Variety Show Vault

Tony Orlando had many chart hits, both as a soloist and as a member of the group Tony Orlando and Dawn.  "Knock Three Times," "Candida," "Tie A Yellow Ribbon," Gypsy Rose," "He Don't Love You," and more were all big hits for the trio. Tony's exuberant personality was tailor made for television and he was awarded his own variety show in 1974...

Judy Garland had her own variety show from 1963-1964.  It ran for just 23 episodes and was not considered a success. Garland was a bigger than life star and perhaps her gigantic talent could not translate coming out of the "little black box...

From 1958 to 1964 Garry Moore hosted one of television's most popular variety shows.  His sidekick was Durwood Kirby. The show featured skits, musical guests and running gags.  Moore's trademarks were his flat top or buzz cut hair, and his bow tie...

Perry Como was a huge star of radio records and television.  His TV career alone ran longer than 40 years. His TV variety shows came in many variations.  His first show, sponsored by Chesterfield cigarettes, came in 1948.  "Mr. C. would later host shows that were 15-minutes, 30-minutes and one hour in length...

facebook How many remember when Johnny Cash had his very own variety show?  It ran from 1969 to 1971 and was taped at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The Johnny Cash Show was an important bridge in the history of country music in America...

The Red Skelton was a hugely popular entertainer who scored on radio, in movies and most famously on television. The Red Skelton Variety Show was a TV staple for twenty years, running more than 600 episodes.  The show featured skits, guest stars , monologues and a pageant of Red's famous characters:  Klem Kadiddlehopper, Deadeye, Freddie the Freeloader and many others...

Tommy and Dick Smothers were already established stand-up comedians when they got their very own variety show in 1967.  It ran two years. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.  The comedy writers for the show included some of the best and brightest of the era including Rob Reiner, Steve Martin and Jim Stafford.  R...

The Carol Burnett Show was one of the most popular variety shows of all time.  it had a robust run of 11 seasons and won 25 Prime Time Emmy Awards. The shows main stay was the ensemble skit.  Her regular costars included Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vickie Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner...

Singer Tom Jones had a couple of variety shows over his television career.  This one dates from 1969 to 1971.  It ran for 65 color episodes and was nominated (for Tom Jones) for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Variety Show. There were comedy sketches along the way in this show, featuring American comedian Fred Willard...

This was the granddaddy of all variety shows. The Ed Sullivan Show had an astounding run.  1948 to 1971, 24 years and a whopping 1,068 "really big shews." Sullivan was known for presenting many historic acts:  from the wildly screaming young fans watching Elvis go through his gyrations all the way through an incredible three consecutive Sundays when he featured The Beatles in February, 1