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- July 7, 1961), John Chancellor / Frank Blair (July 17, 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.

NOTE: From 1958 to the  middle of 1961 THE TODAY SHOW began to video tape a day in advance. The exception was live coverage of news segments, and the weather. 

The show devotes the entire week to a study of the American teen-ager. "Today" reporters Dick McCutchen, Maurie Robinson, and Joe Michaels have visited Louisville, Ky, Minneapolis and St.Paul, Minnesota, and Philadelphia to report on such subjects as the teen-ager and authority, mores, religion, self-expression and the future. Each morning one subject is discussed and illustrated through specially filmed features and live remotes.
On today's opening show, Dick McCutchen reports on the "Teen-ager and Authority" which includes films of the Philadelphia Youth Study Center and also deals with a New York gang and a high school fraternity. A spokesman from the Pentagon discusses youth in military life, and a psychiatrist, a principal, a juvenile- court judge, a police captain, and a parent from various sections of the country compose a panel which comments on the features.      

Host: Dave Garroway                                              

Broadcast from Atlantic City at Paul D'Amato's 500 Club where Martin and Lewis were originally booked as singles and started to clown together to form a history-making combination. This live telecast would be the next to last broadcast for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis before they would split for good. Their last telecast came five days later when they hosted an MD    telethon from Carnegie Hall, June 29th and 30th.             

September 27, 1954 - January 25, 1957. This evenings telecast is the final TONIGHT! show starring Steve Allen. A farewell party is staged. All the regular singers are featured in musical numbers and Steve uses some of the 'gimmicks which found great popularity on show during the 2 1/2 years on air, including the big salami, and goo goo dolls. Steve speaks briefly to some of the men on the new "Tonight" show which starts next week. They include Jack Lescoulie, Earl Wilson, Hy Gardner, & Bob Considine. 

The basic format of The Tonight! Show was established during Allen's tenure: an opening monologue, a segment involving the studio audience (through interviews or games such as "Stump the Band"), and a simple set (a desk and chair for the host, a couch for the guests), all trademarks of the Allen era. Allen inaugurated the out-of-town broadcast (the first one was done from Miami), the one guest show (Carl Sandburg was the first solo guest), and the one topic show (entire programs devoted to such subjects as narcotics, civil rights, and black music). Allen also established the practice of paying his guests only "scale," the minimum fee required by union-network contract (this practice led to a highly publicized  feud between Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan and later between Jack Paar and Ed Sullivan, as Sullivan paid top dollar for his guests). Though Allen's Tonight! show closely resembled the shows of his successors, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, it was more a musical show; Allen himself was an accomplished musician and composer (he wrote his theme, "This Could Be The Start of Something Big"), and he employed a nucleus of musical regulars on his show. In addition to announcer – sidekick Gene Rayburn, the show featured singers Steve Lawrence (who was only seventeen when he began singing on Allen's local show), Eydie Gormé (who subsequently married Steve Lawrence), Andy Williams (who later hosted several series of his own), and Pat Marshall (who was succeeded by Pat Kirby).  Skitch Henderson led the Orchestra.                                                    

September 27, 1954 - January 25, 1957. This evenings telecast is the final TONIGHT! show starring Steve Allen. A farewell party is staged. All the regular singers are featured in musical numbers and Steve uses some of the 'gimmicks which found great popularity on show during the 2 1/2 years on air, including the big salami, and goo goo dolls. Steve speaks briefly to some of the men on the new "Tonight" show which starts next week. They include Jack Lescoulie, Earl Wilson, Hy Gardner, & Bob Considine. 

The basic format of The Tonight! Show was established during Allen's tenure: an opening monologue, a segment involving the studio audience (through interviews or games such as "Stump the Band"), and a simple set (a desk and chair for the host, a couch for the guests), all trademarks of the Allen era. Allen inaugurated the out-of-town broadcast (the first one was done from Miami), the one guest show (Carl Sandburg was the first solo guest), and the one topic show (entire programs devoted to such subjects as narcotics, civil rights, and black music). Allen also established the practice of paying his guests only "scale," the minimum fee required by union-network contract (this practice led to a highly publicized  feud between Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan and later between Jack Paar and Ed Sullivan, as Sullivan paid top dollar for his guests). Though Allen's Tonight! show closely resembled the shows of his successors, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, it was more a musical show; Allen himself was an accomplished musician and composer (he wrote his theme, "This Could Be The Start of Something Big"), and he employed a nucleus of musical regulars on his show. In addition to announcer – sidekick Gene Rayburn, the show featured singers Steve Lawrence (who was only seventeen when he began singing on Allen's local show), Eydie Gormé (who subsequently married Steve Lawrence), Andy Williams (who later hosted several series of his own), and Pat Marshall (who was succeeded by Pat Kirby).  Skitch Henderson led the Orchestra.      

Duplicate of #6967. Farewell Party. After two and one half years, Steve Allen hosts his final Tonight Show. 

Andy Williams sings a new song, "Butterfly." Tonight Show stage hands behind the scenes bid farewell to Steve.                                                                 

After the departure of the Tonight Show's first host, Steve Allen, Jack Lescoulie served as host from January 28th to June 21st, 1957. NBC renamed the show "Tonight! America After Dark."

Host Jack Lescoulie interviews old-time vaudevillian Fifi D'Orsay who sings a song.                                                               

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.



Live funeral coverage from both NBC and ABC of the burial of President John F. Kennedy who was assassinated three days earlier on November 22nd, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Jack Lescoulie, Frank Blair, and Barbara Walters report live from the Washington Rotunda for NBC. Also, Don Goddard with live "Man On The Street" interviews about the Oswald killing that took place yesterday, (11-24-63). 

Also, live ABC coverage with Ron Cochran and Howard K. Smith.                                  

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.




Comments on yesterday's presidential election. There are interviews on 42nd street in New York City regarding last night's election results.

Barbara Walters, Hugh Downs, Elie Abel, John Chancellor, Jack Lescoulie. .                       

The New York and Hollywood movie premiere of "Is Paris Burning?" starring Leslie Caron, Kirk Douglas, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Charles Boyer, Alain Delon, Gert Frobe, and Orson Welles. Directed by Rene Clement.

In New York, Jack Lescoulie talks to Otto Preminger, Frederick March, Florence Eldrich, Leslie Caron, Ann Francis, John Erikson, Polly Bergen, and Barbara Rush.
In Los Angeles, Debbie Reynolds talks to Army Archerd.

Hosts: Jack Lescoulie and Army Archerd.                                                                                                       

The New York and Hollywood movie premiere of "Is Paris Burning?" starring Leslie Caron, Kirk Douglas, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Charles Boyer, Alain Delon, Gert Frobe, and Orson Welles. Directed by Rene Clement.

In New York, Jack Lescoulie talks to Otto Preminger, Frederick March, Florence Eldrich, Leslie Caron, Ann Francis, John Erikson, Polly Bergen, and Barbara Rush.
In Los Angeles, Debbie Reynolds talks to Army Archerd.

Duplicate of #15244.

Hosts: Jack Lescoulie and Army Archerd.                                                                                                                    

Beginning in 1929, a New Year's Eve Tradition...Guy Lombardo & his Royal Canadians. Guy Lombardo was best known to TV audiences for his annual New Year's Eve telecasts. His brothers Carmen (the band's musical director), Victor, & Lebert were all members of the orchestra. Guy, the eldest, was designated the leader. For most of his years in television, Guy Lombardo represented nostalgia for the '30s and '40s. At midnight the traditional welcoming in of the New Year at Times Square is presented. Jack Lescoulie brings in the New Year at Times Square.   

The best-known New Year's Eve shows on radio and then television were hosted by bandleader Guy Lombardo, who hosted 21 consecutive New Year's Eve shows from 1956 to 1976 on CBS, and for a time in syndication. Lombardo's first radio broadcast on New Year's Eve was heard on December 31, 1928 over CBS Radio, and for a time he even split hosting duties by broadcasting on CBS Radio before 12 Midnight EST and on NBC Radio after Midnight. Lombardo would host 48 straight New Year's Eve broadcasts until his death in 1977, and famously performed "Auld Lang Syne" by his Royal Canadians as the clock struck 12 Midnight, ushering in the start of a New Year. 

Once the Lombardo orchestra began their annual television shows, there would be a live segment from Times Square, which was (and still is) the focal point of the nation's largest New Year's celebration. In the early years of Lombardo's television specials, Robert Trout reported on and counted down to Midnight in New York's Times Square; but for most of Lombardo's years on television, another legendary newsman, Ben Grauer, had the honor. (Grauer, by the way, also reported from Times Square for NBC Radio on celebrations following the surrender of Japan on August 14, 1945.

The first New Year's Eve special on television was broadcast on December 31, 1941 on WNBT New York, and consisted of entertainment broadcast from the Rainbow Room, atop the RCA Building in New York's Rockefeller Center.[3]

Due to World War II, there would be no more New Year's Eve specials on television until December 31, 1945. WNBT produced a remote broadcast of festivities in Times Square. While NBC had begun to feed programs to WRGB is the Albany area and WPTZ in Philadelphia, information is unavailable as to whether either or both of these stations broadcast the program, or if it was seen just locally in New York.[4]

Unless New Year's Eve fell on a weekend, NBC would carry a special New Year's version of "The Tonight Show" each year beginning in 1954, including coverage of the arrival of the New Year in Times Square.

Dick Clark himself had actually emceed one New Year's Eve TV special prior to 1972; on December 31, 1959, he emceed a 90-minute New Year's special on ABC. One of the guests was Frankie Avalon. But it would be the last time Clark would do a New Year's Eve television special for the next thirteen years.

By the 1970s, Lombardo's big band music skewed to an older generation, so Dick Clark started his telecast in 1972 to compete.        

Beginning in 1929, a New Year's Eve Tradition...Guy Lombardo & his Royal Canadians. Guy Lombardo was best known to TV audiences for his annual New Year's Eve telecasts. His brothers Carmen (the band's musical director), Victor, & Lebert were all members of the orchestra. Guy, the eldest, was designated the leader. For most of his years in television, Guy Lombardo represented nostalgia for the '30s and '40s. At midnight the traditional welcoming in of the New Year at Times Square is presented. Jack Lescoulie brings in the New Year at Times Square.   

The best-known New Year's Eve shows on radio and then television were hosted by bandleader Guy Lombardo, who hosted 21 consecutive New Year's Eve shows from 1956 to 1976 on CBS, and for a time in syndication. Lombardo's first radio broadcast on New Year's Eve was heard on December 31, 1928 over CBS Radio, and for a time he even split hosting duties by broadcasting on CBS Radio before 12 Midnight EST and on NBC Radio after Midnight. Lombardo would host 48 straight New Year's Eve broadcasts until his death in 1977, and famously performed "Auld Lang Syne" by his Royal Canadians as the clock struck 12 Midnight, ushering in the start of a New Year. 

Once the Lombardo orchestra began their annual television shows, there would be a live segment from Times Square, which was (and still is) the focal point of the nation's largest New Year's celebration. In the early years of Lombardo's television specials, Robert Trout reported on and counted down to Midnight in New York's Times Square; but for most of Lombardo's years on television, another legendary newsman, Ben Grauer, had the honor. (Grauer, by the way, also reported from Times Square for NBC Radio on celebrations following the surrender of Japan on August 14, 1945.

The first New Year's Eve special on television was broadcast on December 31, 1941 on WNBT New York, and consisted of entertainment broadcast from the Rainbow Room, atop the RCA Building in New York's Rockefeller Center.[3]

Due to World War II, there would be no more New Year's Eve specials on television until December 31, 1945. WNBT produced a remote broadcast of festivities in Times Square. While NBC had begun to feed programs to WRGB is the Albany area and WPTZ in Philadelphia, information is unavailable as to whether either or both of these stations broadcast the program, or if it was seen just locally in New York.[4]

Unless New Year's Eve fell on a weekend, NBC would carry a special New Year's version of "The Tonight Show" each year beginning in 1954, including coverage of the arrival of the New Year in Times Square.

Dick Clark himself had actually emceed one New Year's Eve TV special prior to 1972; on December 31, 1959, he emceed a 90-minute New Year's special on ABC. One of the guests was Frankie Avalon. But it would be the last time Clark would do a New Year's Eve television special for the next thirteen years.

By the 1970s, Lombardo's big band music skewed to an older generation, so Dick Clark started his telecast in 1972 to compete. 

Duplicate of #5378.                     

The first syndicated reruns of the classic 39 episodes of the "Honeymooners" ran from September 24th, 1957 to September 16th, 1958 on WRCA TV channel 4 in New York. They aired weekly on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 7:30pm, following "The Huntley Brinkley Report" which aired from 6:45 to 7:00pm.

 Subsequently, reruns of "The Honeymooners" have aired on WPIX in New York from October 9th, 1958 to the present, a run of over 60 years. Jack Lescoulie is the voice announcing the opening of these rebroadcasts, as originally announced during its original run on CBS, October 1st, 1955 to September 22nd, 1956. 

However, little known is the fact that Don Pardo announced the opening of "The Honeymooners" VERY FIRST re-runs on WRCA-TV for only one year, September 24th, 1957-September 16th, 1958.
Pardo also includes in his opening introduction the sponsor, Ronzonni. 

Occasionally appearing were veteran character actors George Petrie and Frank Marth, with Petrie appearing in different roles in 14 episodes and Marth also appearing in various roles in 10 episodes.The two appeared together as a team when they terrorized the Kramdens and Ed Norton in the Kramden's apartment after Ralph witnessed a street holdup. 

Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph.