September 30, 1951-August 29, 1971

Red Skelton's network television program began at the start of the 1951 fall season on NBC (for sponsor Procter & Gamble). After two seasons on Sunday nights, the program was picked up by CBS in the fall of 1953 and moved to Tuesday night, the time slot with which it would become primarily associated during most of its run. After his first CBS season the program was moved to Wednesday night and expanded to an hour for the summer of 1954 only; it was then reduced back to a half-hour for a time, later expanded again, returning to Tuesday night where it would remain for the next sixteen years (co-sponsored by Johnson's Wax and Pet Milk between 1955 and 1962).

On September 25, 1962, the program was again expanded to a full hour (becoming The Red Skelton Hour) and remained in this longer format for the balance of its CBS run.

CBS ended its association with the program in early 1970. This apparently marked the beginning of one of several attempts by CBS to downplay programming whose primary appeal was to "Middle America", an audience more rural and also somewhat older than that generally desired by network television advertisers. Marketers were moving towards a younger, "hipper", and more urban audience.

At least in part due to Skelton's iconic status, the program was picked up by NBC, premiering on September 14, 1970. Vice President Spiro Agnew introduced Red's 20th season opener, returning back to NBC where he began his first TV season. Guest on Shelton's premiere program was Jerry Lewis. After the taping of the show, Lewis told the audience: "My ambition has always been to be a clown...tonight I've had the honor of working with a great clown."

The program that aired was quite different from the one that Skelton's CBS audience was used to seeing. The new set was dark, devoid of the backdrops that viewers had seen on CBS. The show was cut back to its original half-hour length and it was moved from Tuesday to Monday nights.

The new format never really worked. The program ended in March 1971, although selected programs from this final season were rerun on NBC on Sunday nights in prime time during June-August, 1971.    

In this episode, Red Skelton's guests are actor Boris Karloff
and actress Eva Gabor.                                                                                        

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.  
                                                                                                                                                                                    

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. 
NOTE: Beginning December 10, 1962 WNBC TV (NEW YORK) only broadcast THE TONIGHT SHOW  from 11:30pm - 1:00am. The first fifteen minutes 11:15pm - 11:30pm was not broadcast in New York, but did air in different parts of the country. 

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.



Johnny Carson's guests are Eva Gabor, Don Adams, Richard Gehman, and Barbara Hines. 

NOTE: On this episode, complete with commercials...First time the character "CARSON THE MAGNIFICENT" airs. Johnny Carson, during these initial skits, would pose the answer verbally himself as Carnac to the audience and then read the question, verbally, revealed in a sealed envelope. 
Soon after, Ed McMahon would pose the answer verbally, and Carnac The Magnificent (Johnny) would create a relevant question. This approach would remain for decades to come. 

NOTE: Barbara Hines made her TV debut on this broadcast. She sings "Tip Toe Through the Tulips," and "Where is Love?"

NOTE: At around the midway point there are some slight sound variations in the recording  that clear up shortly.                                    

From Philadelphia, Febuary 15th, 1965-1982. (SYN) 


The Mike Douglas show moves to it's new home in Philadelphia with this series premiere from the city of Brotherly Love. It remained in Philadelphia until 1978 when Douglas, realizing the comparative ease of booking guests in Hollywood, moved the show to Los Angeles where it remained a fixture until 1982 when the show came to a close. On this Philadelphia premiere, Mike's guests are Eva Gabor, Hendra and Ullett, The White Sisters, and Glenn Yarbrough.

Series premiere from Philadelphia.                          

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.
  
  

Host: Johnny Carson. Guest: Eva Gabor. (Joined in progress)                         

The 8th Annual Emmy Awards are presented live from the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California. 

Chet Huntley presents a special award to Edward R. Murrow
Outstanding Dramatic Series: The Fugitive
Best Variety Special: Bob Hope Christmas Special, Carol Baker accepting




Hosts: Danny Kaye and Bill Cosby.                                                                                           

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 # 1981.                        

September 16, 1965-May 24, 1974. 

Joey Heatherton, Eva Gabor, Norm Crosby, Paul Lynde, and world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier guest on the Dean Martin Show. Paul Lynde is a White House kennel master. Dean renews his drivers License. 
Norm Crosby does a comedy monologue on Women's Lib. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

"Red, Red Robin," "Try a Little  Tenderness".......Dean Martin
"Burt Bacharach Medley, "Mad About the Boy....Joy Heatherton
"To Keep my Love Alive"..........Eva Gabor

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).             

  Louis Nye substitutes for Merv Griffin who is on vacation. 
Guest Eva Gabor gets kidded by Nye who intimates some sexual innuendoes innocently not understood by Eva.             

A spoof of Academy Award winning movies.     

Duplicates of #5114 and 6038.         

Valerie Harper is roasted by Nancy Walker, David Groh, Rich Little, Shelley Winters, Ed Asner, Isabel Sanford, Phyllis Diller, Chad Everett, Milton Berle, Foster Brooks, Georgia Engle, Julie Kavner, Nipsey Russell, Jack Carter, Red Buttons, Eva Gabor, Jack Albertson and Harold Gould. Dean Martin is roastmaster.      

Duplicate of #2114. Partial broadcast only.  

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 1970s, 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: John Davidson.