Freedom Spectacular (1964)

A glittering extravaganza seen from coast to coast via closed-circuit television featured the greatest names in entertainment. The goal was to raise 1 million dollars in a "giant spectacular" to crack the crumbling wall of segregation. The two-hour show emanating from the LA Arena and Madison Square Garden was shown to over 50 major cities. The East Coast hour was chair manned by Ed Sullivan and Sammy Davis, Jr and the West coast hour was chaired by Lena Horne and Sidney Poitier. The huge fundraising event was dedicated to the "hearts and minds of little children" and observed the 10th anniversary of the US Supreme Court school desegregation ruling. Thurgood Marshall, who originally argued the case before the Supreme Court, was presented with the Freedom Award by the NAACP President.