--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was the first to promote The Beatles in…" description: "\"I was the first to promote The Beatles in the States, and Ed Sullivan called me first about them before he ever booked them on his television show.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/sid-bernstein-43801_about_i-was-the-first-to-promote-the-beatles-i_347027.jpg" --- # I was the first to promote The Beatles in the States, and… ![“I was the first to promote The Beatles in the States, and Ed Sullivan called me first about them before he ever booked them on his television show.” quote by Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/sid-bernstein-43801_about_i-was-the-first-to-promote-the-beatles-i_347027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/sid-bernstein-43801_about_i-was-the-first-to-promote-the-beatles-i_347027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/sid-bernstein-43801_about_i-was-the-first-to-promote-the-beatles-i_347027.jpg) > “I was the first to promote The Beatles in the States, and Ed Sullivan called me first about them before he ever booked them on his television show.” [Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He pioneered promoting The Beatles in the US, prompting Ed Sullivan's early interest before booking them. **In simple terms:** He was the first to push Beatles in America, leading to TV exposure. Key Takeaway Recognize early opportunities and act quickly. Themes promotion music industry cultural impact Mood enthusiastic reflective Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - record label scouting - radio promotion - TV booking - artist management Key Concepts marketing media influence cultural diffusion Questions to Reflect On - How can early advocacy shape cultural trends? - What networks help amplify new talent? A Different Perspective Success depends on timing and network connections, not just talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beatles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles/) [Ed sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ed-sullivan/) [Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sullivan/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-show/) ## Related quotes > [Ed Sullivan will be around as long as someone else has talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/ed-sullivan-will-be-around-as-long-as-someone-else-has-talent/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [My own musical ambitions were born when I was five, watching the Ed Sullivan Show on TV. When Elvis Presley burst on to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/my-own-musical-ambitions-were-born-when-i-was-five-watching-the-ed/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I did the Ed Sullivan show four times. I did the Steve Allen show. I did the Jackie Gleason show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/i-did-the-ed-sullivan-show-four-times-i-did-the-steve-allen-show-i/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [I grew up listening to the Beatles and being an ardent Beatles fan when I was in third grade all the way to adulthood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-grew-up-listening-to-the-beatles-and-being-an-ardent-beatles-fan/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [I remember tap-dancing and singing in front of the TV when I was a kid, telling my dad to stop watching Ed Sullivan or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/i-remember-tap-dancing-and-singing-in-front-of-the-tv-when-i-was-a/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [I couldn't do 'The Ed Sullivan Show.' Ed said I was a flash in the pan, and he was right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mckenzie/i-couldn-t-do-the-ed-sullivan-show-ed-said-i-was-a-flash-in-the-pan/) Scott McKenzie > [The Dave Clark Five had more appearances on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' than The Beatles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-shaffer/the-dave-clark-five-had-more-appearances-on-the-ed-sullivan-show-than/) [Paul Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-shaffer/) > [I grew up in the 1950s and '60s, when it was almost a holiday when a black act would go on Ed Sullivan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-grew-up-in-the-1950s-and-60s-when-it-was-almost-a-holiday-when-a/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [Everything that you'd see on The Ed Sullivan Show was at the Tannen's Magic. You'd think that if you could afford a trick like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/everything-that-you-d-see-on-the-ed-sullivan-show-was-at-the-tannen-s/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [If you're looking at the array of performers, there's just a lot of people that it's about getting closer to them. That's not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/if-you-re-looking-at-the-array-of-performers-there-s-just-a-lot-of/) [John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/) > [More than any other drummer, Ringo Starr changed my life. The impact and memory of that band on Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weinberg/more-than-any-other-drummer-ringo-starr-changed-my-life-the-impact/) [Max Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weinberg/) > [ Most magic is a trick, an illusion. But \[when The Beatles played the Ed Sullivan Show\], this was real. Man oh man, was it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/most-magic-is-a-trick-an-illusion-but-when-the-beatles-played-the-ed/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [And I was booked once to go on 'Ed Sullivan' and I got bumped and ran out the back door crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aretha-franklin/and-i-was-booked-once-to-go-on-ed-sullivan-and-i-got-bumped-and-ran/) [Aretha Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aretha-franklin/) > [ After the Ed Sullivan Show, Feb. 9, 1964, at approx. 8:04pm \[laughs\], after that moment every album, every guitar, evey set of drums that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-thorogood/after-the-ed-sullivan-show-feb-9-1964-at-approx-8-04pm-laughs-after/) [George Thorogood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-thorogood/) > [ \[On turning down an invitation to appear for four minutes on the Ed Sullivan Show:\] Honey, it takes Moms four minutes just to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moms-mabley/on-turning-down-an-invitation-to-appear-for-four-minutes-on-the-ed/) [Moms Mabley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moms-mabley/) ## More by Sid Bernstein > [The Beatles were no trouble... lots of girls. The Stones were black-jacketed guys, a rough crowd. A whole different scene between the Stones' black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-bernstein/the-beatles-were-no-trouble-lots-of-girls-the-stones-were-black/) [Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/) > [I went to James Monroe High School, a big school in the East Bronx. My first promotion was the first alumni reunion dance. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-bernstein/i-went-to-james-monroe-high-school-a-big-school-in-the-east-bronx-my/) [Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/) > [John Lennon was brilliant, so gifted, so giving. He was the Bach, Beethoven, the Rachmaninoff of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-bernstein/john-lennon-was-brilliant-so-gifted-so-giving-he-was-the-bach/) [Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/) > [It shouldn't just be about money. 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We took $304,000 - the greatest gross ever in the history of show business!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-bernstein/over-55-000-people-saw-the-beatles-at-shea-stadium-we-took-304-000/) [Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/) > [I loved England's gentility and its civility. I'm from the Bronx, with a Bronx accent. I love the beauty of its language, the ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-bernstein/i-loved-england-s-gentility-and-its-civility-i-m-from-the-bronx-with/) [Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/) [Explore all 9 Sid Bernstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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