The Ed Sullivan Show

Short Story: the Ed Sullivan Show

Everyone in our town watched the Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday nights. But tonight’s show was going to be different. The Beatles were in America and they were going to be on the show. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was the number one hit and “She Loves You” was number two. My best friend, Ryan, even had both songs on 45s. I was so jealous. Ryan knew everything about the Beatles and he was always telling me about them although I had no idea where he got his information. His favorite Beatle was Paul. After listening to his 45s over and over again, I decided that George was my favorite. I did this mainly just to be different from Ryan.

The excitement started to build in late January and had reached a peak the week before their appearance. During recess at school each day, all the 4th graders were arguing with each other who was their favorite Beatle. We knew all the words to the songs that had already been released on 45s. One student got in trouble for writing the words to “She Loves You” on his desk top. On Wednesday morning the words to “I Want to Hold Your Hand” magically appeared on the chalkboard in our homeroom class. Mrs. Thacker quickly erased them. Our teachers didn’t know what to think about it and didn’t know how to calm us down. Mrs. Randolph had never even heard of the Beatles until we told her about them. How could anyone not know of the Beatles?

After a late supper I went into our small living room and made sure the television was on the right channel. I played with the rabbit ears to get a clearer picture and set the volume loud enough to hear easily. I then sat down in the center of our couch to have the perfect view. My two brothers sensed something was going on but really had no idea of what was going to happen. Mom and Dad came in and sat down just as the show started. As he often did, Dad had crumbled cornbread into a glass of milk for what he called “dessert.” He always ate his “dessert” while watching television.

Dad was half laughing when he said, “Maybe we shouldn’t watch it tonight. I think you need to clean your room.” I gave him that pitiful look of “please” and turned back to the television.

I nearly jumped off the couch when Ed Sullivan introduced them. They played “All My Loving,” “Till There Was You,” and “She Loves You,” in their first set. I sang along with every word.

Dad, without showing a smile, said, “Not too bad. I guess they’re OK.”

“Just OK? Really? Dad, they’re going to change the world!”

Dad thought and then said, “Right, well, let’s see if they’re still around in a couple of months before we talk about changing the world.”

I had to just ignore him. Then they played a second set of “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want to Hold your Hand.” Later that night I went to bed listening to “I Want to Hold Your Hand” on my transistor radio. Mom came in my bedroom, kissed me and my brother, and then whispered to me, “I loved the Beatles!” The next day at school the Beatles were the only thing that we talked about. Even Mrs. Randolph said that she had watched them and that she liked them. She even said that Paul was cute. We all laughed at her.

Mom was always cooler than Dad when it came to my music. A few weeks later, she took me to the local record shop. The shop sold a lot of Beatle 45s and they were bought almost entirely by teenagers. The line to buy Beatles’ records was almost out the door. Mom asked the owner to play an LP record by Bob Dylan so we could listen over the store’s speaker system. He said OK, that it would be a good change from all the Beatle songs he had been playing. I had never heard of Bob Dylan. I listened to “The Times They are a Changing.” Mom said this song had an important message and that I should listen closely. I clung to every word. When we got home, she typed out the words for me to read. She had memorized the words. Mom was so very cool. Mom was so very right.