The best performances & achievements from 1968 are honored as the 41st Academy Awards are telecast from the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. Gregory Peck introduces the "Friends of Oscar," presenters who serve as hosts. They include Ingrid Bergman, Sidney Poitier, Jane Fonda, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Wood, Walter Matthau, Diahann Carroll, Tony Curtis, Rosalind Russell, and Burt Lancaster. Frank Sinatra sings an opening number from the motion picture "Star!" Jack Albertson accepts a best supporting actor award, the first of many awards given this evening. Other
award winners and performers include Boris Levin, Abbey Lincoln, Jose Feliciano, Ruth Gordon, Marni Nixon, Henri Mancini, Don Rickles, Mel Brooks, Onna White, Aretha Franklin, Carol Reed, Bob Hope, Martha Raye (the first woman recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award), Anthony Harvey, Barbra Streisand, and John Woolf. Hank Sims introduces and closes the program.             

April 17, 1967 - December 26, 1969. THE JOEY BISHOP SHOW was one of several attempts by ABC (previously Les Crane tried and failed to attain ratings) to establish a strong late-night talk show. Bishop held the record (177) substitute hosting appearances for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, and had been quite successful. It was hoped Joey could lure away some of Carson's audience. Similar to Jack Paar, in 1960, Bishop surprised his audience on the night of November 26, 1969 and walked off the show while taping his opening monologue. The Joey Bishop  late-night program lasted for one more month using guest hosts before it left the air. During three phone conversations I had with Bishop, in the early 2000's, he confirmed to me that almost ALL of his late-night shows had been erased by ABC.

Carol Burnett, Jimmy Stewart, Diahann Carroll, Glen Campbell, Ruth Gordon, Glenn Ford, others.             

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: John Byner, Carl Reiner, Ruth Gordon, Lou Rawls.  

NOTE: This specific TONIGHT SHOW may only contain an opening monologue by Johnny Carson. 
Other content, as listed, will have to be monitored and confirmed upon your order request. 
                                                      

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: Cloris Leachman, Ruth Gordon, Ace Trucking Company, Peter Nero, Vikki Carr. 

NOTE: This specific TONIGHT SHOW may only contain an opening monologue by Johnny Carson. 
Other content, as listed, will have to be monitored and confirmed upon your order request. 
                                                              

Sixty minute variety series hosted by British actor David Allen.


                                                               

September 26, 1976 - July 26, 1981

THE BIG EVENT was the umbrella title for assorted movies and specials broadcast frequently throughout  the latter part of the 1970's. 

A 90 minute spoof of 1976's memorable and not so memorable news events.                       

September 14th, 1981- (Syndicated)

Half-hour nightly entertainment series with news in the world of show business. Hosted by Ron Hendren and Dixie Whatley. In August, 1982, Mary Hart was hired as the new co-host, joining Hendren who remained with Hart until September, 1984. He was succedded by Robb Weller who in turn was replaced by John Tesh in the fall of 1986. 

Tonight: Report on the death of Natalie Wood. Comments on film "Reds," an interview with Jane Fonda, violence in films, interview with Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. 

Hosts: Ron Hendren and Dixie Whatley.