Throughout its 23-year run, The Ed Sullivan Show repeatedly made history with its penchant for marking the debut of a wide array of musical artists. Between 1948 and 1971, the variety series pulled in millions of viewers who would witness these performers for the first time — among them Elvis Presley and The Beatles — and frequently helped to launch a sensation. What follows is just a taste of what television viewers were exposed to week after week.
1. The Beatles (1964)
This February 9, 1964 performance was the very first time The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show(and was considered their American debut), but it certainly wouldn’t be their last. A record-setting 73 million viewers tuned in to watch the English group perform, making it the most-watched episode of the series. They opened the set with “All My Loving,” followed by “Till There Was You” and “She Loves You.” They later returned to the stage to …