Ed Sullivan: An Evening at the Circus

."We are going to the circus with the Wards," Mom announced to me one afternoon when I came bouncing in the house. I gave her a hug saying" Hi, Mommy", and grinned. Mom was always planning some outing or other. It was just a matter of finding out which one, each time. I loved her outings and exploring with her.
I had seen Daddy and her whispering about something the last few days. I knew she had a plan up her sleeve to surprise us with again. The fact my father was in on it, was unique though.

I sat down for my snack and she continued on. "Anna's dad got tickets for our two families." Anna was a little friend. Her dad did some kind of public relations job for the army in Munich. "Tickets for everyone Mommy?", I asked. She nodded her head and said "Yes for nine of us." I sat there smiling.

I was a little child. I loved the circus. I still do We had seen the Ringling Brothers in Paris a couple years before. I was enthralled with all the hubbub and colour, three rings in full activity at once. " He got us front row tickets right next to the circus ring, on floor level," she continued. "You'll be able to see the animals and performers a few feet away." I thought that was pretty exciting. "Is that what you and Daddy were whispering about?", I asked her. She looked at me and shook her head yes, laughing. She knew me very well. I listened to everything going on around me. Sometimes I listened to things I wasn't supposed to. I stored everything away in my little head, for future reference.

The big night at the circus came. We rushed around to get ready. Mom always insisted we look nice and dress appropriately. Both she and Daddy seemed more concerned than usual though. After the once over, Daddy hustled us to the car out front.

As we drove downtown, my Dad said, "We are meeting them in front of the Circus Krone. They have the tickets." I didn't know my father even knew any of my friends parents, so I was a little surprised. The two of them sat in the front seats, looking like the proverbial cat that swallowed the mouse. They were still hiding some detail about this outing they hadn't told us yet.

They looked at each other and my normally very stern father chuckled and said, "They are filming a television show while we are there. It will be broadcast back in the states. We get to meet the star of the show." Ah, I thought, now I know what the big secret was. Of course I had to ask, "What is the show Daddy?" He looked back and said. "The Ed Sullivan Show." I had heard the name but it didn't really mean anything to me at the time, so I just said ,"Oh". Still, both my parents were in good moods and seemed to be looking forward to the evening. That was enough for me.

We parked the car and walked to the front of the Circus Krone building. The Wards were already there , standing in the front lobby in the midst of the people rushing in. We all greeted each other. I could feel the excitement in the air. Both sets of parents herded us into the auditorium to our seats. Anna and I sat next to each other. As usual my father gave us all that look that said, "You had better behave while we are here." We feared him. There was no doubt we would be good.

Sure enough, our seats were right next to the ring. I could put my feet against the edge of it. Across the ring was a bank of stage and camera lights. They turned them on a few minutes later and I could feel the heat they radiated, from across the ring. " Those are hot." I whispered to Anna while making a face showing I didn't like that. She shook her head yes.

Always curious about everything, I looked quickly around us. There were a few empty seats behind us. Behind those seats was a higher wall that separated us from the rest of the big crowd in their own chairs. We had our own little section, all to ourselves. The rest of the auditorium was stuffed to the hilt.

The overhead lights suddenly went down. Everyone focused on the entryway door at the back of the circus ring. Out walked the star of the show. He began to talk. I leaned over and looked at my parents faces . They looked relaxed and happy. "Welcome to our sheeew." Mr. Sullivan began. He talked a little bit, then introduced the first act, and stepped aside.

I was surprised to see Mr. Sullivan heading in our direction. There was a lady in one of the empty seats behind us now. She was all dressed up and had on a beautiful pearl necklace . As the act began under the hot lights, Ed Sullivan walked in front of us, went to the last empty seat directly behind me and sat down. I couldn't help looking back. He smiled at me, put his hand on my shoulder, leaned over and said, "Hello." He had me. I was fascinated . I was amazed he was sitting behind me. I'm betting my mouth was probably hanging open a bit. I glanced over at my parents and saw my mom smiling at me. Then I turned around to watch the show.

As each act ended, Ed Sullivan would get up and pull Anna's and my braids lightly like a bell. Then he would say something to us. He would say things like " Are you ready for the next act?", or "You will like this one." I got to where I was laughing every time he did it. He talked to us a little bit on and off, as the show progressed. I thought he was pretty nice. I liked him. I had no idea who he was at the time, but I liked him. He was being a nice man to a couple of children.

When the bears came out to do their act with their trainer, one got loose for a couple minutes. It came ambling over right in front of us. It started to climb up on the circus ring itself. We all sat hard against the seat backs, startled by the nearness and size of him. He was huge. I could have reached out and petted him, he was so close. He was quickly drawn back to his handler. We breathed.

At one point Ed Sullivan brought the mike over to us and introduced us to one of the child performers that had just done his act.. His father did a juggling act with his feet, while on his back, using his son as the juggled item. I could barely speak. I croaked my name." I'm Laurie," and said my age into the microphone. I was so embarrassed, having every eye in the audience, and the cameras on us. I didn't like it much, but at the same time it was kind of exciting. It was a new experience.

Intermission came. The lady next to him, who turned out to be his wife Sylvia, said, "We want all of you to come backstage with us at the break, meet our daughter and some of the crew." I was really excited.

The three families started to stand up at the intermission, to head backstage. Suddenly the crowds came surging down the stairways, and climbing over the wall separating us from the rest of the crowd. They were in a frenzied rush to get to Ed Sullivan. It was a human tidal wave, flowing towards us all at once. I had never seen anything like it in person and it was frightening, particularly to a child. I was still seated.

The surge of autograph seekers slammed against me, clawing to get over me, to get to the famous Ed Sullivan. My legs were pinned against the edge of the hard seat and they really hurt. I was crying out in pain, terrified. I couldn't move. I felt like I was going to be suffocated. All that mass of people cared about, was getting an autograph. They weren't even aware of a small child being crushed and smothered in their frenzy to touch or meet someone famous. I doubt my parents could even see what was happening through so many people. They couldn't have done a thing to help me anyhow.

Mr. Sullivan stood up and started yelling angrily at them, "Let her up! You are hurting her. Move aside." They listened to him and backed up slowly, pushing against each other. They moved just enough so he could grab me. He said "Laurie, come back here with me."

He helped me over the back of my seat, then put me on his lap. He wrapped his arms around me and protected me from the onslaught of people. I was really shook. My legs ached. He kept squeezing me as he signed autographs, asking me, "Are you alright?", patting me to calm me. I buried my head against him in tears.

Finally the crowd was broken up. It was time to start the next part of the show. He still held me on his lap. At that precise moment I made a decision for my life. I told him, " I never EVER want to be famous like you Mr. Sullivan." He hugged me and helped me back to my seat. And proceeded with the show, but he kept checking on me and got me laughing again. To a small child, for that moment, he was my hero.

He had saved me from being crushed. The crowd was blind in its pursuit of a celebrity. They didn't care that they were hurting a little girl. I will never forget how frightened I was, or how he came to my rescue. It felt safe on his lap. That decision made sitting there, never changed. To this day I see the swarms around celebrities, shiver and understand why they react the way they do sometimes, in anger or frustration. If I ever have fame, I want it to be something quiet, more controlled or with less fanaticism. I would rather be behind the scenes contributing, and let those who love the limelight, revel in it.

Now, as an adult looking back I understand who he was, and his contributions to the world of entertainment and to popular history. I understand the frenzy and human desire to contact someone famous who affects lives in some way. To that child I was back then, he was much more than that. He was a human being who cared about a little girl, and protected her.