Jackie Gleason is host for the seventh annual Agva (American Guild of Variety Artists) Entertainment Awards ceremony honoring outstanding entertainers in 13 categories, highlighted by Bob Hope's presentation of the Entertainer of the Year Award to Johnny Carson. Comedy performances include a routine featuring Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd and Edgar Bergen, who receives the Golden Award for "a lifetime of entertaining the public."
Also, a monologue by David Brenner and a magic act by Carson, and a Special Attraction of the Year award to Jim Henson. Kermit the Frog sings "Lydia the Tattooed Lady," dedicated to Groucho Marx.