1965-06-11, 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.
Guest: Comedian Corbett Monica
1965-09-23, WABC, 52 min.
September 19, 1963-April 1, 1966. In 1963 Dean hosted a prime-time hour variety series on ABC, which lasted three seasons. Regulars included Karen Morrow, Molly Bee, Chuck McCann, the Chuck Cassey Singers and Rowlf the Muppet, the first of the puppet creations of Jim Henson to be featured on national TV.
1967-03-30, WNBC, 52 min.
September 16, 1965-May 24, 1974. A variety hour hosted by Dean Martin. Several of the shows were celebrity "roasts," set at a banquet table, in which the guest of honor was showered with insults by other celebs. Regulars of the series included pianist Ken Lane (1965-1972), Kay Medford, Lou Jacobi, The Golddiggers, Marian Mercer (1971-1972), Tom Bosley (1971-1972), Rodney Dangerfield (1972-1973), Dom DeLuise (1972-1973), and Nipsey Russell (1972-1974).
1967-03-30, NBC, 52 min.
September 16, 1965-May 24, 1974. A variety hour hosted by Dean Martin. Several of the shows were celebrity "roasts," set at a banquet table, in which the guest of honor was showered with insults by other celebs. Regulars of the series included pianist Ken Lane (1965-1972), Kay Medford, Lou Jacobi, The Golddiggers, Marian Mercer (1971-1972), Tom Bosley (1971-1972), Rodney Dangerfield (1972-1973), Dom DeLuise (1972-1973), and Nipsey Russell (1972-1974).
Dupe Of # 1919.
1967-11-14, WABC, 52 min.
January 4, 1964-February 7, 1970. This hour-long variety series was a midseason replacement for "The Jerry Lewis Show."
1968-01-28, WCBS, 52 min.
June 20, 1948-June 6, 1971. Television's longest-running variety show ran on Sunday nights for twenty-three years. Its host, Ed Sullivan.
1968-10-11, WABC, 52 min.
January 5, 1968-April 26, 1968; September 27, 1968-January 31, 1969. This hour-long variety show was staged at a different military base each week and was hosted by a guest star.
Jimmy Dean guest host, broadcast at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
1968-11-02, WABC, 52 min.
January 4, 1964-February 7, 1970. This hour-long variety series was a midseason replacement for "The Jerry Lewis Show."
1968-11-19, WABC, 52 min.
September 24, 1968-May 20, 1969. This was the "Our First Baby" broadcast. Television's only musical comedy series. "That's Life" starred Robert Morse and E.J. Peaker. Also featured were Shelley Berman and Kay Medford.
1969-02-22, WCBS, 52 min.
September 29, 1962-September 12, 1970. Jackie Gleason was a fixture on CBS for most of two decades. In the fall of 1962 Gleason was back to a Saturday slot, which he occupied for another eight seasons. From 1962 to 1966 it was called "Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine," and featured topical comedy sketches as well as musical numbers. One of Gleason's characters, Joe the Bartender, appeared regularly. Addressing the camera as his patron, Joe told a few jokes before calling out the tipsy Crazy Guggenheim from the back room. Guggenheim, played by Frank Fontaine, traded quips with Joe and then sang a song. Sue Ann Langdon was also featured regularly. In 1966 Gleason moved the operation to Miami Beach. The show was retitled "The Jackie Gleason Show." For the first time in almost a decade, production of "The Honeymooners" was resumed. Gleason was reunited with Art Carney; Sheila MacRae and Jane Kean were added to play Alice and Trixie. Many of these later "Honeymooners" sketches ran a full hour, and the accent was now on music.
1969-11-28, WABC, 52 min.
September 26, 1969-July 4, 1970. Hour-long variety series starring Jimmy Durante and the singing Lennon Sisters (Dianne, Janet, Kathy, and Peggy).
1970-02-05, WNBC, 52 min.
September 16, 1965-May 24, 1974. A variety hour hosted by Dean Martin. Several of the shows were celebrity "roasts," set at a banquet table, in which the guest of honor was showered with insults by other celebs. Regulars of the series included pianist Ken Lane (1965-1972), Kay Medford, Lou Jacobi, The Golddiggers, Marian Mercer (1971-1972), Tom Bosley (1971-1972), Rodney Dangerfield (1972-1973), Dom DeLuise (1972-1973), and Nipsey Russell (1972-1974).
1973-01-07, WABC, 27 min.
1972 (Syndicated). Impressionist George Kirby hosted this variety half hour. Among the regulars was Steve Martin.
1973-12-27, ABC, min.
Stand-up comics both veterans and newcomers, share the spotlight in 90 minutes of laughter taped in Las Vegas. Topics range from politics and ethnic problems to the woes of perpetual losers and inept magicians.
1974-01-11, WNBC, min.
Zsa Zsa Gabor is the target for some kidding by roasters Buddy Hackett, Donald O'Connor, Charles Nelson Reilly, Ruth Buzzi, Corbett Monica, Donna Fargo, Mel Tillis and comedian Lonnie Schorr. Dean Martin is roastmaster.
Duplicate of # 2105.
1974-01-11, WNBC, 52 min.
Zsa Zsa Gabor is the target for some kidding by roasters Buddy Hackett, Donald O'Connor, Charles Nelson Reilly, Ruth Buzzi, Corbett Monica, Donna Fargo, Mel Tillis and comedian Lonnie Schorr. Dean Martin is roastmaster.
1974-03-15, WNBC, 52 min.
George Washington is the roastee in a whimsical salute to the first President. Audrey Meadows appears as his wife Martha, Steve Lawrence as his Groucho Marx-like aide-de-camp, and Foster Brooks as his press secretary. Others seated on the dais include Dick Martin, Euell Gibbons, Corbett Monica, Nipsey Russell, Henny Youngman, Jack Carter and Leonard Barr. Dean sings "For the Good Times" and "Lay Some Happiness on Me." Les Brown conducts the orchestra.