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.
The main guest is Gore Vidal, writer and well-known liberal who replies to remarks made by William F. Buckley Jr last night on this show...creating an on going feud between the two running on The Tonight Show. Liberalism vs conservatism.
In a 10 minute segment Gore Vidal talks about William F. Buckley's many contradictions, his ideological wars, and smears, referencing Catholicism and the Pope. Both Jack Paar and Hugh Downs add to the analysis and criticism. "Who is he?" Vidal states that Buckley never worked for a living in his life. He criticizes everyone, using his "World Go Home" slogan. Other mentions include Buckley comments about Albert Schweitzer, integration, and his attraction for former communists (Paar mentions he has five employees at present fitting this scenario), Vidal mentions that Buckley stated that Harry Truman called Dwight Eisenhower an anti-Semite, which is an irresponsible lie.
Paar describes Buckley as someone who speaks very quickly and rolls his eyes...very tricky and he has ruined peoples lives.
Buddy Hackett appears briefly after Gore Vidal.