July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

Announcer Earl Reimer who subs for Hugh Downs, opens the show.

Jack comes out on stage and immediately states that he always seems to be in his dressing room writing at the last minute.
Jack tells true story that once he shared a dressing room with a star cowboy who wore the most expensive clothes he had ever seen. When the star took off his costume Paar noticed that he was wearing the most ragged underwear he had ever seen!

Jack mentions that last nights program, with Bobby Kennedy, was the most exciting show he has ever done in the two years that the Tonight Show has been on the air. Second and third most memorable shows were with Fidel Castro and Billy Graham. Kennedy stated on the show that it was time to do something about Jimmy Hoffa. 

Earl Grant is on next but Jack for a second cannot remember his name, which brings up a memory when he could not remember guest Marion Marlowe's name and had to stall for quite some time on live TV until someone could help him out. 

Earl Grant sings "Gave Birth to the Blues."

Jack recounts the time when his daughter Randy's pet gold fish died. Jack gave it a proper burial. He wrapped the goldfish
in saran wrap, followed by a layer of silver foil and all placed into a match box. Wife Miriam, accompanied them to the backyard for a proper burial. Randy said,
 "I'm sure he will survive before the ants get him." 

Bob Crichton, author of "The Great Imposer" discusses his book.Fred Demara makes a rare in person appearance. They all discuss his remarkable career impersonating ever conceivable type of professional individual and living the part. Favorite impersonation was that of a Texas warden. Demara states that there was no justification for what he did. Fred states that he is now ready to end his impostor career. 

Jack introduces Alexander King who discusses his new book, "May This House Be Saved From Tigers." Jack states what a warm and personable man King is who says that he believes in LOVE.  

*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, all KINESCOPES (sound quality inferior to originally direct line 1/4" reel to reel home recordings at the time of the broadcast). No COMPLETE intact visual and audio broadcasts survive. There are no extant video taped surviving RECORDINGS of the JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW...not even an excerpt. 

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 LAST LIVE broadcast was aired 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)




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

Jack Paar comments on the Quiz Scandals  that are making the headlines. He also talks about other frauds that effect TV.
 
Guest Alexander King comments on Sleazy Funeral Parlor businesses in this country. 
 
*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, all KINESCOPES (sound quality inferior to originally direct line 1/4" reel to reel home recordings at the time of the broadcast). No COMPLETE intact visual and audio broadcasts survive. There are no extant video taped surviving RECORDINGS of the JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW...not even an excerpt. 

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 LAST LIVE broadcast was aired 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)




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 

Jack Paar returns to the TONIGHT SHOW after his mid-February walk-out and subsequent vacation in Hong Kong. 

 Hugh Downs states that "tonight's show will go down in broadcast history." During the opening 11:15 to 11:30pm segment Downs states that in fairness to the country Jack will appear when the show is seen by the entire country, Nationally by all of the affiliate stations, at 11:30pm.
 
Following a Blue Cheer laundry detergent commercial, Hugh Downs announces the 11:30pm opening of the Jack Paar Tonight Show and counts down, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and introduces Jack Paar. Jack's first words are, "As I was saying before I was interrupted." Paar praises Hugh Downs for his loyalty. He then has some nasty words to say about columnist Walter Winchell who he calls "that silly old man." 

Paar also takes up where he left off, criticizing Dorothy Kilgallen calling her someone who reminds him of a puppet. "When she speaks she never seems to move her lips."

Jack tells his audience that he believes the Hearst press is rigged, as per example, his good friend Jim Bishop, columnist for the Hearst Press, had his column about Paar, today, suppressed.  

Paar reminisces about his "water closet" joke that created great controversy that led Jack to walk off the air. He tells of his trip to Japan...many stories and anecdotes. 

NOTE: This television audio air check segment of Jack Paar returning to the Tonight Show is not known to exist in any VIDEO format other than a minute of his appearance at the beginning of his entrance. What does exist is this rare historic retrospective audio air check reveal of Jack Paar returning to the Tonight Show when his late night show was the most controversial and unpredictable program on television.  
                                                                                                                                                                                    

H.V. Kaltenborn discusses the National Democratic Convention. He predicts that Richard Nixon will defeat John F. Kennedy for President of the United States. Joey Bishop discusses the candidates and also mentions that in September 1960 The Tonight Show will be telecast in color.

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. 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. The first color broadcast aired on September 19, 1960.                                                                                               

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. (NBC). 

 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, news bulletin on the "Explorer I"  satellite, launched today. 

Guest: Red Skelton (nine minute segment) reminiscences about his early career.
Also, Alexander King.    
 
Note: Red Skelton made four appearances on the Jack Paar Tonight Show:
December 2nd, 1959
November 16th,1960
July 10th, 1961
November 14th, 1961- Final of four appearances.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

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.  

Jack Paar's final night hosting the Tonight Show. Tomorrow night would be a re-run Best of Paar. Guests include Jack E. Leonard, Alan King, and Buddy Hackett. Jack comments on Walter Winchell and his past accusations, Castro' Cuba and Newsweek magazine.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

July 29, 1957- March 30,1962. 
 
  FINAL FIRST RUN TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JACK PAAR.

 During the four and half years Jack Paar hosed the Tonight Show he clocked approximately 24,000 hours of programming of which only less than .1% survives!!! No video tapes survive. No color episodes survive. Only an handful of black and white kinescopes are extant.

What does survive is only a total of 13 hours archived by Paley Center for Media, Library of Congress, and UCLA Film & Television, combined. 

The greatest number of surviving broadcast TV Audio Air Checks in the country, representing THE JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW, is archived by ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. (34 hours). 

Among Jack's many guests on this final first run broadcast are Jack E. Leonard who opens the show. He acts as host for the first 15 minutes..introduces, many celebrities in the audience including Tom Poston, Sam Levenson, Selma Diamond, Jack Haskell and Max Asnas of the Stage Delicatessen. Jose Melies plays all of the familiar theme songs associated with Jack Paar. Hugh Downs reads excerpts for Abel Green's column "Variety' about the show and Jack.  Alexander King, and Buddy Hackett are live guests. On film Hugh Downs introduces good bye salutations from George Burns, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Richad M. Nixon, Tallulah Bankhead, Joey Bishop, Robert Morley, Nipsey Russell, and Rev. Dr. Billy Graham. . In Jack's last monologue he reminisces about his feuds with Walter Winchell, Dorothy Kilgallen and Ed Sullivan.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

September 21, 1962-September 10, 1965. 
After leaving the "Tonight" show in March 1962, Jack Paar returned that fall as host of a one hour Friday-night variety series.  

Opening monologue by Jack Paar with anecdotes related to his orchestra leader and long time friend, Jose Melies, and his family. 
Les Paul and Mary Ford sing "Waiting for the Sunrise," "Summertime," and "Hush Little Baby."

Alexander King makes his 160tha appearance with Jack Paar. He talks about his latest book, "Is There Life after Birth?"
He jokes about his medical escapades during his recent hospital stay. 

Dick Gregory is introduced by Paar who mentions how he discovered Gregory in 1960 when he was penniless. Paar narrates home movies of Dick Gregory and his wife Lillian. 

Dick Gregory stand-up routine is heard. 

At the desk Dick tells Jack what life is like being a negro comedian. 

The UK ensemble group Beyond the Fringe is introduced by Jack Paar. The group comprised of Alan Bennett, Jonathan Miller, Peter Cook and  Dudley Moore perform. 

Announcer is Jim Lucas.

                                                             

     September 21, 1962 - September 10, 1965

Jack Paar elected to pursue a three year NBC series in prime time soon after stepping down as host of THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JACK PAAR (1957-1962). These broadcasts took on the form of a variety / talk show format. Each telecast opened with a Paar monologue. Also shown from time to time were personal home movies shot by Jack on various trips by the Paar family to Africa, Russia, and Europe.Jack's daughter, Randy Paar would often assist her dad narrating these films.  

Appearing with Jack were many of his old regulars from the TONIGHT SHOW including Alexander King, Oscar Levant and Jonathan Winters. This 10pm Friday prime time slot attracted many notable guests, including Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater and Ted Kennedy. Also, given exposure were many young and veteran entertainers, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Peggy Lee, and stand-up comedians, among them, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, Godfrey Cambridge, Jackie Vernon, Mike Nichols & Elaine May, Burns & Schreiber, and Dick Gregory. 

Impact appearances occurred introducing footage of The Beatles, prior to the group appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, and a young Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), singing and spewing poetry with Jack and Liberace. 

After three years (one and a half years less than his tenure on THE TONIGHT SHOW), Jack Paar called it quits and would prematurely retire from the business with the exception of  producing and starring in a handful of Specials for NBC and accepting one brief return to regular television, for nine months, hosting an ABC late night talk show, JACK PAAR TONITE in 1973).                                                                                                                                                                                

September 21st, 1962- September 10th, 1965 (NBC)

A Friday night variety series starring Jack Paar. Jonathan Winters was a frequent guest on the show.


Guests include author Alexander King and comedian Dick Gregory. 

                                                   

     September 21, 1962 - September 10, 1965

Jack Paar elected to pursue a three year NBC series in prime time soon after stepping down as host of THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JACK PAAR (1957-1962). These broadcasts took on the form of a variety / talk show format. Each telecast opened with a Paar monologue. Also shown from time to time were personal home movies shot by Jack on various trips by the Paar family to Africa, Russia, and Europe.Jack's daughter, Randy Paar would often assist her dad narrating these films.  

Appearing with Jack were many of his old regulars from the TONIGHT SHOW including Alexander King, Oscar Levant and Jonathan Winters. This 10pm Friday prime time slot attracted many notable guests, including Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater and Ted Kennedy. Also, given exposure were many young and veteran entertainers, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Peggy Lee, and stand-up comedians, among them, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, Godfrey Cambridge, Jackie Vernon, Mike Nichols & Elaine May, Burns & Schreiber, and Dick Gregory. 

Impact appearances occurred introducing footage of The Beatles, prior to the group appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, and a young Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), singing and spewing poetry with Jack and Liberace. 

After three years (one and a half years less than his tenure on THE TONIGHT SHOW), Jack Paar called it quits and would prematurely retire from the business with the exception of  producing and starring in a handful of Specials for NBC and accepting one brief return to regular television, for nine months, hosting an ABC late night talk show, JACK PAAR TONITE in 1973).       

Guests: Bill Cosby, and Helen O'Connell. Also appearing Alexander King.