July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

Hugh Downs opens he broadcast announcing guests on the show, 
Cliff Arquette as Charlie Weaver, Betty Johnson, Marge Green and Elsa Maxwell. Jack Paar does his monologue, second day back from vacation. Orchestra leader Jose Melies plays a piano medley. Guest Ralph Jacobs who is a bartender a a Bohemian Restaurant in the Village discusses the concept "I want you, I  love you, I need you." He recites poetry, and praises those who write sayings on walls. 

Jack states that what makes The Tonight Show so popular is how charming a person can be perceived when sitting in a chair.

Now has 102 Stations. Introduction of Marge Green former writer for Ernie Kovacs. Jack relates true story. Recently, he and family was staying at a hotel when he was told that his daughter Randy was downstairs in the restaurant having breakfast with Rev. Billy Graham. Jack goes down to confirm. Graham mentions to Paar he had better shave if he wanted to be on time for Sunday services which Jack had no intention of going but now felt committed.  

Jack introduces Betty Johnson who sings, "Sleepy Time Down South." Jack introduces Charley Weaver who began appearing on the show a month ago. Jonathan Winters comes up in conversation. Elsa Maxwell is introduced. She discusses topics such as the Sack Dress, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and her intentions to fly to the moon. Maxwell praises rising talent Ann Bancroft and new play she just viewed starring Henry Fonda. Other names are talked about including Jayne Mansfield, & Gina Lollobrigida. Jack, who confides that he likes to rest admires Elsa for being so much on the go. Other topics on Maxwell's mind...juvenile delinquency, Mothers and Fathers running the country, importance of being gay and happy. 

Charlie Weaver and Marge Green talk about Jonathan Winters.

Jack Paar reminds his audience that on tomorrow's Tonight Show they are flying in from the West Coast, Tim Moore who played "The Kingfish" on TV's AMOS 'N' ANDY. Recent shooting incident is now resolved and Moore is back with his wife again.

Betty Johnson sings, "All The Way." Jack talks with Marge Green and Charlie Weaver. Introduction of comedian Bernie West who does a seven minute stand-up routine. Later he would go on to be a prolific TV writer responsible for shows such as The Ropers, Three's Company and The Jeffersons. Jose Melies plays the piano ("Love Nest"). Jack says, "Good Night." Hugh Downs closes the show by reminding viewers of guests who will be on tomorrow's night 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. 
 
 LIVE from Havana Cuba, on the eve of the program's first anniversary, Jack Paar originates his show in Havana Cuba, where actor Cesar Romero and songstress Genevieve are guests. Three production numbers come from the Tropicana night club, including Miss TV of Cuba, 1958 Gina Romand; Freddy and Gladys, Cuban dance team; Jack Paar and Jose Melis doing "Cino Cino" with a troupe of girl dancers. Part of the show will originate from the new Habana Hilton Hotel where the Orchestra Symphonic Albinuera has allowed Jose Melis to return to his native country and conduct the entire symphony in the "Spellbound Concerto" by Miklos Rosa. It is a ten minute masterful rendition. 

Singer Betty Johnson and Hugh Downs host this ambitious TONIGHT SHOW from New York during the 11:15pm to 11:30pm opening broadcast segment. 

Hugh Downs opens the show from New York with co-host Betty Johnson. Films taken in Cuba narrated by Downs are heard. At 11:30pm EST the show switches live from Havana Cuba. Cesar Romero introduces the show in Spanish (poor reception but much better during the Midnight repeat announcement). Jack Paar's monologue is heard. He then introduces a musical number. Jack states that this is his third trip to Cuba. Transition to Mambo and Cha Cha dancing music. Jack introduces film actor, Cesar Romero, grandson of Jose Marti, the George Washington of Cuba. Romero explains that this is the first International Broadcast seen in Cuba and the USA at the same time. Jack Paar takes pride in introducing his good friend and conductor Jose Melies who conducts the Havana Orchestra in "The Spellbound Concerto." Cuban Star Pumereo, the most popular and revered in Cuba is interviewed by Paar. Jack states that this broadcast is not a typical Tonight Show. Jose Melies and Jack do a Lipton Tea Commercial...Jose in English, and Jack in Spanish. The Havana Symphonic Habanero plays the Cuban Concerto. Jack, Genevieve and Melies all converse with one another. Heard is the finale. Jack bids all "Thank You." He states he will be back doing tomorrow's show from New York. Sign off. 

This complete TV Audio Air Check is one of the jewels representing over 20,000 hours of archived sound in the Archival Television Audio, Inc. collection.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

This broadcast marks the FIRST ANNIVERSARY of
"TONIGHT SHOW WITH JACK PAAR." 

Dody Goodman makes a surprise guest appearance.
Jack plays some clips representing past programs during the the first year. 

Opening of the broadcast by announcer Hugh Downs. Jack, in his monologue states, "...well, we've been on a year...looked in the mirror and saw a few brown hairs." Paar discusses last night's broadcast live from Havana Cuba. Ten Cameras. Nobody could speak English. Pandemonium. It was like the opening of a Super Market. Everyone gracious...one of the few pro American countries. Jack reminisces that only five years ago life was much different and challenging for him. Jack introduces Mrs. Miller who has not missed a show. 

Betty Johnson sings, "Deed I Do." Jack shows kinescopes of past year (Classic Boo Boo $7,000 a minute commercials that went wrong)...Jockey Brand Briefs...Jerry Lewis breaking up a Polaroid commercial...Bufferin bottle blow up, etc. 

Further remembrances regarding past year...Zsa Zsa Gabor, Bob Hope, Jack E. Leonard, Jerry Lewis...
Jack introduces Genevieve who sings a song in French. She discusses with Jack trip to Cuba...gambling...Cuban language (double meanings) upon which Jack Paar tells of incident where he goes to a restaurant and requests a "hot chicken." The manager brings to Jack's table a woman of the night. 

Jack introduces Charlie Weaver (Cliff Arquette). Mount Idy letters from home, and Mama...Leonard Box...

Bill Baird Marionettes appear. Midnight Open again announced by Hugh Downs. Jack states that it is good to be home. "Last night it was so hot there. Everyone there pinches other people. Jose Melies plays the theme from Moulin Rougue. 

A very emotional Jack Paar welcomes back Dody Goodman who has not appeared on the show for four months after Jack "fired" her (last appearance was on March 4). Dody and Jack reminisce. 
Jack reads congratulatory card from Jonathan Winters. Jack, Genevieve and Dody in conversation. Jack sign off. 

*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...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. "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. 

Jack Paar returns to the TONIGHT SHOW after his mid-February walk-out and subsequent vacation in Hong Kong. 

 Hugh Downs states that "tonight's show will go down in broadcast history." During the opening 11:15 to 11:30pm segment Downs states that in fairness to the country Jack will appear when the show is seen by the entire country, Nationally by all of the affiliate stations, at 11:30pm.
 
Following a Blue Cheer laundry detergent commercial, Hugh Downs announces the 11:30pm opening of the Jack Paar Tonight Show and counts down, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and introduces Jack Paar. Jack's first words are, "As I was saying before I was interrupted." Paar praises Hugh Downs for his loyalty. He then has some nasty words to say about columnist Walter Winchell who he calls "that silly old man." 

Paar also takes up where he left off, criticizing Dorothy Kilgallen calling her someone who reminds him of a puppet. "When she speaks she never seems to move her lips."

Jack tells his audience that he believes the Hearst press is rigged, as per example, his good friend Jim Bishop, columnist for the Hearst Press, had his column about Paar, today, suppressed.  

Paar reminisces about his "water closet" joke that created great controversy that led Jack to walk off the air. He tells of his trip to Japan...many stories and anecdotes. 

NOTE: This television audio air check segment of Jack Paar returning to the Tonight Show is not known to exist in any VIDEO format other than a minute of his appearance at the beginning of his entrance. What does exist is this rare historic retrospective audio air check reveal of Jack Paar returning to the Tonight Show when his late night show was the most controversial and unpredictable program on television.  
                                                                                                                                                                       

Dupe Of 355.                                                          

Performers include Jonathan Winters and Betty Johnson. In London, Jack conducts a man-in-the-street interview  with an American tourist (Winters) and in an extended segment marking the 20th anniversary of the air invasion of Burma, he discusses the attack with Britain's Lord Louis Mountbatten, actor and ex-glider pilot Jackie Coogan and retired Colonel Phil Cochran.