A Beach Boys question about Ed Sullivan appearance

[Ken]

This question is for Pete, Dawn or anyone else who may know. I have several video clips from The Ed Sullivan show in my video collection, including the Beach Boys performing "Good Vibrations" from around 1968.

It occurred to me that this seems to be the only Sullivan clip of them that I've ever seen, so my question is why did they only make that one appearance?

I know from watching the documentary The Beach Boys: An American Band that they appeared on other TV shows in the 60's.

[H2IZCOOL]

kenfrank said:

This question is for Pete, Dawn or anyone else who may know. I have several video clips from The Ed Sullivan show in my video collection, including the Beach Boys performing "Good Vibrations" from around 1968.

It occurred to me that this seems to be the only Sullivan clip of them that I've ever seen, so my question is why did they only make that one appearance?

I know from watching the documentary The Beach Boys: An American Band that they appeared on other TV shows in the 60's.

Not true, Ken. They made at least one other - earlier - 1964.

video.aol.com/video-detail/the-beach-boys-wendy-ed-sullivan-1964/1896690267

[Ken]

h2izcool said:

kenfrank said:

This question is for Pete, Dawn or anyone else who may know. I have several video clips from The Ed Sullivan show in my video collection, including the Beach Boys performing "Good Vibrations" from around 1968.

It occurred to me that this seems to be the only Sullivan clip of them that I've ever seen, so my question is why did they only make that one appearance?

I know from watching the documentary The Beach Boys: An American Band that they appeared on other TV shows in the 60's.

Not true, Ken. They made at least one other - earlier - 1964.

video.aol.com/video-detail/the-beach-boys-wendy-ed-sullivan-1964/1896690267

I stand corrected

Excellent!

Thanks, Ed

Since many other artists made several appearances on Ed's show, I figured that the Beach Boys must have been on his program before, and now I know.

[m c dornan]

Cuz Ed Sullivan wouldn't let them perform their Charles Manson tribute? ;D

[Ken]

mcdornan1 said:

Cuz Ed Sullivan wouldn't let them perform their Charles Manson tribute? ;D

LOL!

[Dawn]

Yes, there were two Ed Sullivan appearances. The first was September 27, 1964 - they performed I Get Around and Wendy, and the second was October 13, 1968, when they did Do It Again and Good Vibrations. I'm actually surprised that they didn't do more appearances on the show, especially in the '64-'66 period.

It's really interesting to see the difference four years made in terms of the TV staging. That '64 appearance was pretty staid and straightforward, airing in black and white, with just a few props placed around the stage. But the '68 show is all bright colors and swirly multi-lens psychedelic effects! Very cool! I'm not fond of the white polyester stage suits, though - at that point, they should have just gone with individual outfits instead of trying to match.

[H2IZCOOL]

admin said:

Yes, there were two Ed Sullivan appearances. The first was September 27, 1964 - they performed I Get Around and Wendy, and the second was October 13, 1968, when they did Do It Again and Good Vibrations. I'm actually surprised that they didn't do more appearances on the show, especially in the '64-'66 period.

It's really interesting to see the difference four years made in terms of the TV staging. That '64 appearance was pretty staid and straightforward, airing in black and white, with just a few props placed around the stage. But the '68 show is all bright colors and swirly multi-lens psychedelic effects! Very cool! I'm not fond of the white polyester stage suits, though - at that point, they should have just gone with individual outfits instead of trying to match.

I'm glad you had the exact date for that '64 Sullivan show. I know I saw the Beach Boys in concert earlier in September of that year - around Labor Day at a venue a little outside of Boston, and they performed Wendy announcing it as their latest single.