September 29th,1957-March 21st, 1961 (CBS)

An irregularly scheduled collection of culturally outstanding dramas usually presented monthly. SEARCH PROGRAM TITLES FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. 


Presented on "DUPONT SHOW OF THE MONTH." Rex Harrison portrays a visiting Englishman who takes a dim view of American culture. To overcome his skepticism, he is introduced to a wide variety of American musical styles. First show of the series.

Highlights: 

Play It Cool- dancers
"Mary Had A Little Lamb" Cha-Cha, Carol Channing
"Go West Young Man," Eddy Arnold
"Shine On Harvest Moon," Baby bumblebee
"Silvery Moon," Singers and dancers
"Streets Of Laredo," Singers and dancers
"Basin Street Blues," "Trouble I've Seen," Louis Armstrong 
"Blues In The Night," Peggy Lee
"Sit Down, You're Rockin The Boat," Stubby Kaye
"Didn't It Rain," Mahalia Jackson 
"Bill Bailey," Lizzie Miles, Turk Murphy
"The Birth Of The Blues," Dinah Washington 
Blues Sequence, Benny Goodman, Diahann Carroll
Jazz Sequence- Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong. 

                                             

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

Diahann Carroll's first appearance on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar. First Afro American to appear with Jack Paar on The Tonight Show.

Announcer Hugh Downs opens the show stating, "The National Broadcasting Company Presents TONIGHT starring Jack Paar."
Jack Paar gives his customary 5 minute monologue, and introduces panel consisting of Dody Goodman, and Hans Conreid. Jack Haskell sings, "Darn That Green." Paar reminisces about a an old buddy he met from World War Two whom he had not seen in years. Orchestra leader, Jose Melies plays a piano medley. Dody Goodman reads her fan mail and answers questions. Jack introduces "New Discovery," Diahann Carroll who sings "Out of This World." She would be invited back by Jack appearing Oct. 2, 4, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Stand-up comedian Tubby Boots appears...his first TV show appearance. Paar talks to Hugh Downs about a ten year old boy, John Redding, who wanted to be on the show very badly and relates about his experience when coming to the show. Hugh tells anecdotal story about his son. Hans Conreid relates a story about his 3 year old son. Jack tells story about his eight year old daughter, Randy, who reacted to her mother Mirium, who said to her that "when two people love one another they become one." Randy replied, "YIKES, no wonder half the people in the world are disappearing." Dody Goodman recalls how she spends her day...dinner at Horn & Hardart. Paar, Goodman, Conreid check out the latest design in beds. Downs signs off, stating tomorrow's guests. 

*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 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 over 64 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 2023, 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 92 complete and excerpt JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW air checks (44 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 recent CNN 6 hour 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.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

JIP with Jack Paar doing monologue.
Program returns to New York after two weeks in Hollywood transmitted on Video Tape. At this time Video Tape was used to broadcast programs telecast on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and continued to transmit LIVE on Thursday and Friday. 

During Jack's monologue he describes the difference between LA and New York. Jack introduces Diahann Carroll who sings, "I Got Plenty of Nothing." 

Paar in audience and talks to a man frm Nova Scocia, a woman from Philadelphia. Jack, "I was there once and it was closed."

Jack Paar and Hugh Downs back together again. Jack looks into Down's eyes and says, "You must be living it up," thinking Hugh had a few too many before the show. Then Paar realizes his is seen a red reflection from the camera light in Hugh Downs eyes!

Genevieve is introduced. She talks about the her upcoming televised first dramatic role to be televised in three days, called "A Nice Place to Hide." They talk about Jackie Cooper who stars in the show. Jack recalls being in the service with Cooper who would steal ("requisition') plywood, mattresses, chest of drawers...from a commander to help out his buddies in need. Jack recalls once pilfering leather jackets for his service pals. Genevieve sings, "A Nice Place To Hide." Diahann Carroll sings, "You Better Go Now." 

Jack describes things that one can send to people you want to irritate:
-Paper napkins stapled together.
-Gift wrapped garbage.
-Beer six pack all empty.
-Telegram marked page two.
-An LP record with no hole in the middle.

Al Fenelli subbing for Jose Melies orchestra. Jack Paar segment with audience and dialog with Mrs. Miller.

*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)




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

From Carnegie Hall, a salute to Richard Rodgers. Diahann Carroll performs numbers from Richard Rodgers Broadway musical drama, "No Strings."

Dupe of 303.                      

The 17th Annual Tony Awards for excellence in theatrical performances for 1962 are awarded from the Hotel Americana Imperial Ballroom in New York City. The Master of Ceremonies is Abe Burrows and Robert Morse. Broadcast locally on WOR-TV Channel 9 in New York. WOR radio host Jean Shepherd opens and introduces the show. George Abbott wins the Best Direction of a 
Musical award for "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum."  

Produced by David Yarnell.

NOTE: This rare television audio air check broadcast was recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records, June 19, 2002 (Claim #5364), for the most money paid for a television soundtrack, sold to The American Theatre Wing, Inc., by Archival Television Audio, Inc., transacted on June 20, 2001.



 

NOTE: The first 42 minutes of the one hour broadcast. 
                                                                                                                                                                   

The 15th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are presented from the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California. 

Hosts: Annette Funicello and Don Knotts.                        

September 13, 1965-December 13, 1965. Steve Lawrence's Monday-night variety hour lasted only thirteen weeks. Regulars included comics Charles Nelson Reilly and Betty Walker.    

Singer Diahann Carroll, actress-dancer Joey Heatherton, and Jordan Christopher and the Wild Ones join Steve for this show video taped at Sybil and Christopher's place to be, ARTHURS, a discotheque in New York City on 54th Street. Owned by Sybil and 70 other celebrities.  The club got its name after Beatle George Harrison was asked "what do you call your hair style?" HIs answer: "Arthur."

Steve and Sybil discuss the evolution of dance and the rise of discotheques. In a studio segment, Steve and Diahann sing "Love is a Simple Thing" and "Love."

The Wild Ones provide rock 'n' roll accompaniment at Arthur.  

HIGHLIGHTS

"Any Place I Hang My Hat," "Blues in the Night"..........Dianhann

"Love is Here to Stay," "King of the Road, "I'm in the Mood for Love"...........Steve

"Your Father's Feathers"................Joey

"A Pretty Girl is like a Melody"..................All  


                   

Musical-variety, evoking the tempo, feeling and spirit of New York's Harlem in the 1920's.  

Dupe Of Number 5461.                         

The 8th annual Grammy Awards, telecast live from New York City, Nashville, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Duke Ellington receives a Golden Achievement Award. Jerry Lewis is the Master Of Ceremonies.                                  

September 9th, 1966-January 6th, 1967 (ABC)

A Friday night variety hour seen on ABC. It did not catch on with the viewing public and was canceled in January 1967 after just four months on the air. The show was produced by Bill Dana with Bobby Rydell, Irving Benson, and Donna Loren as regulars. Benson was seen as an offstage heckler. 

Milton's guests are Tony Randall, Diahann Carroll, and Allen Ludden. .                                            

September 9th, 1966-January 6th, 1967 (ABC)

A Friday night variety hour seen on ABC. It did not catch on with the viewing public and was canceled in January 1967 after just four months on the air. The show was produced by Bill Dana with Bobby Rydell, Irving Benson, and Donna Loren as regulars. Benson was seen as an offstage heckler. 

Milton's guests are Tony Randall, Diahann Carroll, and Allen Ludden. .    

Duplicate of #15243.                                                     

September 14, 1966 - May 11, 1967. A potpourri of assorted specials with no regular host. Included were variety, dramas, and occasional documentaries.


Produced by Harry Belafonte


                                                             

Bob Hope is the host for the 14th time of the 40th annual Academy Awards.He would host this gala event alone only one more time; 10 years later in 1978, celebrating the 50th anniversary of this annual presentation. Academy President Gregory Peck gives tribute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bob Hope commences the program with a monologue. Presenters and award winners include Carol Channing, Patty Duke, George Kennedy, and Katharine Hepburn. In a salute to the history of the Oscar and its first decade of development, Dustin Hoffman, Katharine Ross, MacDonald Carey, Diahann Carroll, Robert Morse, Barbara Rush, Eva Marie Saint, Martha Raye, Olivia
de Havilland, who salutes Oscar's second decade, Natalie Wood, Richard Crenna, Elke Sommer, Walter Matthau, Estelle Parsons, Dame Edith Evans, Grace Kelly, who salutes Oscar's third decade, Hal Ashby, Rosalind Russell, Anne Bancroft, who salutes Oscar's fourth decade, Danny Kaye, Rock Hudson, Shirley Jones, Angie Dickinson,
Gene Kelly, Barbra Streisand, Robert Wise, Claire Bloom, Rod Steiger, Alfred Hitchcock, Mike Nichols, Sterling Silliphant, Stanley Kramer, Audrey Hepburn, Sidney Poitier, Julie Andrews, and Walter Mirisch. Bob Hope concludes with some serious remarks reflecting the assassination of Martin Luther King regarding bigotry and the purpose of motion pictures...to reflect the human condition. Hank Sims is the announcer. 

George Kennedy-Best supporting actor
Estelle Parsons_Best supporting actress
Alfred Hitchcock: Irving Thalberg Award.                                                                            

Bob Hope is the host for the 14th time of the 40th annual Academy Awards.He would host this gala event alone only one more time; 10 years later in 1978, celebrating the 50th anniversary of this annual presentation. Academy President Gregory Peck gives tribute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bob Hope commences the program with a monologue. Presenters and award winners include Carol Channing, Patty Duke, George Kennedy, and Katharine Hepburn. In a salute to the history of the Oscar and its first decade of development, Dustin Hoffman, Katharine Ross, MacDonald Carey, Diahann Carroll, Robert Morse, Barbara Rush, Eva Marie Saint, Martha Raye, Olivia
de Havilland, who salutes Oscar's second decade, Natalie Wood, Richard Crenna, Elke Sommer, Walter Matthau, Estelle Parsons, Dame Edith Evans, Grace Kelly, who salutes Oscar's third decade, Hal Ashby, Rosalind Russell, Anne Bancroft, who salutes Oscar's fourth decade, Danny Kaye, Rock Hudson, Shirley Jones, Angie Dickinson,
Gene Kelly, Barbra Streisand, Robert Wise, Claire Bloom, Rod Steiger, Alfred Hitchcock, Mike Nichols, Sterling Silliphant, Stanley Kramer, Audrey Hepburn, Sidney Poitier, Julie Andrews, and Walter Mirisch. Bob Hope concludes with some serious remarks reflecting the assassination of Martin Luther King regarding bigotry and the purpose of motion pictures...to reflect the human condition. Hank Sims is the announcer. 

George Kennedy-Best supporting actor
Estelle Parsons- Best supporting actress
Alfred Hitchcock: Irving Thalberg Award.   

See #1047 for details.                                                                                      

January 4, 1964-February 7, 1970. This hour-long variety series was a mid-season replacement for "The Jerry Lewis Show." 

Featuring Mort Sahl. Guest Hostess: Diahann Carroll.                                                                                                        

January 4, 1964-February 7, 1970. This hour-long variety series was a mid-season replacement for "The Jerry Lewis Show." 

Featuring Mort Sahl. Guest Hostess: Diahann Carroll.   

Duplicate of 15898.                                                                                                                 

The best performances & achievements from 1968 are honored as the 41st Academy Awards are telecast from the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. Gregory Peck introduces the "Friends of Oscar," presenters who serve as hosts. They include Ingrid Bergman, Sidney Poitier, Jane Fonda, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Wood, Walter Matthau, Diahann Carroll, Tony Curtis, Rosalind Russell, and Burt Lancaster. Frank Sinatra sings an opening number from the motion picture "Star!" Jack Albertson accepts a best supporting actor award, the first of many awards given this evening. Other
award winners and performers include Boris Levin, Abbey Lincoln, Jose Feliciano, Ruth Gordon, Marni Nixon, Henri Mancini, Don Rickles, Mel Brooks, Onna White, Aretha Franklin, Carol Reed, Bob Hope, Martha Raye (the first woman recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award), Anthony Harvey, Barbra Streisand, and John Woolf. Hank Sims introduces and closes the program.             

The 23rd Annual Tony Awards is telecast live from the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City.

Hosts: Diahann Carroll and Alan King. 

1969 marked the first year scenes from the nominated plays were presented.                          

April 17, 1967 - December 26, 1969. THE JOEY BISHOP SHOW was one of several attempts by ABC (previously Les Crane tried and failed to attain ratings) to establish a strong late-night talk show. Bishop held the record (177) substitute hosting appearances for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, and had been quite successful. It was hoped Joey could lure away some of Carson's audience. Similar to Jack Paar, in 1960, Bishop surprised his audience on the night of November 26, 1969 and walked off the show while taping his opening monologue. The Joey Bishop  late-night program lasted for one more month using guest hosts before it left the air. During three phone conversations I had with Bishop, in the early 2000's, he confirmed to me that almost ALL of his late-night shows had been erased by ABC.

Carol Burnett, Jimmy Stewart, Diahann Carroll, Glen Campbell, Ruth Gordon, Glenn Ford, others.             

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

Guests: Governor and Mrs. Ronald Reagan. George Burns, Diahann Carroll.                                    

Lauren Becall, Angela Lansbury, Anthony Quinn, and Anthony Quale host the 25th anniversary of the Tony Awards. Past musical highlights from 28 Broadway plays are performed by David Wayne, Nanette Fabray, Alfred Drake, Gwen Verdon, Stanley Holloway, Robert Preston, Richard Kiley, Tom Bosley, Florence Henderson, Paul Lynde, Robert Morse, Diahann Carroll, Zero Mostel, Carol Channing, Angela Landsbury, Patsy Kelly, Jill Hayworth, Leslie Uggams, William Daniels, and Virginia Vestoff. Also appearing are Dick Cavett, Ruby Keeler, Janis Paige, John Raitt, Anthony Shaffer, Maureen Stapleton, Helen Gallagher, Hal Linden, and Stephen Sondheim.