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: Rex Reed, Valerie Perrine, Johnny Bench. 

NOTE: This specific TONIGHT SHOW may only contain an opening monologue by Johnny Carson. 
Other content, as listed, will have to be monitored and confirmed upon your order request. 
                                                                  

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.




Guest Host: Bill Cosby.                          

Entertainment critic David Sheehan handicaps this year's Oscar nominees, and interviews contenders Dustin Hoffman, Francis Ford Coppola, Roman Polanski, Faye Dunaway, Valerie Perrine, Ellen Burstyn, and Diahann Carroll.             

October 1, 1962-March 29, 1963 (NBC); 1965-1969 (Syndicated); August 18, 1969-February 11, 1972 (CBS); 1972-1986 (Syndicated)

Guests are Hamilton, Joe, Frank, and Reynolds, Charleton Heston, Valerie Perrine, and Dick Gregory. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

The 12th annual presentation of awards bestowed on the basis of popular vote. Burgess Meredith and Slyvester Stallone won for "Rocky," Lee Grant for "Voyage Of The Damned," and Faye Dunaway for "Network."

Co-Hosts: George Peppard and Valerie Perrine.             

The 51st Annual Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. Johnny Carson hosted the awards for the first time. John Wayne, making his final public appearance, presents the award for best picture, "The Deer Hunter." Wayne died two months later of stomach cancer at age 72.

Best Actor: John Voight
Best Actress: Jane Fonda
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Walken 
Best Supporting Actress: Maggie Smith
                                              

Rodney Dangerfield in his first special.