October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. 
Johnny Carson, host of NBC's network late-night "Tonight Show" reigned for 30 unprecedented years...five times the combined tenure of Steve Allen, and Jack Paar. Carson was impervious to competition, including efforts to dethrone him by Les Crane, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, and Arsenio Hall. Sadly, very few complete "Tonight Show" broadcasts survive during Johnny Carson's first ten years of broadcasting. Around 1965, through the early 1970's, oldest tapes were first erased systematically by orders from myopic NBC executives, to be recycled for purposes of saving money. Ironically, in many cases, these older master tapes were too brittle, and portended probable drop-outs for re-use after being erased. Subsequently blank after being erased, these older questionable master 2" Quad tapes were either sparingly used or never used again for recording new programming and eventually were discarded. Saving thousands of dollars at the time (wiping master tapes for potential re-use) resulted in losing millions of dollars by NBC in today's marketplace, and more importantly wiping thousands of historic TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, which contain precious personal anecdotes from political, show business, and sports icons of the past.


Guest Sterling Hayden, who appeared earlier in the day on THE TODAY SHOW, appears with Johnny Carson  on THE TONIGHT SHOW in this extant excerpt segment recorded off the air by ATA archivist Phil Gries.

Joined in progress, Carson  expresses his admiration for Sterling Hayden during a time in Hollywood when it took "guts" to rebel against the film industry...working at a craft he felt not comfortable with or wanted to really pursue any longer. Sterling states that he just didn't want any more of the "rat race," and sought to find peace living the "normal life."  

Hayden confirms that out of mistakes one makes in life come the best experiences. He quotes Theodore Roosevelt who said, "Adventure is simply the result of a miscalculation."

Sterling Hayden mentions a film he just finished, "Dr. Strangelove: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb."  He feels the film was made with tremendous courage and vision by Stanley Kubrick who also made the picture "The Killing" (starring Hayden in 1955), Sterling states that Kubrick elected to describe his film as a "nightmare comedy," which in Hayden's opinion is the most hilarious script he has ever seen in his life. 

Johnny Carson mentions the autobiography  Sterling Hayden has just written, "WANDERER," and states to Hayden that there is no question in his mind of Hayden's love for the sea...the last place where one can be really free. Sterling Hayden agrees and says that "The sea is another world."                        

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. 
Joined at  11:30pm. Johnny Carson monologue. Johnny introduces his guests which include Andy Williams.  He discuses with Ed McMahon the rain deluge New York City is currently experiencing. Other topics include last night's program that featured an audience member bobbing for apples, his head submerged in water. Because the last two minutes of the program was preempted for an NBC News Bulletin, viewers at home thought the man drowned. 
Johnny cuts away for a cigarette commercial. 

Johnny Carson, host of NBC's network late-night "Tonight Show" reigned for 30 unprecedented years...five times the combined tenure of Steve Allen, and Jack Paar. Carson was impervious to competition, including efforts to dethrone him by Les Crane, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, and Arsenio Hall. Sadly, very few complete "Tonight Show" broadcasts survive during Johnny Carson's first ten years of broadcasting. Around 1965, through the early 1970's, oldest tapes were first erased systematically by orders from myopic NBC executives, to be recycled for purposes of saving money. Ironically, in many cases, these older master tapes were too brittle, and portended probable drop-outs for re-use after being erased. Subsequently blank after being erased, these older questionable master 2" Quad tapes were either sparingly used or never used again for recording new programming and eventually were discarded. Saving thousands of dollars at the time (wiping master tapes for potential re-use) resulted in losing millions of dollars by NBC in today's marketplace, and more importantly wiping thousands of historic TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, which contain precious personal anecdotes from political, show business, and sports icons of the past.
  
  

Host: Johnny Carson.                                       

January 10th, 1964-May 4th, 1965 (NBC)

Based on a British series created by Ned Sherrin. A half-hour of satirized current events. Among the regulars were David Frost (who went on to host his own syndicated American weeknight talk show), Elliott Reid, Phyllis Newman, Henry Morgan, Alan Alda, Buck Henry, Pat Englund, Nancy Ames, and Doro Merande. Also featured were Burr Tillstrom's puppets. Skitch Henderson conducted the orchestra. First introduced as a special in November 1963, it went on to become a weekly series in January 1964. 



This was the pilot program for the regular series which began on January 10th, 1964. 

Host for this pilot episode is Henry Fonda and is a complete 60 minute program. 

                                                

The careers of George Jessel and Al Jolson are profiled by host Conrad Nagel with additional anecdotes from Al Lewis, the producer and director of the original play "The Jazz Singer," and from Pearl Seaman who reflects on the career of Al Jolson.   

Note: This is the only known extant broadcast (video / audio) of producer Albert Lewis reflecting on how he first met George Jessel  who starred in his produced Broadway Play THE JAZZ SINGER  in 1925. 

Lewis reminisces, uninterrupted, for four minutes. 

He remembers how he first met Jessel as a young Vaudevillian doing a monologue routine about how to eat frankfurters only with mustard...what attracted a young George Jessel to him who was very lively and so original..."an obvious immerging great talent." 

Al Lewis reminds us of his partnership producing team  Lewis and Gordon, producing one act plays and always looking for new talent which they found in George Jessel, who became a protégé of Lewis, rising to stardom in the theater. 

Al Lewis reflects how tedious and difficult Samson Raphaelson's first play, THE JAZZ  SINGER,  was to fashion into a one-act  stage play, a critical failure at first but managed to thrill audiences for 14 months on Broadway and turned a profit. 

Lewis mentions his regrets that Jessel was not able to come to terms with Warner Brothers who were not  in a financial position to meet his terms which created a profound missed opportunity for George Jessel to become movie star.                                     

Report on the changing US attitudes on Red China, Roger Tuttle reports the news. 

Host: Hugh Downs.                        

A special 2 1/2 hour Today Show on the day of President John F. Kennedy's funeral in Washington, DC. Guest is Connecticut Governor Abraham Ribicoff.
Also, continuing live ABC-TV coverage of President Kennedy's funeral. Howard K. Smith reports.                     

January 14, 1952-Present. First early-morning network program and longest-running daytime series. Created by Sylvester "Pat" Weaver. Telecast Monday thru Friday, 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, the broadcasts have maintained a format including a News Summary, segments related to Sports, Weather, Interviews, and Features. Throughout its long run, hosts of "The Today Show" have included Dave Garroway (1952-1961), John Chancellor (1961-1962), Hugh Downs (1962-1971), Frank McGee (1971-1974), Jim Hartz (1974-1976), Tom Brokaw (1976-1981), Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumbel, Chris Wallace, Katie Couric, and others.



Live funeral coverage from both NBC and ABC of the burial of President John F. Kennedy who was assassinated three days earlier on November 22nd, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Jack Lescoulie, Frank Blair, and Barbara Walters report live from the Washington Rotunda for NBC. Also, Don Goddard with live "Man On The Street" interviews about the Oswald killing that took place yesterday, (11-24-63). 

Also, live ABC coverage with Ron Cochran and Howard K. Smith.                                  

 Johnny Carson, at 11:30pm, takes cards from the audience. One of the questions relates to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 
Carson reads the question:

"How do you feel about  doing a show after what has happened?"

Johnny Carson: " And I'm sure you are referring to what's happened the last four or five days." 

Johnny Carson continues: 

"I don't think any performer who performs is a little reluctant to come out and do a show especially when a show is built around comedy and live entertainment after something like this. But, I think it's like anything else. Things go on and nothing anybody can do or say can change what has happened. It is history and as a performer and entertainer, which is what we are here, you come out and do a show the best you can. You go right ahead. So, that's the way I feel."

It is interesting to note the next question Johnny reads from an audience member breaks the seriousness of the former question and response. 

Johnny Carson: "Do you Kiss with your eyes open or shut?"

Carson responds, that he kisses with his eyes shut. 

It is also interesting to note that his was the first show back after it was preempted November 22, and 25 after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Unlike the first return broadcast after the assassination of  President John F. Kennedy resuming a typical entertainment format broadcast, that scenario was not to be after the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy June 4/5, 1968, which was a serious round table discussion with journalists, Johnny Carson moderating and  participating.         

   In progress, a discussion related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.       

The careers of Sophie Tucker and Maurice Chevalier are profiled by host Conrad Nagel with additional anecdotes from Bernard Sobel.    

NOTE:   All of this live series has been lost. Archival Television Audio’s founder and curator, Phil Gries personally audio tape recorded over100 biographies representing this  daytime  series  (Sept. 9, 1963 - March 6, 1964).’             

A public dance show from New York City.

Host: Bill Randle, famous 1950's disc jockey.                                        

A review of the year 1963. 

Highlights: George Wallace-racial crisis in Alabama, The March On Washington, 8-28-63, Mahalia Jackson singing, speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, (complete), Vietnam: the overthrow of the Diem Government, the death of Pope John 23rd, the election of new Pope, Paul The V1. 

Host: Harry Reasoner.
                       

Washington, DC marks the official end of mourning for President John F. Kennedy.          

Host Harry Reasoner takes a look at the year 1963.   

New York City Mayor Robert Wagner pays tribute to President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated on November 22nd, 1963, in this, the official end of mourning for the President.             

A look at the year 1963.             

1963- (Syndicated) 

Half-hour filmed documentary series on great historical events of the twentieth century. Narrated by John Ireland.   

On this episode: The Charles Lindbergh baby kidnapping is remembered and a crime in the 1930s review. (Contains 1932 NBC news on Charles Lindbergh.          

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. Johnny Carson, host of NBC's network late-night "Tonight Show" reigned for 30 unprecedented years...five times the combined tenure of Steve Allen, and Jack Paar. Carson was impervious to competition, including efforts to dethrone him by Les Crane, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, and Arsenio Hall. Sadly, very few complete "Tonight Show" broadcasts survive during Johnny Carson's first ten years of broadcasting. Around 1965, through the early 1970's, oldest tapes were first erased systematically by orders from myopic NBC executives, to be recycled for purposes of saving money. Ironically, in many cases, these older master tapes were too brittle, and portended probable drop-outs for re-use after being erased. Subsequently blank after being erased, these older questionable master 2" Quad tapes were either sparingly used or never used again for recording new programming and eventually were discarded. Saving thousands of dollars at the time (wiping master tapes for potential re-use) resulted in losing millions of dollars by NBC in today's marketplace, and more importantly wiping thousands of historic TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, which contain precious personal anecdotes from political, show business, and sports icons of the past.
  
  

New Year's Eve show with guests Woody Allen and Rudy Vallee. Ben Grauer reports from Times Square in New York City.                                      

January 10th, 1964-May 4th, 1965 (NBC)

Based on a British series created by Ned Sherrin. A half-hour of satirized current events. Among the regulars were David Frost (who went on to host his own syndicated American weeknight talk show), Elliott Reid, Phyllis Newman, Henry Morgan, Alan Alda, Buck Henry, Pat Englund, Nancy Ames, and Doro Merande. Also featured were Burr Tillstrom's puppets. Skitch Henderson conducted the orchestra. First introduced as a special in November 1963, it went on to become a weekly series in January 1964. 

On tonight's show, an introduction by Henry Morgan "live from New York." Opening monologue on topical items.

Series premiere. Announcer for the series: Jerry Damon 

                                                

October 20th, 1957-September, 1969

Walter Cronkite hosted this Sunday-evening documentary series, that presented filmed reports on a wide variety of historical and scientific subjects. In January of 1967, the show's title was changed to The Twenty-First Century.

Tonight: "The Plot against Hitler," part 2, Walter Cronkite narrator.

This telecast focuses on the July 20, 1944 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Key conspirator Count Klaus von Stauffenberg had the task of killing Hitler. We are introduced to plotters' trials which took place at the time. Newsman Daniel Schorr interviews Countess von Stauffenberg and Axel von dem Bussche, a resistance associate of the count. 
                                               

January 10th, 1964-May 4th, 1965 (NBC)

Based on a British series created by Ned Sherrin. A half-hour of satirized current events. Among the regulars were David Frost (who went on to host his own syndicated American weeknight talk show), Elliott Reid, Phyllis Newman, Henry Morgan, Alan Alda, Buck Henry, Pat Englund, Nancy Ames, and Doro Merande. Also featured were Burr Tillstrom's puppets. Skitch Henderson conducted the orchestra. First introduced as a special in November 1963, it went on to become a weekly series in January 1964. 



A satirical commentary on the week's news. The third show of the series. 

                                                

The careers of Abbott and Costello and Laurel and Hardy are profiled by host Conrad Nagel with additional anecdotes from John McCabe.             

January 10th, 1964-May 4th, 1965 (NBC)

Based on a British series created by Ned Sherrin. A half-hour of satirized current events. Among the regulars were David Frost (who went on to host his own syndicated American weeknight talk show), Elliott Reid, Phyllis Newman, Henry Morgan, Alan Alda, Buck Henry, Pat Englund, Nancy Ames, and Doro Merande. Also featured were Burr Tillstrom's puppets. Skitch Henderson conducted the orchestra. First introduced as a special in November 1963, it went on to become a weekly series in January 1964. 



A satirical commentary on the week's news. The fourth show of the series. Guest: Art Carney.