Highlights: Berlin crisis, US and Russian tanks face each other at the Berlin border, Chinese communists warn people against fallout from Russian test, Russia explodes H-Bomb, proposes to set off fifty irrigation bombs, the US tests Saturn rocket.                          

Bill Walker is host for a review of the new Broadway season. Music review and discussion of the making of the 
Broadway play, "Parade." Also, a profile of the new play "The Gay Life." Guests include composer Arthur Schwartz, and lyricist Howard Dietz. Also appearing are co-author Fay Kanin and producer Kermit Bloomgarden. Two numbers from the play are "The Magic Moment," sung by Barbara Cook and "Who Can? You Can" sung by Walter Chiari. From the play "Sail Away," songs are "Where Shall I find him?" and "Sail Away."     
This program was produced in Canada by the CBC on station CKLW  

A commercial for Minute Rice is included.                           

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.  

Guest: Nipsey Russell does stand-up comedy, talks with Jack, and demonstrates the twist and mashed potato dances.
                                                                                                                                                                                      

October 11th, 1961- June 13th, 1962 (NBC)

A thirty-minute variety series starring comedian Bob Newhart. Newhart won fame by performing his classic telephone comedy routines that he would end by saying, "well same to you, fella."
Regulars on the show are Jackie Joseph, Kay Westfall, Jack Grinnage, Mickey Manners, Pearl Shear, June Ericson, and Andy Albin. The announcer is Dan Sorkin.

Guest: Ray Conniff Singers                                                                                                        

Program number 1 of 18 programs. 
Myrna Loy introduces this unique series. Francis X. Bushman hosts a fond and humorous recollection of the little town of Hollywood, California, in the days when comedies were made in the streets, actors rode to work on horseback and orange groves were everywhere. Recalling these pioneer days are Cecil B. DeMille, Harold Lloyd, Nita Naldi, Charlie Ruggles, George K. Arthur, screenwriter Frances Marion, director Eddie Sutherland and historian Leo Rosten. Most of the interviews were originally recorded in 1959 by producers Joan and Robert Franklin.  

NOTE: Robert  C. Franklin (1920-1980), inspired by a 1958 newspaper story he read about Columbia University's POPULAR ARTS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, approached Dr. Louis Starr, then director of the oral-history collection, with a proposal to interview and tape record, on to 1/4" reel to reel audio tapes, movie people as they passed through New York. The objective would be to document, through personal recollections, the era of the silent era in films, the impact of sound, the triumphs and inequities of the major studios, and life in the glittering film capital...a firsthand account revelation of how silent movies were actually made.  

Robert  and his wife, Joan Franklin went on to record 200 reels of audio tape, recording celebrities mostly in New York City hotel rooms in 1958 and 1959. Transcripts of interviews were made available at the time to students and researchers. 

In 1961 excerpts/highlights from these audio tapes were edited into a 16 part  radio series titled, MEMOIRS OF THE MOVIES. Myrna Loy provided a standard opening. A different celebrity host/hostess was employed to introduce each episode. All of the 90 celebrities interviewed have since passed away with the exception of Joanne Woodward. Two additional episodes were later produced, "Style of the 70's," and "Rush To Reality," both hosted by Ben Gazzara and added, subsequently, to  re-issues of the series which were syndicated in the 1960's and 1970's airing  in New York (WINS), Boston (WBZ), Philadelphia (KYW), Baltimore (WJZ), Fort Wayne (WOWO), Chicago (WIND), San Francisco (KPIX), and Los Angeles (KFWB).  

The original 200 unedited reels of 1/4" audio tape interviews recorded by Joan and Robert Franklin are no longer known to exist. However, audio cassette transfers from these original tapes were donated by Joan Franklin many decades ago to Columbia University's Oral History Research Office where they exist  today.
Confirmed during a 2009 phone conversation with Mary Marshal Clark, archivist at Columbia at that time, who stated that the first on file communication from Robert  Franklin to Columbia University related to his  proposal to do an oral history audio recorded project is dated, July 31, 1958.
                                                         

Count Basie and his orchestra, Dorothy Loudon, Bill Hayes, John Bubbles and Blossom Dearie perform some of the big tunes of the 1930's. Pre-recordings of Bing Crosby, Ruby Vallee, Kate Smith and Ruth Etting help set the mood. Paul Whiteman narrates this hour-long taped tribute. 

Musical director: Robert Russell Bennett.

Highlights:
"You've Got That Thing"---------------------------------------Dearie
"Why?"-------------------------------------------------------------Chorus
"Why Was I Born?"---------------------------------------------Loudon
"That Old Gang of Mine"--------------------------------------Chorus
"You're the Top," "Mine" --------------------------Loudon & Hayes
"One O'clock Jump"--------------------------------------------Basie
"Ain't Necessarily So"-----------------------------------------Bubbles
"Putting All My Eggs in One Basket"----------------------Dearie
"All the Things You Are"---------------------------------------Hayes
"Wish I Were in Love Again"--------------------------------Loudon
"Over the Rainbow"--------------------------------------------All 

            

Danny Kaye is a one man entertainment package with songs, impressions and comedy sketches.  This program, joined in progress, has no opening or closing.             

Danny Kaye is a one man entertainment package with songs, impressions and comedy sketches. 

 Danny Kaye sings, "I Am an Is," and "Pipe and Slippers."
He joins a troupe of dancers for "Down home Rag" and offers his impressions of an American night-club singer and English and German concert singers. 

Danny is joined by Phyllis Avery and Bert Freed for a sketch about a foreign diplomat who is invited to a typical Washington cocktail party. 

Produced and and directed by Bud Yorkin. Writers, Norman Lear and Hal Kanter. Special musical numbers by Mack David and Jerry Livingston. David Rose conducts the orchestra. 

NOTE: 
This is the second of three specials that Danny Kaye performed (1960, 1961, 1962) on television prior to he starring in his own one hour series.                         

October 11th, 1961- June 13th, 1962 (NBC)

A thirty-minute variety series starring comedian Bob Newhart. Newhart won fame by performing his classic telephone comedy routines that he would end by saying, "well same to you, fella."
Regulars on the show are Jackie Joseph, Kay Westfall, Jack Grinnage, Mickey Manners, Pearl Shear, June Ericson, and Andy Albin. The announcer is Dan Sorkin.

Guest: Jo Stafford                                                                                                                   

October 11th, 1961- June 13th, 1962 (NBC)

A thirty-minute variety series starring comedian Bob Newhart. Newhart won fame by performing his classic telephone comedy routines that he would end by saying, "well same to you, fella."
Regulars on the show are Jackie Joseph, Kay Westfall, Jack Grinnage, Mickey Manners, Pearl Shear, June Ericson, and Andy Albin. The announcer is Dan Sorkin.

Guest: Jo Stafford sings: "It's Almost Like Being In Love" and a blues medley. A sketch spoofs medical dramas in "The Young Janitors."                                                               

December 24th, 1948- June 4th, 1950 (NBC) October  2nd, 1950-June 24th 1955 (CBS) September  17th 1955- June 12th, 1963 (NBC) 

In 1944, the year his first record was released, Perry Como appeared on radio in The Chesterfield Supper Club; when that show came to television late in 1948, Como came with it, and has remained on television for more than four decades. The Chesterfield Supper Club, which also featured The Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and the Fontane Sisters, was originally seen on Friday nights but soon shifted to a half-hour slot on Sundays, opposite Ed Sullivan's "Toast Of The Town." In the fall of 1950, Como shifted to CBS where he hosted his own show for the next five seasons; the fifteen-minute program was seen Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, following the network news. Also featured were the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and The Fontane Sisters, together with announcer Frank Gallop. In the fall of 1955 Como returned to NBC, where he hosted a weekly hour show for the next eight years; from 1955 to 1959 it was seen Saturdays and was titled The Perry Como Show. From 1959 to 1963 it was seen on Wednesdays and was titled The Kraft Music Hall. The Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and Frank Gallop were again featured, along with The Ray Charles Singers and The Louis DaPron Dancers (later, The Peter Gennaro Dancers). The Como Music Hall Players included Don Adams, Paul Lynde, Kaye Ballard, Jack Duffy, and Sandy Stewart.

Show of 11-8-61. Guests: Actress Shirley Booth, Singer, Actress Gloria DeHaven. Salute To Missouri. 


Commercials included. Announcer Frank Gallop. 

Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, -their contributions to musical comedy are sampled on this live and taped tribute program. Donald Voorhees conducts the show tunes including excerpts from "Victory at Sea." Richard Rodgers, himself is guest of honor. Performing guests include Howard Keel, Dolores Gray, Martha Wright, Donald Scott, Elizabeth Howell and host Ray Bolger.

HIGHLIGHTS

"Here in My Arms," "Falling in Love with Love".......Anita Darian

"Isn't It Romantic?" "My Romance"........................Ron Husmann

"Thou Swell," "This Can't Be Love"...................Helen Gallagher

"There Is Nothing Like a Dame," "You Always Love the Same Girl," "People Will Say We're in Love," "Some Enchanted Evening," "Have You Met Miss Jones?" "If I Loved You," Most Beautiful Girl in the World"..................................Howard Keel

"Wonderful Guy," "It Never Entered My Mind," "Dancing on the Ceiling," "My Funny Valentine," "You  Took Advantage of Me," "Blue Room," "Spring is Here"............................Delores Gray

"Sound of Music," MEDLEY...Martha Wright, Donald Scott, Elizabeth Howell

"It's Got to Be Love," "Bach, Beethoven and Brahms," "There's a Small Hotel," "Slaughter on 10th Avenue"...........Ray Bolger

NOTE: Occasional Audio level imperfections when originally recorded off the air, 'direct line,' November 10, 1961.

Program number 2 of 18 programs.
Myrna Loy introduces this unique series. Johnny Mack Brown, as host, wistfully recalls the old nickelodeon theatre, the music, hand-cranked cameras and projectors and the "early" features that inspired producers to pioneer towards a great entertainment industry. Guests Cecil B. DeMille, King Vidor, Adolph Zucker, Bronco Billy Anderson, screenwriter Albert Hackett, pianist Jack Shaindlin and cameraman Don Malkames also recollect their earliest movie adventures. 
 
NOTE: Robert  C. Franklin (1920-1980), inspired by a 1958 newspaper story he read about Columbia University's POPULAR ARTS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, approached Dr. Louis Starr, then director of the oral-history collection, with a proposal to interview and tape record, on to 1/4" reel to reel audio tapes, movie people as they passed through New York. The objective would be to document, through personal recollections, the era of the silent era in films, the impact of sound, the triumphs and inequities of the major studios, and life in the glittering film capital...a firsthand account revelation of how silent movies were actually made.  

Robert  and his wife, Joan Franklin went on to record 200 reels of audio tape, recording celebrities mostly in New York City hotel rooms in 1958 and 1959. Transcripts of interviews were made available at the time to students and researchers. 

In 1961 excerpts/highlights from these audio tapes were edited into a 16 part  radio series titled, MEMOIRS OF THE MOVIES. Myrna Loy provided a standard opening. A different celebrity host/hostess was employed to introduce each episode. All of the 90 celebrities interviewed have since passed away with the exception of Joanne Woodward. Two additional episodes were later produced, "Style of the 70's," and "Rush To Reality," both hosted by Ben Gazzara and added, subsequently, to  re-issues of the series which were syndicated in the 1960's and 1970's airing  in New York (WINS), Boston (WBZ), Philadelphia (KYW), Baltimore (WJZ), Fort Wayne (WOWO), Chicago (WIND), San Francisco (KPIX), and Los Angeles (KFWB).  

The original 200 unedited reels of 1/4" audio tape interviews recorded by Joan and Robert Franklin are no longer known to exist. However, audio cassette transfers from these original tapes were donated by Joan Franklin many decades ago to Columbia University's Oral History Research Office where they exist  today.
Confirmed during a 2009 phone conversation with Mary Marshal Clark, archivist at Columbia at that time, who stated that the first on file communication from Robert  Franklin to Columbia University related to his  proposal to do an oral history audio recorded project is dated, July 31, 1958.

                                     

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. (NBC). 
Red Skelton made four appearances on the Jack Paar Tonight Show:
December 2nd, 1959
November 16th,1960
July 10th, 1961
November 14th, 1961- Final of four appearances.   
 Red Skelton (nine minute segment) reminiscences about his early career.
Also, Alexander King.   

Combined with the next evening's Jack Paar Tonight Show (Nov 15, 1961), with Ed Reimers substituting for Hugh Downs, Paar editorializes and criticises the LA Times and an article written about him by journalist Mark Harris. Zsa Zsa Gabor guests and we hear  Phyllis Diller do a stand-up routine. 


 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.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. (NBC). 

 Combined with ATA #19266

Guests: Zsa Zsa Gabor and Phyllis Diller.    
Jack comments on columnist Mark Harris column regarding Berlin.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

September 12, 1955-June 12, 1963. In the fall of 1955 Perry Como returned to NBC where he hosted a weekly hour show. From 1955 to 1959 it was seen Saturday evenings and was titled "The Perry Como Show." From 1959 to 1963 it was seen Wednesday evenings and was titled "The Kraft Music Hall." Regulars included Frank Gallop and the Ray Charles Singers. After his final weekly June 12, 1963 broadcast Perry Como appeared in scores of specials, beginning October 3, 1963, airing on NBC, CBS & ABC, and concluding on December 6, 1986. 

Guest: Paul Lynde.                                                                         

October 11th, 1961- June 13th, 1962 (NBC)

A thirty-minute variety series starring comedian Bob Newhart. Newhart won fame by performing his classic telephone comedy routines that he would end by saying, "well same to you, fella."
Regulars on the show are Jackie Joseph, Kay Westfall, Jack Grinnage, Mickey Manners, Pearl Shear, June Ericson, and Andy Albin. The announcer is Dan Sorkin.

Guest: Jane Morgan                                                                                                                             

     Mike Wallace and Joyce Davidson co-host this late night talk variety show.

The Limeliters are spotlighted as well as performances by Al Collins and Earl "Father" Hines. 

Terrance O'flaherty also is on board with segment PM WEST.    

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

Joined in progress. Joey Bishop in conversation with Jack Paar, who then introduces Sammy Davis Jr. (only appearance he did with Paar on The Tonight Show). Davis Jr. discusses his latest film Sergeant's Three which Bishop also appears (last "Rat Pack" film all would be appearing together). Sammy sings a melody of songs. 
Hemione Gingold chats with Jack Paar, followed by a rare appearance of fast draw artist, Arvo Ojala who is famous for being not only a quick gun draw artist  teacher to Hollywood actors, but the man whom character Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke outdraws each opening episode. Avro made only $100 for that one quick day's work but has received tens of thousands of dollars since, in royalties, every time a Gunsmoke episode is aired. 


*FOR THE RECORD, as archivists are aware, most of THE JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW SERIES which were broadcast on NBC TV from July 29,  1957 thru March 30, 1962 (A final BEST OF PAAR rerun originally televised November 21, 1961...guest Jack Benny)were ERASED, DESTROYED OR WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN. 

2" Quadruplex Video Tape was expensive ($600 for  a new brand name one hour reel), weighting 13 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. 

THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS retains in their archive only 4 program excerpts accounting for only one hour or material of JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOWS (November 14, 1958, December 23, 1959, October 19, 1959, and one 33&1/3rd audio disc promotional from 1957 presenting Jack Paar the new host  of the TONIGHT SHOW. 

THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA retains in their archive only 7 program excerpts accounting for only four and a quarter hours of material (July 29, 1957, November 1, 1957, November 7, 1958, November 10, 1958, November 14, 1958, July 22, 1959, December 21, 1959).

UCLA FILM & TV ARCHIVE retains in their archive only 8 program excerpts accounting for only seven hours of material (August 12, 1957, November 1, 1957, November 10, 1958, November 11, 1958, November 14, 1958, July 22, 1959, December 21, 1959).

For 65 years Phil Gries, creator and owner of ARCHIVAL TLEVISION AUDIO, Inc. has continued to be a passionate television audio archive collector. TRULY UNIQUE TODAY AS AN INDEPENDENT TV AUDIO ARCHIVE. Currently, in 2024, to date, ATA has collated and archived over 22,000 TV Audio Air Checks representing 20,000 hours of sound...tens of thousands of broadcasts which represent the ONLY SURVIVING BROADCAST RECORD OF A SPECIFIC TELEVISION SHOW (1946-1982). 

ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. retains over 149 complete and excerpt JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW air checks (over 100 hours COMP ARED TO ONLY 13 HOURS RETAINED AIR CHECKS FROM THE COMBINED THREE MAJOR ARCHIVES, UCLA, PALEY, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS), 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 only retain a composite total of 13 hours of representative JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts excerpts...none complete. 

For over 65 years Phil Gries, creator and owner of ARCHIVAL TLEVISION AUDIO, Inc. has continued to be a passionate television audio archive collector. TRULY UNIQUE TODAY AS AN INDEPENDENT TV AUDIO ARCHIVE. Currently, in 2024, to date, ATA has collated and archived over 22,000 TV Audio Air Checks representing 20,000 hours of sound...tens of thousands of broadcasts which represent the ONLY SURVIVING BROAADCAST RECORD OF A SPECIFIC TELEVISION SHOW (1946-1982). 

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 only retain a composite total of 13 hours of representative JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts excerpts...none complete. 

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 final LIVE broadcast aired on 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)

OBSERVATION: Listening to the few extant audio air check COMPLETE JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, as originally televised, AND RECORDED DIRECT LINE RESULTING IN  PRISTINE PLAYBACK SOUND,  retains the essence and specialty which Jack Paar was able to convey as host of his late night talk show. He set the standard for how the TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JACK PAAR format evolved, including introducing the standard monologue at the beginning of every show, which continues to evolve to this day...however, sans the whit, charm, warmth, ease, unpredictability, vulnerability, pace and controversy which Paar brought to TV audiences at night. Jack Paar was stellar, and he is sorely missed by most Baby Boomers who remember watching him in real time.

Mostly forgotten by todays' younger audiences Jack Paar needs to be re-evaluated at length to place him royally as one of the most, if not the most, important LATE NIGHT HOSTS IN THE HISTORY OF LATE NIGHT TELEVISION. 

Interestingly, current documentaries examining the history of Late Night television, including the current CNN 6 hours retrospective on the subject THE STORY OF LATE NIGHT (2021), relegates only 15 minutes of screen time to Jack Paar's contributions as one of many late night hosts.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

1961-1962, Syndicated

 PM East - PM West
17Nov1961
PM East: [rerun 29Jan62]
Mike and Joyce spend the evening with the Limeliters, a folk singing group.

PM West:   
PM East - PM West was a late-night talk show hosted by Mike Wallace and Joyce Davidson in New York City (where the PM East portion originated) and San Francisco Chronicle television critic Terrence O'Flaherty in San Francisco (PM West). The program was seen five nights a week from June 12, 1961, to June 22, 1962.

A ninety-minute nightly syndicated talk show, video taped in New York  with Mike Wallace and his co-host Joyce Davidson. Wallace and Davidson hosted the first hour from New York with Terrence O'Flaherty hosting the last half-hour from San Francisco. It was created to compete with the Jack Paar Show on NBC. 
                        

1961-1962, Syndicated

 PM East - PM West
17Nov1961
PM East: [rerun 29Jan62]
Mike and Joyce spend the evening with the Limeliters, a folk singing group.

PM West:   
PM East - PM West was a late-night talk show hosted by Mike Wallace and Joyce Davidson in New York City (where the PM East portion originated) and San Francisco Chronicle television critic Terrence O'Flaherty in San Francisco (PM West). The program was seen five nights a week from June 12, 1961, to June 22, 1962.

A ninety-minute nightly syndicated talk show, video taped in New York  with Mike Wallace and his co-host Joyce Davidson. Wallace and Davidson hosted the first hour from New York with Terrence O'Flaherty hosting the last half-hour from San Francisco. It was created to compete with the Jack Paar Show on NBC. 
           

   Guest Jonathan Winters does an "amatuer show" interpretation.            

See #5392 for details.

Host: Gene Barry. 

See #5392 for details.

Host: Gene Barry. 

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

JIP as Jack Benny follows the "Mystery Guest," the son of actor Robert Cummings, whom Jack reveals he is the Godfather. 

Benny relates  a funny story of how he was compromised by a fatuous woman admirer he met in a bar who invited him up to her place for a drink and other misbehavior. Funny as only Benny can tell a story. He states that Paar stole that joke from him but did not know how to tell it properly. Other topics are discussed, including his relationship with George Burns. 

Final Jack Benny appearance on a Jack Paar Tonight Show, with the exception of an unannounced walk on celebrating his birthday, February 14, 1962.

NOTE: This broadcast was rebroadcast on March 30, 1962, the final "Best of Paar" telecast which is archived in the ATA collection (see ATA#184). 

*FOR THE RECORD, as archivists are aware, most of THE JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW SERIES which were broadcast on NBC TV from July 29,  1957 thru March 30, 1962 (A final BEST OF PAAR rerun originally televised November 21, 1961...guest Jack Benny) were ERASED, DESTROYED OR WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN. 

2" Quadruplex Video Tape was expensive ($400 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. 

THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS retains in their archive only 4 program excerpts accounting for only one hour or material of JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOWS (November 14, 1958, December 23, 1959, October 19, 1959, and one 33&1/3rd audio disc promotional from 1957 presenting Jack Paar the new host  of the TONIGHT SHOW. 

THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA retains in their archive only 7 program excerpts accounting for only four and a quarter hours of material (July 29, 1957, November 1, 1957, November 7, 1958, November 10, 1958, November 14, 1958, July 22, 1959, December 21, 1959).

UCLA FILM & TV ARCHIVE retains in their archive only 8 program excerpts accounting for only seven hours of material (August 12, 1957, November 1, 1957, November 10, 1958, November 11, 1958, November 14, 1958, July 22, 1959, December 21, 1959).

For over 62 years Phil Gries, creator and owner of ARCHIVAL TLEVISION AUDIO, Inc. has continued to be a passionate television audio archive collector. TRULY UNIQUE TODAY AS AN INDEPENDENT TV AUDIO ARCHIVE. Currently, in 2021, to date, ATA has collated and archived over 20,000 TV Audio Air Checks representing 20,000 hours of sound...tens of thousands of broadcasts which represent the ONLY SURVIVING BROAADCAST RECORD OF A SPECIFIC TELEVISION SHOW (1946-1982). 

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 only retain a composite total of 13 hours of representative JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts excerpts...none complete. 

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 final LIVE broadcast aired on 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)

OBSERVATION: Listening to the few extant audio air check COMPLETE JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, as originally televised, AND RECORDED DIRECT LINE RESULTING IN  PRISTINE PLAYBACK SOUND,  retains the essence and specialty which Jack Paar was able to convey as host of his late night talk show. He set the standard for how the TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JACK PAAR format evolved, including introducing the standard monologue at the beginning of every show, which continues to evolve to this day...however, sans the whit, charm, warmth, ease, unpredictability, vulnerability, pace and controversy which Paar brought to TV audiences at night. Jack Paar was stellar, and he is sorely missed by most Baby Boomers who remember watching him in real time.

Mostly forgotten by todays' younger audiences Jack Paar needs to be re-evaluated at length to place him royally as one of the most, if not the most, important LATE NIGHT HOSTS IN THE HISTORY OF LATE NIGHT TELEVISION. 

Interestingly, current documentaries examining the history of Late Night television, including the current CNN 6 hours retrospective on the subject THE STORY OF LATE NIGHT (2021), relegates only 15 minutes of screen time to Jack Paar's contributions as one of many late night hosts.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Jack Paar's guest is Bob Hope.

Jack takes "blue cards" from the audience (questions for Jack). One question has to do with who will be replacing Jack when he leaves the show in four months, end of March, 1962. Paar sates that he believes his replacement will be Johnny Carson.