With a total of 144 songs (including repeats) and well over 500 minutes of playing time, this massive boxed set, whose nine discs each contain between 12 and 19 performances, truly is, as host Ed Sullivan famously said, "a really big show. " With some 20 songs between them, the two most important rock acts of the 20th century, Elvis Presley and the Beatles, both of whom received huge career boosts from the Sullivan show (garnering a reported 80 percent audience share and 70 million viewers, respectively), are well represented; so are other genres, like Motown and '60s rock. And wonderful, galvanizing performances by, among others, the Jackson Five (especially "the little fella in front," as Sullivan calls Michael), the Animals, James Brown, Janis Joplin, Jackie Wilson, the Rolling Stones, and even the Association ("Along Comes Mary") are enough to counter the curious inclusion of the Brooklyn Bridge, Jay and the Techniques, and other obscure minor talents. Still, the boxed set (whose DVD bonus features include "trivia tracks" and limited discographies) has serious flaws. Audio and video (color and black and white) are good, but far too many songs are repeated (the Jefferson Airplane's "Crown of Creation" appears twice on the same disc!), while others are obviously truncated; and there's no excuse for programming two songs each by the likes of Dino, Desi and Billy, and Freddie and the Dreamers. In the end, the good music saves the day, but the set's drawbacks keep Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics from being an essential purchase. -Sam Graham On Sunday nights throughout the '50s and '60s, Ed Sullivan brought pop culture into America's living rooms with th e most influential show of its kind. If you made it there, you had it made because for the first time, the entire county was at home watching. During the course of the show's run, many of the early rock and roll legends were featured in career-defining p erformances. These cultural milestones have been compiled for Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics, along with archival footage and narration for insight on the artists, their eras, and their classic appearances. [+]

Winky Dink cartoons, popular in the 1950s, are now interactive. This set features a "magic screen": a piece of heavy clear vinyl that clings to 27-inch television screens-it can be cut to fit smaller screens, but those with larger sets won't get full screen coverage. Also included are special crayons, soft cleaning cloth, and the first volume of Winky Dink and You all enclosed in a plastic carrying case. Viewers simply trace an onscreen object and watch as it becomes a vital tool in defeating the dastardly Harem Scarem. Don't tell the kids, but viewer drawings don't actually determine the course of the action-they simply fill in blank portions of the animation. While artwork wipes easily away from conventional television screens, the advisability of encouraging children to write on televisions and other household furnishing is debatable. This compilation contains nine episodes featuring Winky Dink, his dog Woofer, and the villainous Harem Scarem. Whether Harem Scarem is corrupting the King, disturbing the music of the spheres, or stealing precious gems, the collaborative efforts of Winky Dink, Woofer, and young viewers ensures that good will prevail. (Ages 3 and older) -Tami Horiuchi.

Combining peculiar whimsy with elements of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Barefoot in the Park, and Love Story, this enjoyably nonsensical romantic comedy has built a small but loyal following since its release in 1968. Like Somewhere in Time on a modest scale, Sweet November was a well-kept secret among hopeless romantics until a remake in 2001 (starring Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron) made it ripe for rediscovery. Rarely have sweet schmaltz and tear-jerking melodrama been so delicately employed, and the whole thing would be utterly ridiculous if it weren't for the delightful casting of Sandy Dennis and Anthony Newley-both at the height of their popularity, and both irresistible in their fairy-tale roles. (The costars reportedly battled off camera, which might explain their oddly energetic chemistry. ) Sandy is Sara Deever, nearly 23 and hiding a secret that will eventually explain her strategy of inviting a new man to live with her-with platonic affection-for one month at a time. It's romance on an installment plan, and Charlie Blake (Newley) is Sara's catch for November-a British businessman and aspiring poet who takes up residence in Sara's quirky Brooklyn Heights apartment. He's quick to fall in love, and his devotion grows touchingly intense when Sara's secret is revealed. Some will reach for Kleenex, others will roll their eyes, but Sweet November-like Sara, in all her eccentric vulnerability-has the courage of its convictions. Just when you think it's going to end predictably, it throws a curve ball that's memorably poignant. -Jeff Shannon.

2 episodes, 2 tapes, 2 hours of original 1950's television broadcast from THE COLGATE COMEDY HOUR (1950-1955). The Colgate Comedy Hour was a big budget comedy spectacular featuring the top names in show business. It ran opposite THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW on Sunday nights. One of the first commercial series to originate from Hollywood, it also included the first network color telecast in November, 1953. Tape 1 features ABBOTT & COSTELLO, who were among the principal hosts of this program about once a month from 1951-1954. The boys are featured here in one of their most famous routines doing "WHO'S ON FIRST". Also featured is LON CHANEY, JR. playing Frankenstein in a haunted-house skit. TAPE 2 is hosted by EDDIE CANTOR who spoofs TV westerns. Guest star: FRANK SINATRA and EDDIE FISHER singing "Oh, My Papa".

Until it gets all sappy at the end, this is a crackerjack melodrama written by Anita Loos (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) and starring Clark Gable as Eddie, another colorful addition to his rogue's gallery. Eddie's a Depression-era hustler. When his latest scam goes awry, he hightails it into a nearby building and into the apartment of Ruby (legendary platinum blonde bombshell Jean Harlow, who teamed memorably with Gable in Red Dust and China Seas). She's a "swell kid" who shields his presence. Ruby's been around. "I got two rules," she states. "Keep away from couches and stay on your feet. " Rules were made to be broken. Jail time and a false murder rap for poor Ruby threaten to keep the couple apart until the happy fade-out. Before his character's rehabilitation, Gable sparks the movie with his twinkly-eyed bravado. [+]

Produced by Dr. Bruce Klauber for Tahoe Productions, this video presents Krupa in fourteen rarely seen performances dating back over sixty years, and featuring Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Ventura, Anita O'Day, plus interview footage of the legend himself! A great tribute to the man who brought the drums out front. Song Titles: Swing, Swing, Swing House Hop Avalon China Boy Sheik of Araby Thanks for the Boogie Ride Young Man With a Beat Caravan Drum Boogie After You've Gone Old Fashioned Love Running Time: 60 Minutes.