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.