1964-06-12, NBC, 21 min.
January 10th, 1964-May 4th, 1965 (NBC)
Based on a British series created by Ned Sherrin. A half-hour of satirized current events. Among the regulars were David Frost (who went on to host his own syndicated American weeknight talk show), Elliott Reid, Phyllis Newman, Henry Morgan, Alan Alda, Buck Henry, Pat Englund, Nancy Ames, and Doro Merande. Also featured were Burr Tillstrom's puppets. Skitch Henderson conducted the orchestra. First introduced as a special in November 1963, it went on to become a weekly series in January 1964.
A satirical commentary on the week's news.
1964-06-13, CBS, 21 min.
Recap of events includes: Scranton seeks the GOP nomination, comments by Goldwater, Rockefeller, and Nixon, candidacy, and viewpoints on issues.
Host: Harry Reasoner discusses the GOP race with Robert Trout and Walter Cronkite.
1964-06-13, ABC, 20 min.
The guests are Joey Forman, the Rolling Stones, Racquel Welch, and Donald O'Connor.
Host: Dean Martin.
Dean sings "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime." Comic Joey Forman does a John Garfield routine.
1964-06-13, , 19 min.
Reporters, including Gay Pauley Sehon from The United Press, Joyce Egginton from The London Observer question Melvin Belli who is Jack Ruby's lawyer. Belli comments on the trial, Judge Joe Brown, and Dallas.
Host: Clifford Evans, who is also the producer of Ladies of the Press.
1964-06-14, WCBS, 19 min.
Ed Sullivan's guest performer is Sammy Davis Jr.
1964-06-14, WNBC, 26 min.
Host Carl Reiner welcomes celebrity guests Howard Duff, Ida Lupino, Cliff Arquette, Pamela Tiffin, Jack E. Leonard, Anne Baxter, MacDonald Carey, Nancy Sinatra and Tommy Sands to this primetime quiz show.
1964-06-15, WNBC, 24 min.
Joseph Cotten narrates the making of the film with director John Huston and stars Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr and Sue Lyon. Also on hand Tennessee Williams.
1964-06-16, WNBC, 52 min.
January 12, 1959-April 26, 1968. This musical series ran semiregularly for almost ten seasons-sometimes weekly, sometimes biweekly, and sometimes as irregularly scheduled specials. All types of music were presented on the hour series; Donald Voorhees conducted the Bell Telephone Orchestra.
1964-06-16, WCBS, 42 min.
The farewell show of the series which had its debut Sept. 30, 1958. Regulars Carol Burnett, Marion Lorne, Durwood Kirby and Allen Funt appear with special guest Alan King. At the show's finale, Garry Moore, quietly from his dressing room, bids his audience goodbye.
1964-06-16, WPIX, 13 min.
Jack Benny's voice impersonator Bob Blasse phones the American Hotel and orders a suite of rooms. He then calls Dennis Day who recognizes Bob's voice almost immediately.
1964-06-18, NBC, 8 min.
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.
Joined in progress. Johnny's guest is producer David Merrick. They discuss the theatre strike and the New York World's Fair.
1964-06-19, WMCA, 9 min.
Barry Gray was an American radio personality, often referred to as "the father of talk radio." His late-night New York City radio talk show was carried by WOR radio and then later by WMCA.
Barry Gray returned to WMCA in 1950, and stayed there for 39 years, refining the talk show format still utilized today. During the 1960s, he was in the odd position of having an 11 p.m.-1 a.m. late-night talk show on a station otherwise dominated by Top 40 music and the youth-targeted "Good Guys" disc jockey campaign. But for teenagers who kept their radios on into the night, Gray's show was a window into the high-brow New York culture of the 1940s and 1950s.
Barry's guest is comedian Mort Sahl who is interrupted by a news bulletin about a plane crash in South Hampton Massachusetts involving Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts. There is a second bulletin. We hear Kevin Powers announcement of the crash in more detail. Senator Edward Kennedy is reported in serious condition.
There are two others in the plane which crashed at 11:35pm EST. We learn from Barry Gray who returns to the studio after hearing about the crash on the radio in his car heading home, after his live broadcast, which ended at !1:30pm on which he talked with Senator Jacob Javits at 11:25pm. Following the conclusion of this live broadcast, a pre-recorded Barry Gray show followed with Mort Sahl which is interrupted with the bulletins.
Barry Gray hearing this on his car radio, driving home, returns to the studio. WMCA transmits live on which Barry Gray calls Senator Jacob Javits on the phone, telling him of the news, and getting his reaction.
NOTE: This radio program was broadcast with, at times, severe original transmission static. Phil Gries (Archival Television Audio, Inc.) has reduced a lot of the static, as much as possible, making this rare broadcast quite discernable and extant.
1964-06-19, WNBC, 13 min.
Jack Paar's guest, Jonathan Winters appears in a routine as a loud mouth tourist.
1964-06-19, CBS, 11 min.
The US Senate passes the civil rights bill-comments by newsmen, Senator Strom Thurmond, Lyndon Johnson, Martin Luther King, and Senator Kenneth Keating of New York. The US might use force in defending Southeast Asia, possible war with China, Marvin Kalb reports.
Host: Ned Calmer
1964-06-19, NBC, 21 min.
January 10th, 1964-May 4th, 1965 (NBC)
Based on a British series created by Ned Sherrin. A half-hour of satirized current events. Among the regulars were David Frost (who went on to host his own syndicated American weeknight talk show), Elliott Reid, Phyllis Newman, Henry Morgan, Alan Alda, Buck Henry, Pat Englund, Nancy Ames, and Doro Merande. Also featured were Burr Tillstrom's puppets. Skitch Henderson conducted the orchestra. First introduced as a special in November 1963, it went on to become a weekly series in January 1964.
A satirical commentary on the week's news.
1964-06-20, ABC, 3 min.
More news of the plane crash involving Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, his back might be broken, he might be hospitalized for one year, Charles De Gaulle cautions Peking on South Vietnam.
Baylor Langton? reports.
1964-06-20, CBS, 28 min.
October 1st, 1953-October 13th, 1957. September 11th, 1971-September 2nd, 1972. (CBS)
Tonight's episode: Beatrice Straight stars in "The Crisis Of Anne Boleyn." May 16th, 1536. Henry V111 has lost interest in Anne and wants a clear course for his romance with Jane Seymour. He offers Anne a chance to save her life if she admits she has been unfaithful, and leaves England with their daughter, Elizabeth. But Anne wants her child to be heir to the throne.
An unusual Public Affairs series, You Are There began in 1947 as a radio show (it was originally titled CBS was There). Each week a well-known historical event was recreated, and the leading figures in each drama were interviewed by CBS news correspondents (the correspondents were always in modern-day dress, regardless of the setting of the story). The television version ran from 1953-1957 on Sunday afternoons, and was revived in 1971 as a Saturday-afternoon show, aimed principally at children. Walter Cronkite was the chief correspondent on both TV versions. Paul Newman guest-starred on one program as Nathan Hale (30 August 1953) and the 1971 premiere " The Mystery of Amelia Earhart" featured Geraldine Brooks and Richard Dreyfuss.
1964-06-21, WOR, 16 min.
9th inning coverage is heard, and a post-game interview with Jim Bunning, whose perfect game was the first in the National League since 1880. Bob Murphy does the play-by-play for this N.Y. Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies game. Ralph Kiner interviews Bunning on this memorable Father's Day.
1964-06-22, NBC, 13 min.
Racial disturbances at a beach in Florida, in Mississippi a civil rights group train northern whites to aid negroes in the south-trainees learn to protect themselves from hostile mobs, three civil rights workers (two from the north) are missing in Mississippi, Senator Edward Kennedy is doing OK in the hospital following plane crash, President Johnson greets Turkish Premier Ismet Inonu-they discuss the Turkish-Cyprus problem.
1964-06-22, WMCA, 6 min.
Barry Gray was an American radio personality, often referred to as "the father of talk radio." His late-night New York City radio talk show was carried by WOR radio and then later by WMCA.
Barry Gray returned to WMCA in 1950, and stayed there for 39 years, refining the talk show format still utilized today. During the 1960s, he was in the odd position of having an 11 p.m.-1 a.m. late-night talk show on a station otherwise dominated by Top 40 music and the youth-targeted "Good Guys" disc jockey campaign. But for teenagers who kept their radios on into the night, Gray's show was a window into the high-brow New York culture of the 1940s and 1950s.
Barry's guest is Mort Sahl. They discuss the current political scene.
Host: Barry Gray.
1964-06-22, WPIX, 34 min.
Steve Allen does a "Letter to the Editor" routine and special guest Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy is interviewed by Steve. Also appearing on the show are Carolyn Jones and Cliff Arquette.
1964-06-22, WNBC, 47 min.
Joseph Cotten narrates a profile of 50 years of motion picture comedians.
1964-06-23, CBS, 14 min.
Three civil rights workers (two whites and one negro) disappear mysteriously on a Mississippi road after arrest on speeding charges, Nelson Benton reports from Mississippi, "swim-in" on a Florida beach sets off a racial flurry, Henry Cabot Lodge resigns as Ambassador to Saigon and is replaced by General Maxwell Taylor-comments on this event by President Johnson, Senator Wayne Morse, Senator Barry Goldwater, and defense secretary Robert McNamara, there are implications that the US will increase their war-role in South Vietnam.
Host: Walter Cronkite. Report from Nelson Benton.
1964-06-23, WPIX, 9 min.
October 6th, 1964-March 2, 1965 (WPIX)
A ninety-minute pilot program for a future short-lived phone-in discussion program seen on local WPIX-TV Channel 11 in New York City.
Topics discussed are civil rights, (the disappearance of three civil rights workers, the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover,) politics-Barry Goldwater, etc.
Host: David Susskind. The producer of this PILOT program is Jean Kennedy.
When Hot line became a regular short lived series (23 broadcasts), televised live, on New York local station WPIX (the show was never picked up for syndication) Joyce Davidson became producer of the show, her main function as she confirmed was screen viewer calls. She and David Susskind were married in 1966.
Guests: Dorothy Kilgallen, Gore Vidal, and the Rev. William Sloane Coffin, Jr.
Pilot program.
1964-06-26, NBC, 15 min.
January 10th, 1964-May 4th, 1965 (NBC)
Based on a British series created by Ned Sherrin. A half-hour of satirized current events. Among the regulars were David Frost (who went on to host his own syndicated American weeknight talk show), Elliott Reid, Phyllis Newman, Henry Morgan, Alan Alda, Buck Henry, Pat Englund, Nancy Ames, and Doro Merande. Also featured were Burr Tillstrom's puppets. Skitch Henderson conducted the orchestra. First introduced as a special in November 1963, it went on to become a weekly series in January 1964.
A satirical commentary on the week's news.
1964-06-27, WCBS, 28 min.
Guest film director Jean Renoir relates anecdotes about his father and his own career to host Herman Harvey.
1964-06-28, CBS, 27 min.
New York State Senate Minority Leader Joseph Zaretski is interviewed by a team of reporters, including Edward O'Neil of the New York Daily News, Walter McDonald of the New York World-Telegram and Sun, and WCBS-TV Director of News Joe Laughlin.
1964-06-30, WOR, 9 min.
Joe Franklin interviews comedian Frank Fontaine.
1964-06-30, WNBC, 52 min.
January 12, 1959-April 26, 1968. This musical series ran semiregularly for almost ten seasons-sometimes weekly, sometimes biweekly, and sometimes as irregularly scheduled specials. All types of music were presented on the hour series; Donald Voorhees conducted the Bell Telephone Orchestra.
1964-06-30, WNBC, 25 min.
January 14, 1952-Present. First early-morning network program and longest-running daytime series. Created by Sylvester "Pat" Weaver. Telecast Monday thru Friday, 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, the broadcasts have maintained a format including a News Summary, segments related to Sports, Weather, Interviews, and Features. Throughout its long run, hosts of "The Today Show" have included Dave Garroway (1952-1961), John Chancellor (1961-1962), Hugh Downs (1962-1971), Frank McGee (1971-1974), Jim Hartz (1974-1976), Tom Brokaw (1976-1981), Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumbel, Chris Wallace, Katie Couric, and others.
Host Hugh Downs explores "The Myth of Jean Harlow" with guests Maureen O'Sullivan and Irving Shulman.
1964-07-04, ABC, 55 min.
Highlights of the second day of the Olympic Track and Field Trials, taped this afternoon at Downing Stadium on Randall's Island in New York City. Today's events are part of the first elimination meet held to choose the US Olympic track and field squad for the summer games in Tokyo.
Hosting this 90-minute Prime Time Special ABC Exclusive TV broadcast are Jim McKay, Bob Mathias and Bill Flemming.
Jim McKay, Bob Mathias, Bill Flemming and Dick Bank conduct the interviews.
Highlighted is the 100-meter dash (leader Charlie Greene goes down on the track with injury). Trent Jackson winner.
The shot put is highlighted with Dallas Long, Dave Davis, Randy Matson.
The 400 intermediate hurdle is covered with interview winner, Jay Luck.
Illustrator, Photographer Robert Riger describes his illustrations of the trial events.
Discussion of why today’s athletes have achieved so many new world records.
The broad jump trials are covered. Gayle Hopkins competes. Winner Ralph Boston (27.5 feet) is interviewed.
The javelin throw is profiled with Frank Covelli, Ed Red, and Jim Stevenson who surprisingly wins this competition. He is interviewed.
Jim McKay, Bill Flemming cover the 5000 meter run with competitors Bob Schul, Bill Dellinger, Jim Beaty and Gerry Lindgren among the pack.
Jim McKay gives wrap up of all winners and signs off.
NOTE:
Includes numerous commercials, and one with Chris Schenkle
1964-07-05, WNBC, 52 min.
September 27, 1962-September 3, 1967 (NBC); September 20, 1969-July 17, 1971 (NBC); 1976 (Syndicated). In 1962, Williams was finally given a fall series on NBC; the hour show lasted five seasons and featured The New Christy Minstrels and the Osmond Brothers. His third NBC series, which premiered in 1969, featured comics Charlie Callas and Irwin Corey, along with Janos Prohaska; the hour show lasted another two seasons. In 1976, Williams hosted a syndicated series, entitled "Andy." The half-hour show featured puppeteer Wayland Flowers.
1964-07-07, WNBC, 51 min.
Originally broadcast Nov. 25, 1962, John Chancellor narrates this report on just how easy or difficult it is to adopt a child.
1964-07-10, WNBC, 62 min.
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 Woody Allen welcomes his guests Edie Adams, Tom Poston, Louise Lasser and Count Basie.
1964-07-11, WABC, 54 min.
Guests on this live day time phone-in talk show are Joanne Woodward and Sydney Chaplin. The mother of Della Reese calls the show.
1964-07-13, NBC, min.
Live NBC opening night coverage of the 1964 Republican National Convention at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California.
The Republicans seek to select their presidential candidate. Personalities interviewed are Senator Everett Dirksen, former President Dwight Eisenhower, and Richard Nixon who comments on Barry Goldwater. Thurston Morton is the committee chairman, he raps the Democrats in speech, a speech by former President Eisenhower.
1964-07-14, NBC, min.
Continuing live NBC coverage of the Republican National Convention from the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California.
Highlights: Martin Agronsky interviews delegate Henry Cabot Lodge, NBC Newsman John Chancellor is arrested on the floor, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller talks about curtailing extremism in the Republican Party amid shout-downs and cat-calls.
1964-07-15, NBC, 46 min.
Continuing live NBC coverage of the 1964 Republican National Convention from the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California.
The roll call of the states for the presidential nomination, Representative Charles Halleck of Indiana seconds the nomination of Barry Goldwater, Senator Kenneth Keating of New York nominates Nelson Rockefeller, Governor of New York. Dr. Milton Eisenhower puts Governor William Scranton's name in nomination, Scranton in an interview says he will not withdraw, a disturbance by negro delegates on the floor, Goldwater wins ballot for the nomination, Scranton concedes defeat and calls for the unanimous nomination of Goldwater as GOP presidential candidate.
1964-07-16, NBC, min.
Continuing live NBC coverage of the 1964 Republican National Convention from the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California.
Speeches by Richard Nixon and Republican presidential nominee, Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater.
1964-07-16, WNBC, 5 min.
Brad Crandall (born Robert Lee Bradley; August 6, 1927 – March 14, 1991) was an American radio personality, voice-over announcer, and film narrator, best known for his radio show on WNBC in New York City, which aired from March 1964 to September 1971.
March, 1964-September 1971 (WNBC Radio)
A rare example of Brad Crandall pulling no punches with a caller to his evening radio talk show. The caller compares Crandall to a more gracious other talk show host, Bill Mazer, classifying Crandall as rude and abrupt with his audience, at times cutting them off and hanging up on them. Brad Crandall defends his demeanor and states his philosophy and his telephone etiquette when conversing with the public.
Brad Crandall was an American conservative radio talk show host most remembered for his weekday night radio show heard on WNBC in New York City. Crandall's radio show debuted the same day Bill Mazer's late-afternoon phone-in sports talk show began on the station.
Crandall was known for his right-wing views which would sometimes lead to heated debates among his more liberal left-wing callers. He also performed commercial voice-overs and film narrations.
NOTE: While a handful of MONITOR broadcasts are extant with Bill Crandall hosting, none of his WNBC BILL CRANDALL SHOW radio broadcasts are known to exist in the archives' of the Paley Center for Media, UCLA Film & TV Archives, The Library of Congress, private collections or on the internet via you tube.
1964-07-17, , 65 min.
Former Vice President Richard M. Nixon introduces the Republican Presidential nominee Barry Goldwater who gives his 40 min. acceptance speech. Also heard is "America The Beautiful" sung by the convention chorus.
1964-07-17, WABC, 65 min.
Former Vice President Richard M. Nixon introduces the Republican Presidential nominee Barry Goldwater who gives his 40 min. acceptance speech. Also heard is "America The Beautiful" sung by the convention chorus.
1964-07-19, WPIX, 102 min.
First aired Feb. 16, 1964. "Divorce: The High Cost of Loving and Losing." The subject of divorce is discussed by six divorced people and expert lawyer on the subject, Samuel G. Kling.
1964-07-20, WNBC, 34 min.
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 Pat Boone welcomes his guests Debbie Reynolds, Frank Gorshin and Jack Palance.
1964-07-22, WNBC, 10 min.
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 Pat Boone welcomes his guest Robert Taylor.
1964-07-22, WNDT, 28 min.
Stanley Kauffmann interviews filmmaker Shirley Clarke.
The entire program relates to Clarke's new film THE COOL WORLD which took four months to cast and one year to film. She states that this is the first film to be shot mostly in Harlem, New York. Kauffmann questions Clarke from all angles...how the film technically was made, how it was cast, challenges filming on the streets of Harlem, etc.
Shirley Clarke discusses the genesis of the film...how she was approached by Frederick Wiseman who bought the rights to the 1958 book, her dependency and friendship with Carl Lee and her relationship with her cameraman, Baird Bryant.
This interview has not been seen or heard in over half a century. It was recorded off the air by Phil Gries and is considered the only known broadcast record in the world of such rare television interview of length with Shirley Clark who at the time was at the top of her form and notoriety. This is the only one on one TV interview of length,extant ,done by Clarke.
Shirley Clarke (I) (1919–1997)
Director | Editor | Producer
Shirley Clarke was born on October 2, 1919 in New York City, New York, USA as Shirley Brimberg. She was a director and editor, known for The Cool World (1963), Skyscraper (1960) and The Connection (1961). She was married to Bert Clarke.
Born: October 2, 1919 in New York City, New York, USA
Died: September 23, 1997 (age 77)
-Notable Films -
1967 Portrait of Jason(Documentary)-selected to*film registry*
1963 Robert Frost: A Lover's Quarrel with the World (Documentary short)
1963 The Cool World------------ selected to*film registry*
1961 The Connection
1960 Scary Time (Short)
1960 Skyscraper (Short documentary)
1964-07-24, NBC, min.
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: Alan Sherman, Beatrice Lillie,
Guest Host: Pat Boone.
1964-07-24, WNBC, 27 min.
July 24, 1964-September 18, 1964. This was the first broadcast of the series. Half-hour variety series, with a different host each week. Produced in Canada.
1964-07-25, WABC, 50 min.
A follow-up to her previous appearance in March, Psychiatrist and Gynecologist Dr. Lena Levine takes phone calls related to "The Frigid Wife."
1964-07-27, WNBC, 52 min.
January 27, 1961-April 21, 1961; September 28, 1961-September 21, 1964. This program is a repeat. This was the "Gilbert and Sullivan" broadcast. Home viewers were able to participate in this hour-long musical series, as the lyrics to the songs were superimposed at the bottom of their screens; viewers were invited to "follow the bouncing ball" as it moved from one lyric to the next. Goateed composer-arranger Mitch Miller led the Sing-Along Gang, and on-stage aggregation of about two dozen. Among the featured vocalists were Leslie Uggams, Diana Trask, Barbara McNair, and Gloria Lambert. "Sing Along with Mitch" was introduced on "Ford Startime" in 1960 and had a limited run in the spring of 1961, alternating with "The Bell Telephone Hour," before going weekly in the fall of that year. Reruns were exhumed in the spring of 1966 to replace the faltering "Sammy Davis Jr. Show." Bill Hobin produced and directed the series.