A Classic Christmas - The Ed Sullivan Show (1991)

Capture the warmth, joy and magic of the holiday season in A Classic Christmas; from the Ed Sullivan Show. This one hour special features some of the biggest classic holiday song performers to date including Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis and Connie Francis. Share some festive family seasonal moments with group performances from Alvin & The Chipmunks and Rick Little. Enjoy a sing along with The Muppets, George Carlin and Brook Benton. This holiday special is a timely classic that brings the joy of the season into everyone s heart and home. Product Description

A nostalgic video, perfect for Christmas Eve!

This DVD packs a lot of holiday cheer into just 46 minutes; although some of the segments are edited, it flows nicely, and is mellow and entertaining, especially for Baby Boomers who remember growing up with Ed's show on Sunday nights. Lots of music and comedy bits, though nothing really rock & roll. Best of all I got this sealed, new DVD from an Amazon vendor for just over $2! This DVD is enjoyable to watch, but would be a perfect background for a Christmas Eve or party- definitely better than those Yule Log videos! November 18, 2007

Surprisingly Wonderful

Clip shows tend to bore me, but this one is creatively edited from years of Christmas Specials. These mostly color vignettes are a delight for those who remember the performers as well as younger folks who may not have been around.

True variety abounds with song, including a German children's choir that sings in English more perfect than one hears from many American choirs, and delightful comedy bits. This collection is a charmer.

The brief 47 minutes flys along with not a dull moment. Included is a clip from Bing Crosby's original movie rendition of "White Christmas" disolved into a live performance. Rich Little gives a classic remembrance of George Burns, Jack Benny and Ed Sullivan himself. (Sullivan, who visually projected as very tall, was in fact not tall and we briefly see that as he stands alongside Little.)

Connie Frances, who knew how to take the time to "sell" a song, is featured in a show Sullivan took to Cuba to entertain our troops. Ventriloquists, Sheri Lews and Senor Wences are there as well as a couple of classic Muppet performances and Alvin and the Chipmonks. Lots of notstalgia and chock full of legends: Count Basie, Mahalia Jackson, Johnny Mathis, The Supremes. Each vignette is brief but satisfying with a perfect flow from one piece to another.

A genuine time capsule, delighful and uplifting. Nicely done. I'm so impressed, I'm ordering multiple copies to give as stocking stuffers next year. December 25, 2005

OK, Not Great

Best features: Quality of the clips is mostly good to excellent; same with the audio. It was good to see Bing Crosby singing portions of White Christmas. No lingering watermarks in the corner of the screen. Unexpected, delightful surprise: The Cowsills...this family could SING. Fun clip: Alvin and the Chipmonks.

Worst features: It's not an hour long, it's only 46 minutes. The scene menu is hard to figure out. Too many of the clips are just segments, not the entire act. Comedy acts?...boring and outdated. Joan Rivers singing. Rich Little doing imitations of people long dead (was it really necessary to include an impersonator??).

Bottom line: It's inexpensive, but on the boring side. It will definitely not be on my annual viewing list. October 15, 2005

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