Those of you who were lucky enough to be born after the boring Eisenhower doldrums, will probably not get the reference to Senior Wences whose comedy did a great deal to lighten our load in those dark days.  (For the life of me, I cannot understand why the Republicans are so nostalgic for those Stepford days.)

Fans of “The Ed Sullivan Show” fondly remember his favorite guest, Senor Wences, the ventriloquist with his puppet in a box, Pedro ("S'OK? S'awright!) and a hand puppet named Johnny. Senor Wences died in 1999 at the age of 103.

Sullivan, who began his career as a columnist for the New York Daily News in 1932, has been best known for his deadpan hosting of TV’s, “The Ed Sullivan Show” every Sunday night from CBS' Studio 50 in New York City.  Shortsighted critics of the day scorned his journalistic credentials next to the ephemeral fame of such flash-in-the-pan hacks as Edward R. Morrow.  Little did they know that this modest, second-rate wordsmith was decades ahead of his time.  History would prove just how prescient the anti-charismatic Sullivan would be.  His descendants: the likes of Larry King, Katie Couric and Robin Leach, have become the new standard-bearers of the ascendant, cutting-edge American journalism.  Ed Sullivan would be proud to see how far-reaching and profound is his legacy has become.

P.S.
Wasn't it great to see how Katie kicked the butt of that loudmouthed liar, Howard Dean the other day (Jan 26th)?

 
Bob Boldt
Political Cartoonist
Jefferson City, Missouri

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto: