The Ed Sullivan Show: Season 9
Season 9 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of The Ed Sullivan Show Season 8.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 9 Progress Shield
Robert Mitchum / Lillian Gish / Rocky Marciano
Sep 25, 1955 · 60 min
Guests: --Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish and Peter Graves perform a scene from their film ""Night of the Hunter."" (Shelley Winters was also scheduled to appear) --""Night of t
Nat King Cole / Fanny cast / Josh Logan
Oct 2, 1955 · 60 min
Guests: --Nat King Cole - ""Forgive My Heart"" & ""Someone You Love"" --Opening number from ""Fanny"" performed by the Broadway cast (which should include Ezio Pinza, Florenc
Johnny Carson / June Valli / on film: Frank Sinatra; Marlon Brando
Oct 9, 1955 · 60 min
On film: Ed visits the set of ""Guys and Dolls."" (1) Frank Sinatra sings ""Adelaide."" (2) Marlon Brando is shown beating drum + Ed interviews Brando. (3) Ed introduces some of th
scheduled: Edward R. Murrow; Dave Brubeck; Ed Begley; Tony Randall
Oct 16, 1955 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Edward R. Murrow --Dave Brubeck and his quartet (jazz musician) --Melvyn Douglas, Ed Begley and Tony Randall appear in scenes from their Broadway play "
scheduled: Nat King Cole & wife Maria; Jack Palance; Rod Steiger
Oct 23, 1955 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Nat King Cole and his wife Maria --Jack Palance, Rod Steiger, Wendell Corey and Everett Sloane perform a scene from their film ""The Big Knife"" --Arthur
Andy Griffith / Jean Simmons / Orson Bean
Oct 30, 1955 · 60 min
Guests: --Andy Griffith, Roddy McDowell and Robert Webber (actors, from the ""No Time for Sergeants"" Broadway cast) - perform a scene from the play. The scene runs approx. 10 m
scheduled: Phil Silvers; Liberace; Rise Stevens
Nov 6, 1955 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Phil Silvers (comedian) --Liberace --Rise Stevens (operatic soprano) --David Whitfield (British singer) --Linon (Belgian circus clown).
Edith Piaf / Shirley Booth / Al Hibbler / Arthur Worlsey
Nov 13, 1955 · 60 min
Guests: --Edith Piaf (French chanteuse) - ""If You Love Me"" --Shirley Booth - does scene from ""The Desk Set"" (This scene might also include the other cast members Byron Sa
Bo Diddley / Laverne Baker / Five Keys / Rod Steiger & Jack Palance
Nov 20, 1955 · 60 min
""Dr. Jive's Rhythm and Blues"" sequence: --Bo Diddley - ""Bo Diddley"" --LaVern Baker - ""Tweedlee Dee"" --The Five Keys - ""Ling Ting Tong"" --Willis ""Gater Tail"" Jack
scheduled: Pearl Bailey; Dick Shawn; Licia Albanese
Nov 27, 1955 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Pearl Bailey --Dick Shawn (comedian) --The Goofers (comedy vocal-instrumental group) --opera star Licia Albanese & her three-year-old son do a scene
scheduled: Abbott & Costello; Lillian Roth / Burt Lancaster (on film)
Dec 4, 1955 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Bud Abbott and Lou Costello --Lillian Roth --Kate Smith --The Three Houcs (comedy juggling team) --Andre Eglevsky and Diana Adams (ballet stars) On
Sugar Ray Robinson / Teresa Brewer / Joyce Grenfell
Dec 11, 1955 · 60 min
Guests: --Teresa Brewer - ""There'll Be Some Changes"" & ""A Good Man Is Hard To Find"" --Sugar Ray Robinson (boxer) - Talks about his comeback & thanks Ed for his support. Ro
scheduled: Orson Welles; James Mason & daughter; Orson Bean
Dec 18, 1955 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Orson Welles --James Mason and his daughter Portland --Orson Bean (comedian) --Senor Wences (ventriloquist) --Marion Marlowe (vocalist) --Les Comp
scheduled: Gary Cooper & Rod Steiger; Jay Nemeth / Also: Ice Show remote
Dec 25, 1955 · 60 min
Scheduled guests (from New York): --Gary Cooper and Rod Steiger re-enact scenes from ""The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell"" --Michigan State University Glee Club --Jay Nem
scheduled: Roger Williams; The Dreamweavers; Dick Duane
Jan 1, 1956 · 60 min
New Year's Day show with scheduled guests (a ""Stardust Parade"" of young and up-and-coming talent): --Roger Williams (pianist) --The Dreamweavers --Dick Duane (singer) -
schedul: Pearl Bailey; Lily Pons; Lone Ranger & Silver
Jan 8, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Pearl Bailey --Myron Cohen (comedian) --Lily Pons (opera soprano) --The Lone Ranger (Jay Silverheels?) and his horse Silver --Al Hibbler (singer)
schedul: Jean Carroll; Billy Williams Quartet; The Matchmaker cast
Jan 15, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --The Broadway cast from ""The Matchmaker"" performs scenes from the play. --Jean Carroll (comedian) --The Billy Williams Quartet --Jose Greco (Spanish
ASCAP salute: Cab Calloway; John Raitt; Helen Kane; Mitch Miller
Jan 22, 1956 · 60 min
A salute to ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) with guests: --Cab Calloway (with daughter Layla) - ""Little Girl"" --Mitch Miller - ""Yellow Ros
scheduled: Kim Novak & Susan Strasberg; Gracie Fields
Jan 29, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Kim Novak and Susan Strasberg perform scenes from their movie ""Picnic"" --Gracie Fields (English singer-comedian, in a remote from Madison Square Garden)
Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz / Rodgers & Hammerstein / Orson Welles / Ames Brothers
Feb 5, 1956 · 60 min
Segements with Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz and the Four Ames Brothers: --Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz - with scene from their new movie ""Forever Darling"" --Ames Brothers join Desi
Shirley Jones / Pearl Bailey / Carl Sanberg / Hal Holbrook
Feb 12, 1956 · 60 min
Guests: --Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra - ""Saturday Night"" --Pearl Bailey - ""Something's Got To Give"" & ""Ma He's Making Eyes At Me"" --Sam Levenson (stand-up co
scheduled: Hermione Gingold; Billy DeWolfe; The Goofers; Jean Madeira
Feb 19, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Hermione Gingold (British comedienne) --Billy DeWolfe (comedian) --The Peters Sisters (vocal group) --Jean Madeira (from the Metropolitan Opera Compan
scheduled: Fred Waring; Lilian Roth; Al Capp, Rube Goldberg
Feb 26, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians --Lillian Roth (singer) --Carol Haney (dancer) --Rickie Layne and Velvel (ventriloquist act) --Nick Noble (sing
Edith Piaf / Walt Disney; James Cagney; Jack Lemmon; Susan Hayward
Mar 4, 1956 · 60 min
Guests: --Edith Piaf - ""Merry Go Round"" & ""Padame"" --Senor Wences (ventriloquist with hand puppet & head in box) --Dick Shawn (comedian) - stand-up: tells jokes about ch
scheduled: Roger Williams; Dick Duane; Jimmie Komack; Enzio Stuarti
Mar 11, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Roger Williams (pianist) --Dick Duane (singer) --Jimmie Komack (comedian) --Amru Sani (singer from India) --Enzo Stuarti (singer) --Dorothy Hayd
sched: Marcel Marceau; Eli Wallach; Nat King Cole; Cesare Siepe
Mar 18, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Marcel Marceau --Eli Wallach (actor, performs a scene from the Broadway play ""Teahouse of the August Moon"") --Nat King Cole --Joe E. Lewis (enterta
scheduled: Nat King Cole; Jack Carter; Reese & Davis
Mar 25, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Nat King Cole --Jack Carter (comedian) --Helen Traubel (opera star) --Ande Segovia (guitarist) --Reese and Davis (comedy team) --Montes de Oca
scheduled: Bob Crosby; Lili Palmer; Gloria & Carter DeHaven
Apr 1, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled: --Bob Crosby and his singing daughter Cathy --Lilli Palmer --Teresa Brewer --Gloria DeHaven and her father Carter DeHaven (song-and dance man) --Harry Seco
scheduled: Noel Coward; Mitzi Gaynor; Andre Kostelanetz
Apr 8, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Noel Coward --Mitzi Gaynor --Andre Kostelanetz and his orchestra --General Carlos Romulo (of the Philippines) --Erlinda Cortes (actress) --Richard
scheduled: Helen Traubel; Ed Gardner / On film: Grace Kelly & Ralph Meeker
Apr 15, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled: --On film: Grace Kelly and Ralph Meeker do a song-and-dance number (possibly a clip from the October 18, 1953 ""Toast of the Town"" show). --Helen Traubel (opera sta
schedul: Ames Brothers; Senor Wences; Marion Marlowe; Sam Levenson
Apr 22, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --The Ames Brothers (singing quartet) --Senor Wences (ventriloquist) --Marion Marlowe (singer) --Sam Levinson (comedian) --Enzo Stuarti (singer) -
scheduled: Kate Smith; Eve Arden; Peters Sisters; Jean Carroll
Apr 29, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Eve Arden (guest hosting, while Ed Sullivan is in Japan) --Kate Smith (singer, celebrating her 25th anniversary in show business) --Jean Carroll (comedi
scheduled: Tony Martin; Nat King Cole; Edie Adams; the Lovers; Will Jordan
May 6, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Tony Martin (singer) --Nat King Cole --Edie Adams (singer) --The Lovers (singing group) --Will Jordan (comedian) --Ricky Layne (ventriloquist w
Robert Young with the Mother of the Year Awards / Carlos Ramirez
May 13, 1956 · 60 min
Mother of the Year Awards (the City of Hope Hospital awards to the outstanding Hollywood mothers of the year): --Robert Young presents Mother Of The Year Awards to June Allyson, A
Marcel Marceau / Jack Paar / Teresa Brewer / David Whitfield
May 20, 1956 · 60 min
Guests: --Marcel Marceau (mime) - does ""Butterfly"" & ""David and Goliath"" routines. --Teresa Brewer - ""Sweet Old-Fashioned Girl"" & ""Take Me Away on a Phaeton"" --Jac
scheduled: Kate Smith; Senor Wences; David Whitfield; Marion Marlowe
May 27, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Kate Smith --Senor Wences (ventriloquist) --David Whitfield (tenor) --Marion Marlowe --Dick Shawn --The winners of the Harvest Moon Dance contest
scheduled: Burt Lancaster & Tony Curtis; Helen Wood; Lily Ponds
Jun 3, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis re-enact scenes from their movie ""Trapeze"" --Lily Pons (Metropolitan opera star) --Helen Wood (dancer) --Joey Clay (si
scheduled: Nat King Cole; Bob Hope (on film); Jack Carter / film: A Short Vision
Jun 10, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Nat King Cole --A filmed segment with Bob Hope --Edie Adams (singer) --Jack Carter (comedian) --Carol Haney (dancer) --Rickie Layne (ventriloqu
All-Army Talent Show with Gary Crosby, Charlie Applewhite & Richard Hayes
Jun 17, 1956 · 60 min
The Annual All-Army Talent Show Guests: --Charlie Applewhite, Richard Hayes and Gary Crosby - ""This Is The Army"" (All three singers were Army privates at the time). -- Erte
8th Anniversary: Harry Belafonte; Shelley Winters; Gregory Peck; Phil Silvers
Jun 24, 1956 · 60 min
Guests (8th Anniversary show): --Ethel Merman, Shelley Winters, Ruth Gordon, Sam Levy - sing ""Sullivan for Me"" --Teresa Brewer (singer) - medley including ""Put Another Nic
John Huston salute: Gregory Peck; Orson Welles; Lauren Bacall; Edward G. Robinson
Jul 1, 1956 · 60 min
A Salute to John Huston --On film: Ed interviews John Huston & Gregory Peck on the set of ""Moby Dick"" --Gregory Peck (live on stge) appears with Ed & introduces a scene from
scheduled: Constance Bennett; Senor Wences; Cell Block 7; Patachou
Jul 8, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Constance Bennett --Senor Wences --Cell Block Seven (instrumental group) --Patachou (French chanteuse) --Myron Cohen (comedian) --Reese and Davi
Julie Andrews / Louis Armstrong / Bing Crosby (on film)
Jul 15, 1956 · 60 min
Guests: --Bing Crosby - filmed interview with Ed + clip from ""High Society."" --Julie Andrews - ""I Could Have Danced All Night"" & ""Show Me"" (both songs from ""My Fair La
Jack Paar (guest host) / Ames Brothers / Ted Lewis / Prof. Backwards
Jul 22, 1956 · 60 min
Guests: --Jack Paar (guest host) - At end of show, does a routine about phobias. --Ames Brothers - ""Autumn Leaves,"" ""Dry Bones"" and ""It Only Hurts For A Little While""
sched: Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus' Top Acts (incl. Emmett Kelly)
Jul 29, 1956 · 60 min
Top acts of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus Scheduled circus performers: --Emmett Kelly (clown) Also: Tito (acrobat); Cordons (whip act); Reberte Trio (knocka
scheduled: U.S. Air Force talent show
Aug 5, 1956 · 60 min
U.S. Air Force talent show (broadcast from McGuire Air Force Base at Wrightstown, N.J.). Scheduled to appear: --The Air Force fencing team --The Air Force judo team. Also: th
A Tribute to the Yankees / Phil Silvers / Teresa Brewer
Aug 12, 1956 · 60 min
Much of this show is a tribute to The Yankees (baseball team) and their wives. Guests: --Phil Silvers (guest host, filling in for Ed who had just had his auto accident) --
scheduled: Frank Sinatra; Jeannie Carson; Don Cornell
Aug 19, 1956 · 60 min
Scheduled guests: --Frank Sinatra (guest host) --Jeannie Carson (singer-comedian) --Don Cornell (singer) --Kovac and Rabovsky (dance team) --Pinto Del Oro (aerialist)
scheduled: U.S. Navy talent show - with guest host Kirk Douglas
Aug 26, 1956 · 60 min
U.S. Navy talent show with scheduled guests: --Kirk Douglas (actor, appearing as guest host) --The Continentals (novelty instrumental) --The Jumpin' Jacks (vocal combo)
Patti Page (guest host) / Kay Ballard / Maria Neglia
Sep 2, 1956 · 60 min
Guests: --Patti Page (guest host) sings ""Deed I Do"" & ""Allegheny Moon."" And, at end of show, sings ""Father, Father, Father"" --Kay Armen (vocalist) - ""I Could Have Danc
Elvis Presley (1st appearance) / Charles Laughton / Dorothy Sarnoff
Sep 9, 1956 · 60 min
Elvis Presley (1st appearance) - ""Don't be Cruel"" (with the Jordanaires), ""Love Me Tender,"" ""Ready Teddy"" and ""Hound Dog."" --Charles Laughton (guest host) - reads limeric
The Four Aces / Marion Marlowe / Brooklyn Dodgers, Milwaukee Braves
Sep 16, 1956 · 60 min
--The Fujiwara Opera (Japanese opera group) - perform ""Three Little Maids"" (from ""Madame Butterfly"") --Ed introdues individual members of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Milwaukee Bra