“Phantom of the Opera” has had its closing night after 35 years on Broadway. Sammy was a massive fan of the show. Here he is singing "The Music of the Night" on the MDA telethon. #sammydavisjr #sammydavis #SDJ #sammydavisjunior #ratpack #theratpack #phantomoftheopera #phantom #andrewlloydwebber #themusicofthenight #music #theatre #musical #musicaltheatre #broadway #broadwaymusical #show #MDAtelethon #NYC | Sammy Davis Jr.

On July 9, 1959, Sammy Davis Jr. hosted his first ever TV special. But he had to come to Canada to do it, right here to CBC. In the United States in the 1950s, corporate sponsors largely controlled what was seen on television. "Sponsors didn't see that a show hosted by a Black performer would be the kind of show they would want their product associated with," explained Canadian television historian Blaine Davis. "Presumably because consumers might be turned off by the association of their car or