Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I was reading today that The Beatles were paid $10,000 US to play three performances on the Ed Sullivan Show. The fee included return airfare for the Fab Four and Brian Epstein as well as accomodations during their stay. So do you think this was a fair price? In today's dollars that would be close to $55,000 US. I have to think that the publicity was more than worth it at half the price.

There is NO show with the kind of clout of the Sullivan show on the USA airwaves today .

I would love to see a return of a show that has a platform so that acts could "Do their thing".

Letterman and Leno are NOT 'it' in my view.


And who was Topo Jijo? Anyone really know ?
sorry for the spelling .

Topo Gigio, the brain-child of Maria Prego, was a Italian mouse puppet with the most infectious laugh I had ever heard up until the 1960's. He apparently made about 50 appearances with Ed Sullivan over the period from 1948-1971.

While we're on the subject of Beatles on Ed Sullivan, someone tell me This[and I've Never seen it addressed by Anyone who claims to know all and see all regarding Beatles minutia..]What brand mikes were the Beatles using on those first 3 Sullivan show? I do not think they are any kind of Shure or EV mike, and wonder if they were the shows' own soundstage mics, or if the Beatles owned them?I'm not sure I recall ever seeing the Beatles use them any other time. Hello?????

Speaking of famous guests on the Ed Sullivan Show, does anyone remember Bill Dana? "Hello. My name Jose Jimenez." (followed by a brief roar of crowd laughter)

I read a very brief article a few years ago about this character; turns out he was actually Hungarian (no idea what his real name is/was; I seriously doubt it was "Bill Dana".) Here we have a guy who, for his brief 15 minutes of fame, cashes in on a cheesy Mexican stereotype that wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in these zealously politically correct times.......... and years later some us discover he's a Magyar. Go figure. (even cheesier roar of tv studio crowd laughter)

Show biz: successfully capturing the attention of the masses, no matter the duration. (enthusiastic applause by the same tv studio crowd that's just had it's collective butt kissed at the end of a smarmy stand-up routine by a 3rd rate Las Vegas hack comedian) *whew*

More on William Szathmary, or as we like to call him, Bill Dana:

http://www.floridatoday.com/space/explore/stories/1998/031998d.htm

"Keese me, Eddie..."

And what, not even one mention of Señor Wencas..?

"He ees a nice man."
"Close de door!!"

"He ees a nice man."
"Close de door!!"

"He's nice?" yes, yes, he's nice."S'alright?
S'Alright... 'you want to go back in the box"? Yes."You want I should close de door"? Yess.