Tessie o' Shea on the Ed Sullivanshow

Isn't this pure joy to watch?

[@andrewgibbon-williams7974]

Britain's answer to Sophie Tucker! Actually, she was just as good, if not better. It was a bit of old 'music hall' which survived well into 20th century. And people loved it! Tessie knew who she was and what she was good at. It took her a long way.

[@robertparkes4982]

100% PRO... simple as that really !

[@MrRichiekaye]

The greatest entertainer! A fantastic chart, played supremely by the best players in Manhattan. No one can touch this nowadays. What a treasure that we still have film.

[@jbyesterday3959]

She was phenomenal. Fantastic flair - a little like (our) Ethel Merman IMO. Bravo Tessie !

[@menelise]

She wasn't "England's wonderful" anything, Mr Sullivan. Tessie O'Shea was Welsh, born in Cardiff.

[@randysills4418]

Ed Sullivan got so much wrong!

[@Bazza8199]

Cymraeg through and through..

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Why can't there be performers like her anymore! What a lady!

[@pking4hjg]

There are no places for performers like this to train anymore, in the US or UK. O’Shea was literally performing at garden parties when she was three years old. She was working in a music hall in Blackpool at fifteen. Music halls and vaudeville theaters are long gone now. Comedy clubs don’t encourage these kinds of routines. It’s a lost art.

[@mjd4502]

Pure talent and class!

[@andrewgibbon-williams7974]

We Welsh are temperamentally a theatrical race. Hence Burton, and all them others. THIS woman succeeded in transferring old English music hall into the world of TV. WHAT an achievement!

[@iantobanter9546]

A belligerent face too-hence all the castles erected by our "betters"

[@johnyzero2000]

Why can't we have talent like this today???

[@splinterbyrd]

The talent's still there, but the music and showbiz industry isn't interested anymore

[@mindymaclaren6987]

I absolutely love her. What a joy!

[@john111257]

old school legend

[@GodsFavoriteBassPlyr]

How does one begin to describe how Great she was.. ? An entertainer's Entertainer... . born to do it.... and do it well. (with all due respect, sort of like Britain's answer to Rose Marie - An explosion of charm and talent!)

[@ACNC1]

Imagine a duet with Formby

[@itiswhatitaintanditaintwha1427]

She was Mrs Hobday in 'Bedknobs And Broomsticks'! I wish she had sung in that one.

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

itiswhatitaint anditaintwhatitis she had a great voice...and boy, couldn’t she shred on that banjolele

[@janetmickelson7403]

She just makes you feel happy!

[@namealreadytakennamealread493]

She reminds me of my grandma

[@viewstew]

One of the funniest scenes I've EVER scene in a film was Tessie O'Shea's cameo in "The Russians are Coming" with Carl Reiner. Hysterical....

[@Bazza8199]

Simply amazing. Pure entertainment in its natural form.

[@Bixfan78]

Is this her appearance from the February 9, 1964 show, the one where she was on the bill with The Beatles? (They were thrilled that she was there, as they'd listened to her on radio as boys in Liverpool.)

[@edcampbell6164]

I think it is.

[@deemdoubleu]

Full of life, brilliant.

[@alansilver7849]

She would have been a great Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd!

[@dmimcg]

Take that Taylor Swift!!!

[@josephlandrut4154]

Tessie o' Shea reminds me of my childhood during the `940's.

[@emmaheslewood4598]

Absolutely wonderful.

[@Darrell1019]

She's great! I've never heard of her before!

[@JILL0704USA]

Just terrific! What a fun entertainer! Delightful!

[@cardiffbear]

she could make that ukulele sing

[@kennethdrewary1094]

On the same bill as The Beatles for this show. A strange combo, lol

[@john111257]

something for everybody

[@gakski]

Don't forget Davy Jones from the cast of "Oliver" also on The Beatles show.

[@stephendringus8183]

That's why they called it a variety show....

[@DurhamGooner1]

Such energy!

[@brownlettuce1810]

Best part of the show.

[@jerrydavison_]

She warmed up for the boy band that followed.

[@DivinityRose]

What is the name of the first couple songs she sings?

[@RandyMareFan]

She was amazing but I just wish people realised she was WELSH not English. It annoys me when people are ignorant about the UK.

[@HeartyArtie]

+RandyMareFan Sullivan also called Harry Secombe English when introducing him performing If I Ruled the World. The man really was a fucking thick.

[@MrJacksson1]

+RandyMareFan Just shut up! You are arrogantly over-educated, and all-knowing.

[@RandyMareFan]

+Jack Mass There is absolutely nothing wrong in having an education and being educated, I would rather be well informed than completely ignorant. No-one on this earth is all knowing, there is always more to learn. Go be a troll somewhere else.

[@RandyMareFan]

+HeartyArtie I blame the researchers on the show but yes he should have held some level of accountability and responsibility for being accurate regarding the guests he had on the show.

[@HeartyArtie]

+Jack Mass Manners. Grown ups speaking.

[@gertiegert3910]

She looks like a female Liberace.

[@nosmoking6573]

Oh Boy! awesome sauce... but i wish *eddie* had come back for another hug it wouldn't have hurt him :(

[@jonathanworton9599]

Wow what star

[@ChrisChanningChannel]

He was determined not to be hugged

[@brianoneil6659]

Yup. And even after that she yelled "Come 'ere!" But he was...gone.

[@Uke_in_Flight]

The female version of George Formby, whom I am certain she emulated...

[@martinpleass913]

I think she was just as good really, a much smoother style. Fanned triplets rather than one finger.

[@ajay999999]

Dont think the yanks got it

[@fanboy2015]

Hope she went on before The Beatles.

[@brownlettuce1810]

She performed After their first songs and before their final ones of the night. I think they sang 5 songs total that night. Unlike the fab 4, She was an engaging, live performer. The Beatles were awkward cardboard cutouts on stage. Hence their retreat to the recording studio.

[@andrewmcgill409]

She was actually Welsh from Cardiff.

[@iantobanter9546]

A fantastic Welsh artists- all the way from Swansea.

[@iantobanter9546]

or indeed, Cardiff!

[@RickMartinYouTube]

Had to see her video - kept seeing her name with the Beatles on Ed Sullivan from 50 yrs ago.....very entertaining. Two-ton Tessie from Tenn wouldn't be PC today would it? What a dramatic difference from the Beatles who played the same show.....

[@ronaldrobertson1274]

Rick Martin and

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

Rick Martin The Beatles all learnt the basic chords on ukuleles when they were kids. George, in particular, was a huge fan & I'm sure they loved meeting her, and from photos I've seen it was mutual! She may have been a comedian, but her ukulele playing was virtuoso level!

[@josephlandrut4154]

My moires bring back Tessie when she was on a swing.

[@jamesfvariety9780]

impressive but still cant beat Formby style playing

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

James F variety they both had great technique just a little different

[@nigelbarrett4091]

Blackpool,s Sophie Tucker.

[@jsteelman1000]

Ok, where's the Beatles ?

[@brownlettuce1810]

Backstage

[@DonVueltaMorales]

The British Invasion: Singer from GB covers American songwriters Gershwin, van Heusen, Lou Handman, plays American/West-African instrument in American pop style for white American audience to eat up. I hope Sullivan's next act that night was a bit more original ... he ... he.