July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960.  

Jack's guest is Jackie Mason.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

Jack Paar stated that this show with Jackie Mason, in top form, was one of the funniest shows he has ever done on The Tonight Show.

*Most of this series does not survive in any broadcast form. Kinescopes were discarded, burned, decomposed...whereabouts unknown. 2" Quadruplex Video Tape was expensive ($300 for a one hour reel), weighting 26 pounds, requiring great storage space. Video Tape could easily be erased and was used for new program recordings...retained briefly for a re-run and then erased or discarded. Legend has it that even Jack Paar himself hired a junk man to come to his home garage and paid to have JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW recordings discarded (reels of kinescopes and video tapes) that were now cluttering up his space. 

During this era in television history archiving television programming was not a primary concern or vision, and considered an arcane pursuit. 

ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. retains over 70 complete and excerpt JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW air checks (34 hours), including the complete Jack Paar's first anniversary telecast which was broadcast live from Havana Cuba (June 28, 1958). These originally recorded off the air pristine sound direct line 1/4" reel to reel audio tracks, recorded at the time of the original broadcasts, represent the only broadcast record of a "lost" visual telecast. ATA is the largest single repository (one collection), in the United Sates of Jack Paar Tonight Shows recordings. The combined archives of The Library of Congress, Paley Center for Media, and UCLA Film & Television retain a composite total of 13 hours of representative JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts excerpts, all KINESCOPES (sound quality inferior to originally direct line 1/4" reel to reel home recordings at the time of the broadcast). No COMPLETE intact visual and audio broadcasts survive. There are no extant video taped surviving RECORDINGS of the JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW...not even an excerpt. 

For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the TONIGHT SHOW with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melis, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conreid, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Jonathan Winters.

 Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host. There were 20 different substitute hosts for Paar over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times and Johnny Carson 15 times. All together there were 243 broadcasts which had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first video-taped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. The LAST LIVE broadcast was aired July 3, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10,1959. Beginning July 20, 1959 Jack Paar began taking off Monday nights & guest hosts would substitute for him (approximately on alternate Mondays). The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960.
Theme music, "Everything is Coming Up Roses" was first used beginning in the Fall of 1959. 

Location broadcast telecasts of the program telecast away from the Hudson Theater in New York City occurred 14 times during this series run. 

Jan. 13-17, 1958                     Miami Beach, Florida
July 28, 1958                        Havana,Cuba           
Nov. 3-21, 1958                      Hollywood, California
March 2-20, 1959                     Hollywood, California
Nov. 10-12, 1959                  Nassau, Bahamas (Video Tape)
Nov. 30- Dec. 10, 1959               Hollywood, California
March 28-April 1, 1960            London, England (Video Tape)
Nov.9-11, 1960                    Hawaii (Video Tape) - b&w
Nov.14-24, 1960                     Hollywood, California
March 21-24, 1961                 London, England (Video Tape)
Sept. 12-14, 1961                 West Berlin (Video Tape)
Nov. 14-17, 1961                  Hollywood, California (Tape)
Nov. 21-24, 1961                  Hollywood, California (Tape)
March 13-16, 1962                 London, England (Video Tape)




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

For four years and eight months, Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times, and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, news bulletin on the "Explorer I"  satellite, launched today. 

Jack's guests are Robert Morley, Peggy Cass, Dickie Henderson, and Samuel Shenton who believes the earth is flat. Broadcast from London.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 
 
  Beginning London Shows with host Jack Paar in London, England.Hugh Downs host in New York with Jim Lucas, announcer.
Samuel Shanton professes to Jack that the Earth is flat. Other guests include, Robert Morley, Peggy Cass, and Dickey Henderson.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

A Jack Paar Tonight Show broadcast taped in London England. We hear Jack's opening monologue which heavily consists of Jack's impressions of his London stay, his observations of people, places and things.

Jack introduces his guest Peter Sellers. Unfortunately only the first two minutes of Sellers appearance has been salvageable. 

For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960.  
   
NOTE:
This specific air check was microphoned recorded and so it does not contain pristine audio but does have very good sound playback.                                                                                                                                                                                                              

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960.  

The guests are Charles Laughton and George Jessel, 
Jack comments on Walter Winchell, Dorothy Killgallen, Ed Sullivan and William F. Buckley.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 
 
 Return from London England. Broadcast from New York.

In his monologue Jack Paar comments on Dorothy Kilgallen, Ed Sullivan, and William F. Buckley Jr. 

Jack interviews Charles Laughton.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

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.

Episode: Get The Graf Spee, reconstruction of events that led to the scuttling of the famed Nazi battleship (The German Sea Raider) in Montevideo harbor on December 17, 1939. German sea raider.
                                                                           

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960.  

Jack comments on his "Berlin Crisis." Also comment on the poor quality status of  Los Angeles newspapers.                                                                                                                                                                                                

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960.  

The guests are the Reverend Billy Graham and Jonathan Winters.                                                                                                                                                                                                             

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 
 
  Jack's guests include the Reverend Billy Graham, and Jonathan Winters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

For four years and eight months Jack Paar reigned supreme as host of the Tonight Show with a crew of regulars, but only two stayed with him for the entire run; announcer Hugh Downs and band leader Jose Melies, a former army buddy. Familiar faces who appeared many times with Jack included Dody Goodman, Betty Johnson, Elsa Maxwell, Alexander King, Genevieve, Jack Douglas; and wife Reiko, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hans Conried, Peggy Cass, Cliff (Charley Weaver) Arquette, and Johnathan Winters. Hugh Downs substituted for Jack Paar 79 times, more than any other substitute host there were 20 different performers over the period of the series run. Joey Bishop substituted for Paar 31 times. Arlene Francis, 30 times, Jonathan Winters, 26 times, Orson Bean, 21 times and Johnny Carson 15 times. Altogether there were 243 broadcasts that had substitute hosts filling in for Paar during Jack Paar's TONIGHT SHOW tenure. The title of the late-night broadcast changed to THE JACK PAAR SHOW which took effect on February 3, 1958. The first videotaped broadcast aired on January 5, 1959. "Best of Paar " Re-runs began on July 10, 1959. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960.  

Jack Paar's final night hosting the Tonight Show. Tomorrow night would be a re-run Best of Paar. Guests include Jack E. Leonard, Alan King, and Buddy Hackett. Jack comments on Walter Winchell and his past accusations, Castro' Cuba and Newsweek magazine.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 
 
  FINAL FIRST RUN TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JACK PAAR.

 During the four and half years Jack Paar hosed the Tonight Show he clocked approximately 24,000 hours of programming of which only less than .1% survives!!! No video tapes survive. No color episodes survive. Only an handful of black and white kinescopes are extant.

What does survive is only a total of 13 hours archived by Paley Center for Media, Library of Congress, and UCLA Film & Television, combined. 

The greatest number of surviving broadcast TV Audio Air Checks in the country, representing THE JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW, is archived by ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. (34 hours). 

Among Jack's many guests on this final first run broadcast are Jack E. Leonard who opens the show. He acts as host for the first 15 minutes..introduces, many celebrities in the audience including Tom Poston, Sam Levenson, Selma Diamond, Jack Haskell and Max Asnas of the Stage Delicatessen. Jose Melies plays all of the familiar theme songs associated with Jack Paar. Hugh Downs reads excerpts for Abel Green's column "Variety' about the show and Jack.  Alexander King, and Buddy Hackett are live guests. On film Hugh Downs introduces good bye salutations from George Burns, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Richad M. Nixon, Tallulah Bankhead, Joey Bishop, Robert Morley, Nipsey Russell, and Rev. Dr. Billy Graham. . In Jack's last monologue he reminisces about his feuds with Walter Winchell, Dorothy Kilgallen and Ed Sullivan.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Jack Paar's guest is Jack Benny. Hugh Downs is co-host. 
During Paar's monologue Jack states that Johnny Carson will be, most likely, the new host of The Tonight Show, starting in April, after he, Jack, leaves THE TONIGHT SHOW (last first run broadcast March 29, 1962). 

NOTE: Johnny Carson did replace Jack Paar as permanent host of TTS, but due to a contractual agreement with ABC TV he could not begin his 30 year reign as host of The Tonight Show until October 1, 1962. 

This was to be the final televised "Jack Paar Tonight Show." This "Best of Paar" broadcast was a repeat of a telecast aired on November 22, 1961. 
                                                   

An examination of the human factors to be considered in space travel. Included are films of weightlessness tests, gravity studies and a look at the mental rigors of space travel as two airmen undergo 17 days ia a mock-up capsule. Also, a discussion of nutrition with Beatrice Finkelstein; optical challenges with Otto Schueller, and radiation perils with Dr. Herman J. Schaeffer.                                                                                                                                                             

April 2nd, 1962-September 28th, 1962

When Jack Paar left the Tonight Show on March 29th, 1962, it created a six-month "window" of guest hosts until October 1st, 1962 when Johnny Carson took over the reins in what would be a 30-year run of hosting until May 22nd, 1992, From April 2nd, 1962-September 28th, 1962, there were a variety of 18 different celebrity guest hosts. Art Linkletter was the first guest host during this six-month "window" period and Donald O'Connor the last on September 28th, 1962. 

INTERIM HOSTS ON THE TONIGHT SHOW
(APRIL 2, 1962 - SEPTEMBER 29, 1962)
* Six or more days hosting during this interregnum period. 

April 2-6                Art Linkletter   April 9-13  Art Linkletter

April 16-20           Joey Bishop
April 23-27           Robert Cummings

April 30-May 4     Merv Griffin   May 7-11  Merv Griffin

May 14-18          Jack Carter
May 21-25          Jan Murray
May 28-June 1   Peter Lind Hayes & Mary Healy
June 4-8             Soupy Sales
June 11-15         Mort Sahl
June 18- 22       Steve Lawrence

June 25-29        Jerry Lewis   July 2-6  Jerry Lewis

July 9-13           Jimmy Dean
July 16-17         Arlene Francis
July 18              Hugh Downs
July 19-20         Arlene Francis
July 23-27         Jack E. Leonard

July 30- August 3  * Merv Griffin   August 6-19  Merv Griffin

August 13-17    * Hugh Downs
August 20-24     Groucho Marx
August 27-31     Hal March
September 3-7 * Joey Bishop

September 10-14 * Art Linkletter    September 17-21  Art Linkletter

September 24-28  Donald O'Connor

October 1, 1962 Johnny Carson becomes permanent Host       
                            of the TONIGHT SHOW

Guest Host: Art Linkletter. Tonight's guest is William Bendix. Linkletter's opening monologue is heard. We hear the opening with announcer Hugh Downs introducing who will be on the show tonight.  Art Linkletter gives tribute and anecdotes about Jack Paar, including mentioning his "water closet" controversial joke and other Tonight Show moments. Linkletter discusses the upcoming guest hosts who will fill in until Johnny Carson becomes the permanent host of the Tonight Show.  One scheduled host, Spike Jones, is asked to stand in the audience (Jones never did host the Tonight Show). Hugh Downs discusses ad-libs  related to Elizabeth Taylor.   Woody Herman who leads the band this week is introduced. In the three minute abbreviated interview William Bendix tells Linkletter that he first came to Hollywood in 1940. The interview abruptly ends after Art Linkletter praises the movie that Bendix starred in, "Lifeboat."                                                                                                                            

April 2nd, 1962-September 28th, 1962

When Jack Paar left the Tonight Show on March 29th, 1962, it created a six-month "window" of guest hosts until October 1st, 1962 when Johnny Carson took over the reins in what would be a 30-year run of hosting until May 22nd, 1992, when he hosted for the last time. From April 2nd, 1962-September 28th, 1962, there were a variety of celebrity guest hosts. Art Linkletter was the first guest host during this six-month "window" period and Donald O'Connor the last on September 28th, 1962. 

Guest Host: Joey Bishop. Guests are Sammy Davis, Jr. and Red Buttons.                                                                                          

From two successive telecasts, guests are double talker Mr. Laud Brooks Schmidt,appearing on April 18, 1962, and the following night, April 19, 1962, Ernest Borgnine, Danny Thomas, Edie Adams, Sonny King and Lenny Kent.             

Guests are Dell and Bill who do a comedy routine about Vietnam, and Otto Preminger. Mort Sahl is guest host.             

Dave Garroway is the host for the third and final televised annual TV Guide Award broadcasts.
The Bob Hope Christmas show wins the award for the best variety show special.  Favorite Male Performer is Vince Edwards.
Favorite Female Performer is Carol Burnett.                                                              

Jerry Lewis returns for a second week as host of The Tonight Show. Included are NBC news commercials and spots for Ocean Spray, Tuck Tape, and L&M Cigarettes. 

The second interregnum (2 April 1962-28 September 1962). Because of his previous contract, Jack Paar's successor, Johnny Carson, was unable to take over the show until October 1, 1962. The twenty six week gap was filled by a succession of guest hosts, most of whom stayed for a week at a time. The parade included, among others, Mort Sahl, Soupy Sales, Art Linkletter, Groucho Marx, Merv Griffin, Jerry Lewis and Arlene Francis (The first woman to guest-host the show). Hugh Downs stayed on as the announcer until August, when he succeeded John Chancellor as host of the Today show; Ed Herlihy replaced Downs on Tonight. Skitch Henderson led the band during the transition period.                          

Jerry Lewis hosts on three successive nights...July 4, 1962 with guest Chuck McCann, July 5, 1962, with guest Phil Foster, and July 6, 1962, with guests, Rick Norman (Rick Saphire), Milt Kamen, The Vagabonds and Henry Gibson. 
These segments are combined within this audio air check.                         

April 2, 1962 - September 28, 1962

The Second Interregnum for The Tonight Show. 19 substitute hosts presided during the six months after the departure of Jack Paar and the emergence of Johnny Carson the new permanent host of The Tonight Show premiering October 1, 1962. 

Sophia Loren is interviewed by host Merv Griffin in a rare one on one recently filmed interview segment.             

Guests are Zsa Zsa Gabor, Salvatore Baccaloni, Joe Twirp, Joy Harmon, and announcer George Fenneman. Groucho Marx sings "Show Me A Rose."             

A summer replacement series hosted by
Sam Levenson in 1960,
August 1- September 26,

Jim Backus in 1962,
February 3, - September 11,

Merv Griffin in 1963,
July 2, - September 17, 

Art Linkletter in 1965, (ONE HOUR series)
June 22, - September 7.

Art Linkletter later hosted the program as a mid-season replacement for the Steve Lawrence Show, again in a one-hour format, titled Art Linkletter's Hollywood Talent Scouts from December 20, 1965 - September 5, 1966.   

Talent Scouts today are Sally Ann Howes and E.G. Marshall, Jack Carter and Cyril Richard. 
A satire on President John F. Kennedy and family by "The Premise,"
NASA spokesman on space race, President Charles de Gaulle. 

Host: Jim Backus                                                                                                   

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.

The jazz of Dave Brubeck. This show originally aired on December 31st, 1961.                         

September 30, 1962-October 21, 1962

Premiere. Five different issues are discussed each week in this half-hour program. A pre-selected sample of approximately 1000 homes are telephoned at the end of the program and asked their opinion on the issues. The results of the poll are discussed on the next week's program. Tonight's topics are: narcotics, addiction, school prayers, divorce laws, traffic and New York City police. 

Ron Cochran is the host. 

NOTE: This totally forgotten series lasted for only four episodes. 
The fact that it even existed is interesting for this show is not listed in any of the country's archives, mentioned on the internet or a found resource that can be researched today.                          

10-01-62- 05-22-92 (NBC)

Johnny Carson makes his debut as host of the Tonight Show. He is introduced by his announcer Ed McMahon. This was the beginning of Carson's thirty-year run as the host of this iconic late-night talk show. McMahon was to remain with Carson for Carson's complete tenure as host. Carson was the third permanent host, following Jack Paar who replaced original host Steve Allen. Joining Johnny for the premiere are Groucho Marx, who introduces Carson, Rudy Vallee and Joan Crawford.

The broadcast begins at 11:14 PM  Eastern Standard Time in New York with a commercial promoting the movie "Barabbas" followed by the NBC Peacock color tag. Announcer Ed McMahon introduces the show naming the  guests and then states " let us all welcome the new host of the Tonight Show" and Groucho Marx walks out. He does a brief monologue. Orchestra leader Skitch Henderson and the band play, "New York, New York It's A Wonderful Town." 
    
The 11:30pm sign on is heard by announcer Ed McMahon. He states, "...the man you have been waiting six months to meet, Johnny Carson." Groucho and Johnny Carson together. Carson thanks Groucho for flying to New York to do the opening of his first show. Comedic advice by Groucho to Johnny. 

Complete monologue by Johnny Carson. McMahon's first words to Carson, "You were very good my Prince." Ed and Johnny at the desk. Johnny does his first commercial for "Greasy Kids Stuff." Johnny introduces his very first guest, Rudy Vallee. There would be many thousands more to come. Included in this air check,   
Johnny Carson's interview  with his last guest, Joan Crawford. 

NOTE: This material is comprised from the very best available original off the air recordings known to exist. Each source does not duplicate one another. One is direct line recorded (excellent audio quality). One is microphone recorded (good audio quality). The two sources have been edited together by Phil Gries for content and continuity.

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 dropouts 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.

*SURVIVING TONIGHT SHOW BROADCAST PRIOR TO 1973.


           THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON
           - October 1, 1962 – September 29, 1972 -
  Analysis, collation, and complete listing of surviving episodes
      Encompassing the first 10 years of NBC TV broadcasting
  ARCHIVED BY THE CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP – Fullerton, CA.

                             ………………RESEARCH REPORT……………………….
                   by Phil Gries - (Archival Television Audio, Inc.)
                                       (www.atvaudio.com) – March 11, 2012

THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, aired on NBC Television from October 1, 1962, to May 22, 1992. Approximately, 4,531 episodes were broadcast according to reference sources.
This research report attempts to detail, specifically, those surviving complete and excerpt episodes which currently exist, as archived by THE CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, representing the first ten years of surviving programming as notated on its on-line inventory site… primarily representing broadcasts which aired from New York City, from Oct. 1, 1962, until May 1, 1972, at which time the show was aired from Burbank, California for the duration of its 30 year run.

During this first ten-year broadcast time period only 276 individual shows survive (represented by 243 excerpts and only 33 complete shows, of which only 12 of these COMPLETE broadcasts reflect and represent the 1960’s).  The majority of all additional TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON broadcasts, televised during this first ten-year period, have been sadly erased, destroyed, lost, misplaced, during an era when archiving television was not a visionary.

                                                                    
The average excerpt time length representing each of the surviving 243 episodes equals approximately 13 minutes of extant programming. Excerpts range mostly from 5 minutes to 20 minutes in length. It is unfortunate that so much original programming representing the first TEN YEARS of broadcasting related to THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON was not saved by NBC network personnel who failed to realize the value and historic significance of these telecasts. 

Representing this ten year time period are 7,130 minutes of broadcast time which approximates a total of only 119 surviving hours. One could view ALL surviving material in less than five days!

The breakdown representing complete shows are as follows:

There exists NO complete one hour & 45-minute broadcasts (11:15pm-1:00am)-October 1, 1962 – December 30, 1966. 
 
Only three complete broadcasts, December 31, 1963, Oct. 3, 1965, with substitute host Joey Bishop, & December 31, 1965, sans the first 15-minute local lead in, survive, spanning the time period October 1, 1962, thru June 18, 1968.

 NO 11:15pm to 11:30pm segments survive representing Johnny Carson’s initial lead in monologue telecast to all local affiliates, nor those first 15-minute segments representing Ed McMahon and Skitch Henderson, who relieved Johnny Carson of that assignment, beginning February 19, 1965. 
 
 At 11:15 pm local stations had the option to broadcast the TS or present local programming (usually expanded news).  When Carson opted not to come on until the full network went online at the 11:30pm time McMahon and Henderson did what in essence was a 15-minute warm-up, lead-in to Johnny Carson’s entrance at 11:30pm.

A total of 5 complete episodes survives from 1968…
4 complete episodes from 1969…1 complete episode from 1970…4 complete episodes from 1971 and 15 complete episodes from 1972 representing the time period, February 18 to September 29, finalizing the first ten years of broadcasts.

When Johnny Carson moved his Tonight Show to Burbank (May 1, 1972) archiving THE TONIGHT SHOW became more of a focus and dictum by Johnny and production staff, as is evidenced in 1972 when scores of complete shows were saved. By 1973 and most decidedly from 1974 through Carson’s final show, May 22, 1992…almost all TONIGHT SHOW STARRING                                                                  JOHNNY CARSON broadcasts were saved and archived and not indiscriminately erased to economize, taping over previously recorded programs which was a common practice.

The earliest COLOR episode archived in the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP collection is from August 18, 1964. There are four color episodes archived from 1965…two from 1966…two from 1967 (one of the two excerpts, 12/8/67, in color, has NO AUDIO)…five from 1968…eleven from 1969, at which time MOST programming SAVED were saved as color 2” Quads or 16mm color kinescopes . The LAST saved episode in Black & White is dated in the CEG online index as September 13, 1971 (13-minute excerpt with Buddy Hackett). 

With few exceptions, all air dates as notated by the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP website are egregiously inaccurate, as notated here based on 2010 information. Some  blatant  errors are obvious. Judy Garland is listed as a guest in an entry dated October 12, 1969. Garland passed away June 22, 1969. There are hundreds of other inaccurate air dates listed (a correct air date is the exception) which need to be researched and corrected for it undermines the scholarly, arduous and prestigious accomplishment of such a praiseworthy peerless research source.  Reference resources available to accurately and definitively do such corrections exist as evidenced in my own reference library which include Tonight Show NBC INDEX CARD FILES, ROSS REPORTS TELEVISION INDEX, and NY METROPOLITAN TV GUIDES. 

Also, inaccurately listed, are air dates which contain not one but a multitude of excerpts each representing a multitude of different programs, combined together…giving the impression that all segments pertain to one show when in essence we are scrutinizing a compilation of programs, representing a dozen shows. 
Those brief excerpt segments which do survive from the first five years of Tonight Shows (1962-1967), seem, to this archivist/researcher, to be personal request copies by performers who made arrangement to have just their own segment kinescoped, or video taped. These truncated brief excerpts, which include, from time to time Carson at his desk, live commercial spots, station ID, segues, etc., read like a who’s who of “unknown/forgotten” entertainers. Most of these TS guests are lesser named celebrities or non-show business individuals.
 
The premiere show, October 1, 1962, survives as an AUDIO excerpt, as confirmed by Johnny Carson on a Tonight Show broadcast, September 14, 1987 which exists in this collection.
Other resources which maintain archive broadcasts representing the TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON include THE PALEY CENTER for MEDIA (2,489 items…99% of their                                                                         archive represents post September 1972 programs). Pre-1972 saved broadcasts represent only five entries. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS have only a few scant regular episodes with picture, but does have 416 ARMED FORCES RADIO (thirty minute excerpt recorded episodes) AUDIO ONLY discs which are one sided analog shellacs, 33 1/3 rpm; 12 inches). They represent the time period, January 1967 thru November 1968. 
The MUSEUM OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS have listed on their website only five archived programs, all post 1981 with one 1969 exception (12/17/69-marriage of Tiny Tim). 

 UCLA FILM & TELEVISION ARCHIVE have no listings related to TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON broadcasts.
The following list is a guide documenting those 276 surviving shows, representing the first 10 years of the THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, archived by the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP which has been prodigiously created and orchestrated by Jeff Sotzing and company, and implemented in its current on-line structure to the public in 2010.
 
I have included all notated air dates which represents each surviving 1962-1972 (thru September) TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON broadcasts, as preserved and listed on-line by the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP. The air dates, as collated by CEG, while mostly inaccurate, are included as a guide. The running time of each surviving excerpt and or complete show, indicated by an *, is included. On occasion I correct and indicate actual air dates (s/b) that I know off the top of my head, and I offer occasional additional pertinent information deemed interesting and relevant. Possibly, at another time a list representing the Complete Archive by the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP (all 30 years) can be tabulated, further scrutinized, and amended, for accuracy (especially accurate original broadcast date information), creating a more definitive listing with all current data researched, amending inaccuracies and adding omissions. 
There are approximately 3,300 hours of TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON broadcasts currently archived and existing in the collection of the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP. Incredibly, only 119 archived hours (first 10 years) survive. 
They are listed as follows:

                                                                     

1962(4 broadcasts archived – 1 hour 30 minutes survive)
Oct. 31, – 15 min. Emily Yancy (s/b -Oct. 30); Nov. 26, – 28 min. Major Ralph Gibson & Robert Bell (s/b Nov.19); Dec. 5, - 29 min. John Bubbles, Tony Martin, Fran Warren (s/b Nov. 23); Dec. 21, - 17 min. Robert McCormick (s/b Richard).


1963 (18 broadcasts archived – 1 *complete – 1 guest host - 6 hours survive)
Guest Host – Allan Sherman.
Jan. 16, – 7 min. Tommy Leonetti; March 21 – 11 min. Roger Ray; April 14 – 13 min. Francis Brunn; May 3 – 9 min. Allen & Rossi (s/b April 22); June 4 – 9 min. January Jones;  June 20 – 28 min. (Bert Parks remote at the premiere of Cleopatra. Brief interviews with Rex Harrison, Beatrice Lillie, Joan Fontaine, Red Buttons, Mary and Richard Rodgers, Roddy Mc Dowall, Leonard Bernstein, Darryl Zanuck, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Tony Randall (s/b June 12); June 24, - 29 min. Kitty Kallen; June 26, - 15 min. Mr. Hughes, Marie Jacobs; July 19, - 31 min. Lefty Gomez, Jerry Holmes, Patrice Munsel, Rona Jaffe, Milt Kamen; July 25, - 12 min. Johnny at desk; Aug. 5, - 6 min. STUMP THE BAND; Aug. 8, - 29 min. ALLAN SHERMAN GUEST HOST, with Craig Breedlove, Johnny Mercer (s/b Aug. 7); Sept. 10, - 11 min. Oriel Smith; Sept. 19, - 16 min. Johnny at his desk / spots; Oct. 21, - 12 min. yoga demonstration; Dec. 12, - 12 min. Johnny & Ed; Dec.29, - 29 min. Dr. Edward R. Annis; *Dec. 31 – 84 min. (COMPLETE) Woody Allen Louise Lasser, Yvonne Constant, Rudy Vallee, Ben Grauer, in Times Square. 

1964 (31 broadcasts archived - 0 complete –  2 Guest Host - 8 hours 15 minutes survive)
Guest Hosts – Pat Boone, Groucho Marx.
Jan. 3 – 10 min. Carl Reiner; Jan. 30, – 16 min. Dick Capri; Feb. 26, – 18 min. June Valli; March 3, - Gigi Robin; April 1, - 19 min. Caterina Valente; April 17, - 8 min. Ethel Ennis; April 24, - 29 min. Kay Ballard; April 28, - 10 min. Charles Aznavour; April 30, - 11 min. Sara Rubine; May 5, - 14 min. Michael Rapinchuk, Dr. Robert Baird; May 21, - 9 min. Felicia Sanders; June 12, - 8 min. Alan Lamb; June 14, - 22 min. Sylvie Vartan; July 10, - 10 min. The J’s Singing Group; July 21, - 7 min. Bobby Vinton; July 22, - 6 min. PAT BOONE GUEST HOST, with Selma Diamond; 
 Aug. 13, - 15 min. GROUCHO MARX GUEST HOST, with Catherine Curry; Aug. 18 (EARLIEST COLOR BROADCAST ARCHIVED), - 60 min. Harry Goldan, Jack Haskell (Video breaks up through-out playback); Aug. 19, - 7 min. Marion Colby; Sept. 3, - 7 min. Carson at his desk; Sept. 10, - 31 min. Gig Young, Jim Franciscus, Leila Edmons; Sept. 24, - 12 min. The Interludes; Sept. 27, - 30 min. Pearl Bailey; Sept. 30, - 11 min. Fred Wayne; Oct. 6, - 31 min. Zsa Zsa Gabor, Corbet Monica; Oct. 16, - 21 min. Dr. Jonathan Karas; Oct. 26, - 9 min. Ed Ames; Nov. 11, - 12 min. Eva Gabor; Nov. 23, - 9 min. Nick Hewlett, Tony Hendra; Dec. 7, - 16 min. Robert Lewis; Dec. 30, - 12 min. commercial breaks;


1965(4 broadcasts archived –  2 *complete – 2 Guest Hosts - 4 hours 45 minutes survive)
Guest Host – Joey Bishop (2).
*Oct. 3, - 87 min. (COMPLETE) - JOEY BISHOP GUEST HOST, with Phil Foster, J. Richard Kennedy, Juliet Prowse, Dave Grusom; Oct. 4, - 59 min. Groucho Marx, George Segal, Ray Hasting, THE MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS with Carol Anderson as the Matinee Lady; Oct. 5, - 59 min. JOEY BISHOP GUEST HOST, with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin; *Dec. 31, - 87 min. Woody Allen, Willam Walker, Gila Golan, Phil Ford & Mimi Hines, The Muppets, Ben Grauer at Times Square. 


1966 (57 broadcasts archived – 0 Complete – 7 Guest Hosts - 13 hours 15 minutes survive)
Guest Hosts – Alan King, Joey Bishop (2), Sammy Davis Jr., Hugh Downs, Steve Lawrence (2)
Jan. 8, - 32 min. Don Adams, Hal Frazier, Theodore Bikel; Jan. 31, - 13 min. June Valli; Feb. 2, - 8 min. Laura Greene; Feb. 17, - 8 min. Dick Hyman & spots; Feb. 28, - 15 min.  ALAN KING GUEST HOST, with Mark Traynor; March 2, - 15 min. Jerry Smith, Lana Cantrell; March 4, - 14 min. Los Indios Tabajaras; March 11, - 13 min. Miriam Makeba, Sam Levenson; March 24, - 8 min. TEA TIME MOVIE; March 25, - 7 min. spots: March 30, - 8 min. Baja Marimba Band; April 8, - 17 min. Smothers’ Brothers, Pat O’ Bien; April 19, - 6 min. April 20, - 6 min. spots; April 23, - 19 min. Dick Cavett, Diahann Carroll, Vidal Sassoon; April 28, - 18 min. June Valli, Ivan Rivers, Charles Deaton; May 12, - 14 min. Gretchen Wyler, Eydie Gorme; May 12, (COLOR VERSION) – 11 min. Gretchen Wyler, Eydie Gorme; May 19, - 14 min. Vicki Hayes; May 25, - 20 min. Tom Smothers; May 27, - 7 min. Lana Cantrell; June 1, - 10 min. Van McCoy; June 7, - 10 
 min. Stiller & Meara “computer dating routine;” July 4, - 20 min. Les & Larry Elgart, Mark Russell; July 5, - 13 min. Bill Staton; July 6, - 15 min. Dennie Coffet; July 18, - 7 min. Bonnie Jacobs; July 22, - 7 min. JOEY BISHOP GUEST HOST, with Bonnie Jacobs; July 26, - 11 min. Ethel Merman (SOUND ONLY); Aug. 2, - 17 min. JOEY BISHOP GUEST HOST, with Ronnie Martin; Aug. 5, - 7 min. United States Marines; Aug. 8, - 5 min. Bonnie Jacobs; Aug. 9, - 15 min. Nat Gale; Aug. 12, - 10 min. SAMMY DAVIS JR. GUEST HOST, with Phyllis Newman; Aug. 27, -  7 min. HUGH DOWNS GUEST HOST, with Jackie Vernon; Aug. 29, - 7 min. Florence Henderson; Sept. 9, - 20 min. Dick Cavett, George Carlin; Sept. 24, - 13 min. Hank Bradford; Sept. 29, - 5 min. Ruth Price; Oct. 7, - 10 min. Norm Crosby; Oct 15, - 20 min. STEVE LAWRENCE GUEST HOST, with Bill Lear, Vidal Sassoon, Phil Ford & Mimi Hines (  last minute guests not listed in any resource); Oct. 22, - 20 min. Arthur Bornstein, Joan Rivers, Allan Sherman, Skitch Henderson; Oct. 27, - 5 min. STEVE LAWRENCE GUEST HOST, with Bill Lear; Nov. 1, - 20 min. Robert Ricci, Nov. 4, - 20 min. Guniall Knutron; Nov. 10 , - 24 min. Buddy Rich; Nov, 4, (COLOR VERSION with slight video break-up) – 60 min. Soupy Sales, Milton DeLugg, Roland Popular; Nov. 14 – 20 min. Dr. Richard Evans, Buddy Hackett; Nov. 17, - 10 min. show open…JC monologue…spots; Nov. 19, - 7 min. January Jones; Nov. 25, - 10 min. Johnny Carson’s son Ricky, and his band; Nov. 29, - 7 min. Leon Bibb; Dec. 2, - 20 min. CARNAC THE MAGNIFICENT, Danyale Luna; Dec. 19, 15 min. Fannie Flagg; Dec. 24, - Fannie Flagg, George Segal intro only; 


1967 (78 Broadcasts Archived – 0 Complete – 13 Guest Hosts – 20 Hours survive)
Guest Hosts – Woody Allen, Bob Newhart (8), Gene Rayburn (4), Victor Borge, Allan King.
Jan. 6, - 7 min. Shari Lewis; Jan. 19, - 11 min. Norman Wisdom; Jan. – 23, - 19 min. Beverly Todd; Jan. 26, - 17 min. Woody Woodbury; Feb. 2, - 22 min. Bud Greenspan; Feb. 3, - 13 min. June Valli (SOUND ONLY); Feb. 8, - 21 min. Fannie Flagg; Feb. 9, 21 min. Sarah Churchill; Feb. 16, - 9 min. Van Harris; Feb. 19, - 15 min. John Byner; Feb. 23, - 32 min. Glen Lamar; Feb. 26, - 16 min. Eddie Arnold (VERSION #1); Feb. 23, -  24 min. Carol Wayne, George Segal (VERSION #2); Feb. 29, - 4 min. sketch; March 4, - 5 min. Johnny & Ed; March 6, - 13 min. David Hemmings; March 14, - 12 min. Danielle Aubrey; March 15, - 20 min. Joan Meyers; March 17, - 9 min. Johnny & Ed; March 31 (COLOR) – 5 min. Danielle Aubrey; April 1, - 7 min. Jake Holmes; April 4, - 14 min. Sandra Hiller; May 9, - 17 min. WOODY ALLEN GUEST HOST, with guest Lee Leonard; May 10, - 14 min. Bill Fiore & Phyllis Eldridge; May 11, - Joan Meyers, Clint Eastwood (loose sound after 1 minute…Eastwood segment continues silent for 2 more minutes). May 17, - 9 min. Charlie Callas; May 18, - 11 min. Peter Allen, Chris Allen; May 19, - 15 min. Zsa Zsa Gabor; May 23, - 17 min. Father Bernard Bassett; June 4, -(COLOR COMPOSITE 9O MINUTE ENTRY…MANY DIFFERENT BROADCASTS LUMPED TOGETHER)…James Garner, Richard Crenna in a MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS sketch “Mutiny on the Bounty,” Milton Berle, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Louis Armstrong, Chief Bill Red Fox, Tom Seaver, Dr. Frank Field, William “Bill” Cheung, Little Dion, BAR ROOM SKETCH with James Drury, Doug McClure, Chuck Courtney, DRAGNET SKETCH with Jack Webb, BONNIE & CLYDE SKETCH, TEA TIME MOVIE SKETCH, Mary Harper (101 years old) telecast New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 1967, Benny Goodman; June 10, - 16 min. John Fairchild, Times Square Two, Misty Moore; June 11, - 17 min. Jim Bishop, Chris Allen, Peter Allen, Jackie Vernon; June, 15, - 20 min. Pierre Berton; June 16, - 17 min. Kathleen Holly, Ray Price; June 22, - 6 min. Charlie Manna; June 24, - 20 min. (SOUND ONLY) Hugh Hefner, George Segal, Engelbert Humperdinck, Milton DeLugg; June 24, - (VERSION #2) 7 min. Shelley Winters; June 30, - 14 min. Angeline Butler, Johnny Tillotson, Corbett Monica (brief); July 2, - 17 min. SKETCH “Mr. President Beauty School” (SOUND ONLY); July 4, - 16 min. Paul Revere and the Raiders; July 6, - (COLOR) 5 min. STUMP THE BAND; July 10, - 11 min. Gary & the Hornets band; July 11, - 9 min. Times Square Two; July 19, - 17 min. BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Angeline Butler, Albert Lipton; July 24, - 8 min. Linda Bennett; July 27, - 16 min. (VERSION #1)  BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with  Lynn Kellogg; July 27, - 11 min. (VERSION #2) BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Jocko Conlon;  July 31, - 12 min. Carey Garfin Four; Aug. 5, - 15 min. (VERSION #1) BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Frank Buxton; Aug. 5, - 20 min. (VERSION #2) BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Dr. Haim Ginott; Aug. 7, - 23 min. Joe DeCirto, Vincent Price; Aug. 8, - 7 min. Tony Randall, Carmen Lombardo; Aug. 10, - 6 min. (VERSION #1) Judy Scott, Buddy Greco (brief); Aug. 10, - 17 min. (VERSION #2) Mark Traynor; Aug. 16, - 14 min. BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Jan Sterling; Aug. 19, - 18 min. Ron Carey; Aug. 22, - 15 min. Alfred Lipton; Aug. 28 – 17 min. Twiggy, Donna Theodore; Aug. 29, - 11 min. Ray Price; Aug. 30, (COLOR) – 7 min. Bobbie Gentry; Aug. 31, - 8 min. Jack Curtiss & Bill Tracy; Sept. 8, - 9 min. Teddy Neely; Sept. 11, - 16 min. Leslie Uggams; Sept. 16, - 8 min. BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Ann Hilton segment, and COLOR 9 min. segment (Sept. 16 (?) with Ann Dawson with Johnny Carson; Sept. 19, - 7 min. Alan King; Sept. 22, - 9 min. GENE RAYBURN GUEST HOST, with Peggy Walters; Sept. 22, (?) – 16min. Michael Butler, Tom Hughes, Polo players with JC; Sept. 27, - 16 min. GENE RAYBURN GUEST HOST, with Walter Wanderly Trio (s/b – Sept. 21); Sept. 29, - 14 min. Susan Oliver (s/b Sept. 12); Oct. 5, - 12 min. Dr. Dare Miller; Oct. 10, - 10 min. GENE RAYBURN HOST, with Monique Van Vooren (s/b Sept. 21); Oct. 14, - 17 min. GENE RAYBURN HOST, with Pat Kirby (s/b Sept. 18); Oct. 21, - 7 min. Bill Dana (brief); Oct 21 (?) – 11 min. Monique Van Vooren, Danna Theodore; Oct. 27, - 7 min. Johnny Carson monologue; Nov. 3, - 14 min. Beverly 
Penberthy, Sarah Vaughan; Nov. 12, - 8 min. BOB NEWHART HOST, with Elias & Shaw (s/b Nov. 6); Nov. 18, - 6 min. unidentified guest with JC; Nov. 24, - 7 min. Jimmie Rodgers; Dec. 8, (COLOR) – 9 min. Members of the New York Ranger Hockey Team (NO SOUND); Dec. 9, - 8 min. Johnny and Ed; Dec. 16, - 12 min. Bill Cowden; Dec. 17, - 32 min. Dr. Edward Annis; Dec. 27, - 6 min. ALAN KING HOST. End of the show; Dec. 28, - 7 min. VICTOR BORGE HOST;


1968 (37 Broadcasts Archived – 3 Complete – 8 Guest Hosts - 15 hours survive)
Guest Hosts – Orson Bean, Sammy Davis Jr., Harry Belafonte (2), Joe Garagiola (2), Barbara Walters, Pearl Bailey.
Jan. 12, - 20 min. Richard M. Nixon (s/b Nov. 22, 1967); Jan. 15, - 8 min. Eddie Lawrence; Jan. 20, - 9 min. Georgie Kaye; Jan. 30, - 16 min. George Kaplan; Feb. 9, - 14 min. Chris Calloway; Feb. 10, - 12 min. ORSON BEAN GUEST HOST, with Bob McGrath (s/b Jan. 23); March 1, - 10 min. Barbara Cowsill; March 2, - 10 min. Jim Garrison (s/b Jan. 31); March 18, - 14 min. Louis & Earl Mountbatten; April 6, - 32 min. SAMMY DAVIS Jr. GUEST HOST, with Eydie Gorme, Bob Melvin, Louis Armstrong (s/b March 28); April 12, - 14 min. Florence Berry, Tonia Bern-Cambell; April 19, - 11 min. Marilyn Maye; April 20, - 11 min. The Hello People; April 24, - 28 min. HARRY BELAFONTE GUEST HOST, with Robert F. Kennedy, Bill Cosby (s/b Feb. 5); April 25, - 32 min. HARRY BELAFONTE GUEST HOST, with Dr. Martin Luther King (s/b Feb. 8); May 8, - 11 min. Steve Lawrence; May 11, - 17 min. Marlon Brando (s/b April 19); May 13, - 16 min. JOE GARAGIOLA GUEST HOST, with Jack Paar; May 16, - 14 min. Toni Carroll, Tony Randall; May 18, - 32 min. Johnny & Ed, Tony Kahmann; May 19, (COLOR) – 53 min. Debbie Drake, Jim Fowler, THE MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS, Robert Klein; May 25, - 14 min. JOE GARAGIOLA GUEST HOST, with Barbara Walters (s/b May 17);  June 2, - 7 min. Leon Bibb; *June 19, - 87 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST IN COLOR) Raquel Welch, Alan King, Pigmeat Markham, Cleve Baxter; July 6, - 82 min. (ALMOST COMPLETE BROADCAST IN COLOR) Galan Sisters, Richard Harris, Bobby Gentry, Dr. Frank Field, Tiny Tim, MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS; *July 19, - 85 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST IN COLOR) Edward G. Robinson, Karl Malden, George Burns, Sam Jaffe, Carl Reiner, Debbie Reynolds; July 22, - 16 min. James Garner, Lucille Ball; July 30, - 9 min. Stiller & Meara; Aug. 12, - 14 min. Dick Carson, Don Rickles, MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS; Aug. 20, - 15 min. Peter Max (s/b Aug. 15); Sept. 9, - 82 min. (ALMOST A COMPLETE BROADCAST IN COLOR); Sept. 13, - 17 min. BARBARA WALTERS GUEST HOST – Paris Fashion Show; Sept. 27, - 7 min. Irwin C. Watson; Oct. 12, - 13 min. Corky Hale, Tony Bennett; *Oct. 20, -87 min. (COMPLETE SHOW IN COLOR) Joan Fontaine, Don Piccard, David Frye; Nov. 16,  8 min.  Terry-Thomas; Dec. 7, - 32 min. PEARL BAILEY GUEST HOST (s/b Nov. 4); Dec. 13, - 11 min. The Hello People;


1969 (14 Broadcasts Archived – 4 Complete – 1 Guest Host – 13 hours 15 minutes survive)
Guest Host – Don Rickles.
BEGINNING IN 1969 THOSE BROADCASTS WHICH ARE ARCHIVED ARE MOSTLY IN COLOR
Feb. 15, - 90 min. Robert O. Lowery, Bob Sinclair, Marian Mercer, Larry Haines, Peter Lawford, skits; March 22, - 7 min. (IN BLACK & WHITE) Richard Claire & Jenna McMahon; March 14, - 12 min. (IN BLACK & WHITE) Johnny and Ed with new products; March 28, - 10 min; *May 22, - 90 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST)…includes re-creation of Radio Superman Episode as presented by THE MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS, Art Scholl, Eva Gabor, Bob Hope, John Byner, Carl Reiner, George Lindsey, Rose Marie; *May 22, - 90 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST ) DON RICKLES GUEST HOST, with Ed Sullivan(s/b May 14); June 8, - 33 min. Judy Garland, (s/b Dec. 17, 1968); June 8, - 54min. Philippe Halsman, George Raft, Charlton Heston, Jimmy Stuart Multiple skits (COMPOSITE TAPE CONTAINING MANY DIFFERENT BROADCASTS);* June 13, - 88 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST IN BLACK & WHITE); Dana Valery, Joan Rivers, Stan Feberg, Jim Fowler; July 11, - 9 min. William Gargan; Oct. 12, - 79 min. (COMPOLATION BROADCAST) Tiny Tim, Judy Garland; Oct. 13, - 19 min. (Black & White) Charles Luce; Nov. 17, - 12 min. (BLACK & WHITE) STUMP THE BAND; Nov. 20, - 84 min. (COMPOSITE BROADCAST FROM MANY DIFFERENT DATES) MIGHTY CARON ART PLATERS, Charlton Heston, Bishop James Pike, Shirley Jones, Two different TEA TIME MOVIE skits, the classic Feb. 21, 1969 broadcast with Bob Hope, George Gobel, Dean Martin and Louis Bellson & Buddy Rich; *Dec. 17, - 87 min. 
(COMPLETE BROADCAST) Tiny Tim & Vicki Budinger marriage…Nick Lucas, Phyllis Diller, Florence Henderson;


1970 8 BROADCASTS Archived– 1 Complete Broadcast – 0 Guest Hosts – 8 Hours 30 Minutes survive)
March 24, - 13 min. (BLACK & WHITE) Rose Marie; April 4, - 84 min. (COMPILATION FROM MANY DIFFERENT BROADCASTS) two MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS, Marcel Marceau, Tony Randall, Cliff Robertson, Circus Sketch, Sketch with James Coco; June 7, - 84 min. (COMPILATION FROM MANY DIFFERENT BROADCASTS) Spiro T. Agnew, multiple sketches, Johnny Carson shows clip of one of his earliest television appearances (1953) when he filled in for Red Skelton, who injured his leg. Jolly Green Giant sketch, Jay Silverheels; June 12, - 7 min. Doc Severinsen & the Now Generation of Brass, The Brothers & Sisters; Aug. 1, - 73 min. Apollo 13 Astronauts, James Lovell, John Swigert and Fred Haise, Ruth Webb, The Brothers & Sisters, MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS; *Aug. 13, - 87 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST) Dr. Paul Ehrlich, Ben Wattenberg, Buddy Hackett; Sept. 27, - 90 min. (COMPILATION BROADCASTS FROM VARIOUS PAST SHOWS) Joe Frazier, Mel Brooks, Alan King, Phyllis Newman, Mary Harper (104 year old women guest with Johnny), TEA TIME MOVIE, EL MOULDO Sketch, Lou Burk, CARNAC THE MAGNIFICENT; Oct. 1, - 48 min. (COMPILATION OF DIFFERENT BROADCASTS) Jack Webb DRAGNET sketch, Charlton Heston, Carson sketches with Sammy Davis Jr., Paula Prentiss and Tiny Tim, Japanese Message sketch with Don Rickles, Doug McClure, James Drury, JC classic BAR ROOM BRAWL SKETCH; Oct. 30, - 17 min. (BLACK & WHITE) Mac Davis; Nov. 12, - 7 min. Miss Finland;


1971 (9 BROADCASTS ARCHIVED – 5 COMPLETE – 0 GUEST HOSTS – 8 Hours survive)
Jan. 5, - 20 min. Alex Karras; May 24, - 13 min. TEA TIME MOVIE, Carol Wayne; *July 1, - 88 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST) Jerzy Kosinski, Della Reese, Doc & Johnny, Rodney Dangerfield; *July 21, - 87 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST) Mac Davis, Mrs. James Munnings, Billy DeWolfe, Rodney Dangerfield; Sept. 13, - 13 min. Buddy Hackett (LAST BLACK & WHITE BROADCAST ARCHIVED IN THIS COLLECTION); Sept. 23, - 86 min. Beverly Sills, Della Reese, Bob Uecker, Hans Conried; Nov. 16, - 13 min. Joel Lanford, Steve Tracey; *Nov. 17, - 87 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST) Vikki Carr, Jo Anne Worley, Danny Thomas, Robert Goulet, Dick Martin, Perkins Hamly; *Dec. 14, - 87 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST) Helen Reddy, Robert Shaw, Paul Williams, Phyllis Newman; 


1972- (16 BROADCASTS ARCHIVED – 15 COMPLETE – 1 GUESTS HOST – 20 Hours 15 minutes survive
Guest Host – Don Rickles.
ALL COMPLETE 87 MINUTE BROADCASTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF August 7th excerpt.
                                                                     

*Feb. 18, - Billy De Wolfe, Burt Reynolds, Albert Brooks, Pat Boone; 
*Feb. 29, - Flip Wilson, George Carlin, Ann-Margret, MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS, Susan St. James;
*March 9, - Desmond Morris, Bobby Goldsboro, Shecky Greene, Bob Hope;
*May 2, - Johnny Mathis, Carol Wayne, Mr. Blackwell, George Carlin, Rob Reiner;
*May 19, - Adelle Davis, Alton Ruff, Gwen Davis, John Twamley, Mitzy Gaynor, Randy Doney, Robert Blake;
*July 27, - Gloria Stewart, James Stewart, Linda Hopkins, Sam Blotner, Slappy White;
Aug. 7, - 7 min. DON RICKLES GUEST HOST, with Carol Wayne;
*Sept. 12, - Karen Valentine, Larry Kert, Phyllis McGuire, Rodney Dangerfield, CARNAC THE MAGNIFICENT;
*Sept. 15, - Albert Brooks, Burt Reynolds, Dr. Melvin Anchell, Peter Falk, Vikki Carr;
*Sept. 19, - Bob Hope, Dom DeLuise, John Denver, Peter Fonda;
*Sept. 20, - Dionne Warwick, Don Rickles, Dr. Irwin Maxwell Stillman, Pat Boone;
*Sept. 22, - Ace Trucking Company, Gail Parent, Kenny Solms, Peaches Jones, Shecky Greene, Tommy Leonetti;
*Sept. 26, - Paul Williams, Redd Foxx Tony Randall;
*Sept. 27, - Robert Klein, Jaye P. Morgan;
*Sept. 28, - Billy DeWolfe, Dennis Weaver, Tottie Fields;
*Sept. 29, 1972 – Carazini, Earl Holliman, Joan Rivers, Mitzi Gaynor. 

                                                                                                                                      
              FIRST TEN YEARS (NOTABLE FACTS) 
“THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON”
October 1, 1962 – September 29, 1972
•	Only 276 Broadcasts (mostly excerpts) survive.
•	Only 33 Complete Broadcasts survive.
•	Only 119 hours of programming survive.
•	NO COMPLETE 1HOUR & 45 MINUTE BROADCAST SURVIVES
•	Only 20 and ½ hours survive representing the first 3 years & 3 months of broadcasting TTSSJC (Oct. 1, 1962 – Dec. 31, 1965).
•	From Oct. 1, 1962, thru June 18, 1968, spanning 5 years 9 & ½ months, only 3 COMPLETE BROADCASTS survive.
•	Earliest surviving Complete Broadcast – Dec. 31, 1963.
•	Earliest surviving COLOR excerpt – August 18, 1964.
•	Last recorded and archived Black & White excerpt – September 13, 1971.
•	36 Broadcasts survive which have Guest Hosts filling in for Johnny Carson.
Allan Sherman, Pat Boone, Groucho Marx, Joey Bishop (4), Alan King (2), Sammy Davis Jr. (2), Hugh Downs, Steve Lawrence, Woody Allen, Bob Newhart (8), Gene Rayburn (4), Victor Borge, Orson Bean, Harry Belafonte (2), Joe Garagiola (2), Barbara Walters, Pearl Bailey, Don Rickles (2).

*The Tonight Starring Johnny Carson was broadcast from New York Oct 1, 1962, to May 1, 1972 when it permanently moved to California, broadcasting from Burbank where it would televise remaining programs for the next 20 years.

During the New York broadcasting years (1962-1972) Johnny Carson and staff would travel to Burbank, California 23 times broadcasting 212 shows during that time span. 

Broadcasts of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson produced from Burbank, California (May 1963 - November 1971)...intervals of one week at times, two weeks at times and three weeks at times. 

May 14-28, 1963, Feb. 17-28, 1964, Feb. 1-12, 1965, 
Sept. 27-Oct. 8, 1965, March 14-25, 1966, Sept. 26- Oct. 7, 1966,  Feb. 27- March 10, 1967, Sept. 25 - Oct. 6, 1967, Feb. 12-23, 1968, July 8 -19, 1968, Nov. 6-26, 1968, Feb. 17-28, 1969, 
Aug. 11-25, 1969, Nov. 5-25, 1969, Feb. 16-27, 1970, Feb. 8-19, 1971 (Los Angeles Earthquake Feb. 9th), May 10,-21, 1971, 
Aug. 2-20, 1971, Nov. 1-19, 1971.
                                                                                                                                     

September 29th, 1962-December 22nd, 1963 (ABC)

Roy Rogers and his wife, Dale Evans, cohosted this Saturday night variety hour. Cliff (Charlie Weaver) Arquette and Pat Brady, who was Roy Rogers and Dale Evans sidekick on the Roy Rogers western series, were also featured on the show.             

 September 30, 1962-October 21, 1962

Five different issues are discussed each week in this half-hour program. A pre-selected sample of approximately 1000 homes are telephoned at the end of the program and asked their opinion on the issues. The results of the poll are discussed on the next week's program. Tonight's topics are: The Current state of movies, censorship, status of boxing (Should it be outlawed?), debate on movie stars with Faye Emerson and Sheila Graham (Are they overpaid?). 

Ron Cochran is the host.                                                                        

November 21, 1962 - February 27 1963

Max Morath, a ragtime pianist and raconteur, hosts this half-hour series focusing on the nations manners and morals at the turn of the century, a period spanning three decades from 1890 to 1920.

The idea that the history of any era can be told in terms of its popular songs is being put to the test on this new series comprised of 15 episodes by New york's educational channel. 

Featuring Max Morath, a ragtime pianist and raconteur, this half-hour series of broadcasts takes a musical look at the turn of the century.  

Tonight's episode, the second in the series, profiles the Nickelodeon craze and the development of the movies. This series is one of the earliest examples of programming on the newly formed New York Public Broadcast Station WNDT Ch.13, which debuted on the air September 16, 1962.             

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 1970s, 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. 

Joined in progress. 

Guest Vincent Price discusses various topics including forgery in art related to Vermeer, "Master Of Light," and making films that are not horror movies but classic stories. He describes his enjoyment of working with actors such as Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre and recites from the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
An NBC news bulletin interrupts the interview to announce the crash of Eastern Airlines flight 512 from Charlotte, North Carolina shortly after 9PM at New York City's Idlewild Airport. Bob Parson reports from the scene. 25 passengers are killed. 
A return to the Tonight Show with guest Vincent Price. He speaks once again about art and the value of Rembrandt's works and Vermeer forgeries. A painter from the Netherlands copied the style of Vermeer and at first it was considered a true Vermeer. Price talks about his seven-month-old daughter and seven-week-old grandson. Johnny Carson shows pictures of Vincent Price movies and adds captions to them.
Commercial: Philco portable televisions, Vivid Vision, and Town And Country. Carson asks Price to read from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat." 
Another bulletin about Eastern Airlines plane crash with Bob Parson reporting from the scene. It is announced plane was flying in heavy fog. Return to Tonight Show with Vincent Price ending his Poe reading. 
Commercial: Sunbeam Grill Party. 
Ed McMahon ends TV commercial for Sunbeam Party Grill
Brook Benton is introduced and sings ""Good News."
Commercial for Tire Repair Kit
Weekend movie promo for Channel 14, Evansville.
Return to Tonight Show. Vincent Price speaks of spending time with Mrs. Kennedy and her collection of paintings. He states his future plans and speaks about his new upcoming movie, "Diary Of A Madman," to be released in March, 1963. 




Host: Johnny Carson. 
Guests: Vincent Price, Brook Benton.                                                                                                                                              

January 18th, 1948-September 25th, 1949- Dumont Network
October 4th, 1949-September 11th, 1954-  NBC
October 30th, 1955-June 23rd, 1957- ABC
July 1st, 1957-October 4th, 1958- NBC
May 1st, 1959-October 9th, 1959- CBS
March 7th, 1960-September 26th, 1960- ABC
October 2nd, 1960-September 27th, 1970- CBS

Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour was an American television program and continuation of Major Edward Bowes Amateur Hour on radio. It was hosted by Ted Mack. Contestants would compete weekly in a talent competition in which they were judged by the viewers.  

Note: On this particular broadcast no opening or closing is recorded. Ted Mack's introduction of each of the seven of nine  acts (two dancing acts not recorded) appearing on the show are not recorded. However, the ATA archive has retained the audio air check of the acts themselves and of each entertainer's specific contribution on this December 2nd 1962 broadcast.

The acts sequentially:
- Elena Del Boccio, singer "Do I Love You?"
- Connie Conway, A one-string cigar box player performance.
- Melody-Aires, a vocal sextet "That's the Story of Love."
- Junior Jubilee, a vocal-in-instrumental octet.
- Judy Hahn, vocalist "Show Me."
- Clora Young, soprano performing.
- Inn Keepers, folk singers "They Call Me Daddy."

Lloyd Marx conducts the orchestra on this third of four shows taped in Chicago. 

                                                

November 21, 1962 - February 27 1963

Max Morath, a ragtime pianist and raconteur, hosts this half-hour series focusing on the nations manners and morals at the turn of the century, a period spanning three decades from 1890 to 1920.

The idea that the history of any era can be told in terms of its popular songs is being put to the test on this new series comprised of 15 episodes by New york's educational channel. 

Featuring Max Morath, a ragtime pianist and raconteur, this half-hour series of broadcasts takes a musical look at the turn of the century.  

Tonight's episode, Host Max Morath and Robert Benson look at the family life of America's middle class.   

This series is one of the earliest examples of programming on the newly formed New York Public Broadcast Station WNDT Ch.13, which debuted on the air September 16, 1962.                                       

Nightime: December 18th, 1956-September 5th, 1966 (CBS)
December 12th, 1966-May 22nd, 1967, CBS.
Daytime: June 18th, 1962-September 6th, 1968, (CBS).
1969-1977 Syndicated.
1980 Syndicated
September 3rd, 1990-May 31st, 1991. (NBC).

One of television's most popular game shows. A panel of four celebrities tried to determine which of three guests, each claiming to be the same person was telling the truth. Bud Collyer hosted the prime-time and daytime versions of the show on CBS. The syndicated version that began in 1969, was hosted by Garry Moore until 1977 when Joe Garagiola took over for the last few shows. Robin Ward hosted the 1980 syndicated version. Gordon Elliott hosted the 1990 daytime revival until February 1991 when Alex Trebek became the host. 

Host: Bud Collyer. 
                                                                              

November 21, 1962 - February 27 1963

Max Morath, a ragtime pianist and raconteur, hosts this half-hour series focusing on the nations manners and morals at the turn of the century, a period spanning three decades from 1890 to 1920.

The idea that the history of any era can be told in terms of its popular songs is being put to the test on this new series comprised of 15 episodes by New york's educational channel. 


Featuring Max Morath, a ragtime pianist and raconteur, this half-hour series of broadcasts takes a musical look at the turn of the century.

In this episode Robert Benson,  ;and Max Morath tour the communication of the sale of the song at the turn of the century. 

This series is one of the earliest examples of programming on the newly formed New York Public Broadcast Station WNDT Ch.13, which debuted on the air September 16, 1962.                                                                 

October 1, 1960-September 22, 1962 (CBS)
September 29, 1962-December 28, 1963(ABC)
April 25, 1964-December 12, 1964 (ABC)

Magician Mark Wilson hosted this Saturday kid's show which blended magic tricks and illusions with a fantasy story line.