quality great. (My favorite: the rocking "I Saw Her Standing There" from the Feb. 9 show.) The only drawbacks are the equipment malfunctions during the Miami show, in which John and Paul's microphones droop, causing all sorts of problems with the band's harmonies.

The other acts are for the most part pointless, and at worst are just plain bad. Myron Cohen, Wells and the Four Fays, Gloria Bleezarde (who's cute but so what?) are just not that entertaining, and Soupy Sales (from the '65 segment) is embarrassing to watch. I've always loved Frank Gorshin, but his impersonation routine from the Feb. 9 show is almost painful. Most of these acts would hardly qualify for a county fair nowadays. However, Mitzi Gaynor's act is tolerable, while Fred Kaps is entertaining and Morecombe and Wise are quite good in a very British way.

The shows are presented exactly as they were in 1964-65 on TV, complete with VERY brief commercial interruptions and all the dynamics of live TV. I encourage you to watch this if you remember 1964 and want to relive old memories, or--if you don't remember it--you want to see the birth of Beatlemania. Truly historic and classic American TV.

This is an amazing experience; getting a taster of the hysteria and sheer power of a live Beatles performance. The first number 'All my loving' was an historical moment and it appeared so. The audience went bananas and their background screaming was a perfect accompaniment to the music (the DVD gets a good balance; you can hear the music and the audience in the background). Pauls bass is amazing; he plays without looking at the fretboard at any time.

The first Beatles performance was followed by a magician in a tuxedo doing a card trick. The dead silence which accompanied his act was made only slightly less embarrassing by the fact that it was taped and not live. The Oliver kids and Georgia Brown were good and genuinely appreciated by the audience.

What also was fascinating is the effect on the careers of some of the other acts. McCall and Brill had particular cause to be miffed, being slated to appear right before the final Beatle slot. They, in their own words, bombed (I thought they were OK actually, given the circumstances). Anyway they recovered and made solid showbiz careers. They said later that they were in the midst of greatness......

This is an amazing set and highly recommended.