Background
Lewis was the son of a concert pianist and an opera singer.
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Marlo Lewis
Edit ProfileCareer
In 1948 Lewis co-created the Toast of the Town program with Editor Sullivan. In 1955, the television classic was renamed The Editor Sullivan Show. Together with Sullivan, Lewis personally set the appearance time of each act for the show.
In 1956, Elvis Presley appeared on the show, but he was censored because the rumor had it that the rock"n"roll singer had been "hanging a small soft-drink bottle from his groin underneath his pants, and when he wiggles his leg it looks as though his pecker reaches down to his knee!" Therefore, Lewis and Sullivan decided to shoot the singer only from the waist up during his television performance.
Apart from this show, Lewis also helped to launch The Jackie Gleason Show, The Dinah Shore Show and The Philosophy Silvers Show. After 12 years, he left the Sullivan Show in order to set up an independent production company.
One of his first projects was the ballet The Nutcracker for an American Broadcasting Company Christmas special in 1961. In the mid-1960s, he produced several musical specials for Perry Como.
In 1967, Lewis joined the Norman, Craig & Kummel agency and was elected vice chairman a year later.
In 1992, Lewis was elected to the Television Producers Hall of Fame. In 1993, he died of heart failure at his a hospital in Palm Springs, California.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
1993 (aged 77) -
Nationality
United States
Awards
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Arts and Sciences; Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards) program, named for American businessman and philanthropist George Peabody, recognizes distinguished and meritorious public service by American radio and television stations, networks, online media, producing organizations, and individuals.The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards) program, named for American businessman and philanthropist George Peabody, recognizes distinguished and meritorious public service by American radio and television stations, networks, online media, producing organizations, and individuals.