10-01-62- 05-22-92 (NBC)

Johnny Carson makes his debut as host of the Tonight Show. He is introduced by his announcer Ed McMahon. This was the beginning of Carson's thirty-year run as the host of this iconic late-night talk show. McMahon was to remain with Carson for Carson's complete tenure as host. Carson was the third permanent host, following Jack Paar who replaced original host Steve Allen. Joining Johnny for the premiere are Groucho Marx, who introduces Carson, Rudy Vallee and Joan Crawford.

The broadcast begins at 11:14 PM  Eastern Standard Time in New York with a commercial promoting the movie "Barabbas" followed by the NBC Peacock color tag. Announcer Ed McMahon introduces the show naming the  guests and then states " let us all welcome the new host of the Tonight Show" and Groucho Marx walks out. He does a brief monologue. Orchestra leader Skitch Henderson and the band play, "New York, New York It's A Wonderful Town." 
    
The 11:30pm sign on is heard by announcer Ed McMahon. He states, "...the man you have been waiting six months to meet, Johnny Carson." Groucho and Johnny Carson together. Carson thanks Groucho for flying to New York to do the opening of his first show. Comedic advice by Groucho to Johnny. 

Complete monologue by Johnny Carson. McMahon's first words to Carson, "You were very good my Prince." Ed and Johnny at the desk. Johnny does his first commercial for "Greasy Kids Stuff." Johnny introduces his very first guest, Rudy Vallee. There would be many thousands more to come. Included in this air check,   
Johnny Carson's interview  with his last guest, Joan Crawford. 

NOTE: This material is comprised from the very best available original off the air recordings known to exist. Each source does not duplicate one another. One is direct line recorded (excellent audio quality). One is microphone recorded (good audio quality). The two sources have been edited together by Phil Gries for content and continuity.

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 dropouts 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.

*SURVIVING TONIGHT SHOW BROADCAST PRIOR TO 1973.


           THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON
           - October 1, 1962 – September 29, 1972 -
  Analysis, collation, and complete listing of surviving episodes
      Encompassing the first 10 years of NBC TV broadcasting
  ARCHIVED BY THE CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP – Fullerton, CA.

                             ………………RESEARCH REPORT……………………….
                   by Phil Gries - (Archival Television Audio, Inc.)
                                       (www.atvaudio.com) – March 11, 2012

THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, aired on NBC Television from October 1, 1962, to May 22, 1992. Approximately, 4,531 episodes were broadcast according to reference sources.
This research report attempts to detail, specifically, those surviving complete and excerpt episodes which currently exist, as archived by THE CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, representing the first ten years of surviving programming as notated on its on-line inventory site… primarily representing broadcasts which aired from New York City, from Oct. 1, 1962, until May 1, 1972, at which time the show was aired from Burbank, California for the duration of its 30 year run.

During this first ten-year broadcast time period only 276 individual shows survive (represented by 243 excerpts and only 33 complete shows, of which only 12 of these COMPLETE broadcasts reflect and represent the 1960’s).  The majority of all additional TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON broadcasts, televised during this first ten-year period, have been sadly erased, destroyed, lost, misplaced, during an era when archiving television was not a visionary.

                                                                    
The average excerpt time length representing each of the surviving 243 episodes equals approximately 13 minutes of extant programming. Excerpts range mostly from 5 minutes to 20 minutes in length. It is unfortunate that so much original programming representing the first TEN YEARS of broadcasting related to THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON was not saved by NBC network personnel who failed to realize the value and historic significance of these telecasts. 

Representing this ten year time period are 7,130 minutes of broadcast time which approximates a total of only 119 surviving hours. One could view ALL surviving material in less than five days!

The breakdown representing complete shows are as follows:

There exists NO complete one hour & 45-minute broadcasts (11:15pm-1:00am)-October 1, 1962 – December 30, 1966. 
 
Only three complete broadcasts, December 31, 1963, Oct. 3, 1965, with substitute host Joey Bishop, & December 31, 1965, sans the first 15-minute local lead in, survive, spanning the time period October 1, 1962, thru June 18, 1968.

 NO 11:15pm to 11:30pm segments survive representing Johnny Carson’s initial lead in monologue telecast to all local affiliates, nor those first 15-minute segments representing Ed McMahon and Skitch Henderson, who relieved Johnny Carson of that assignment, beginning February 19, 1965. 
 
 At 11:15 pm local stations had the option to broadcast the TS or present local programming (usually expanded news).  When Carson opted not to come on until the full network went online at the 11:30pm time McMahon and Henderson did what in essence was a 15-minute warm-up, lead-in to Johnny Carson’s entrance at 11:30pm.

A total of 5 complete episodes survives from 1968…
4 complete episodes from 1969…1 complete episode from 1970…4 complete episodes from 1971 and 15 complete episodes from 1972 representing the time period, February 18 to September 29, finalizing the first ten years of broadcasts.

When Johnny Carson moved his Tonight Show to Burbank (May 1, 1972) archiving THE TONIGHT SHOW became more of a focus and dictum by Johnny and production staff, as is evidenced in 1972 when scores of complete shows were saved. By 1973 and most decidedly from 1974 through Carson’s final show, May 22, 1992…almost all TONIGHT SHOW STARRING                                                                  JOHNNY CARSON broadcasts were saved and archived and not indiscriminately erased to economize, taping over previously recorded programs which was a common practice.

The earliest COLOR episode archived in the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP collection is from August 18, 1964. There are four color episodes archived from 1965…two from 1966…two from 1967 (one of the two excerpts, 12/8/67, in color, has NO AUDIO)…five from 1968…eleven from 1969, at which time MOST programming SAVED were saved as color 2” Quads or 16mm color kinescopes . The LAST saved episode in Black & White is dated in the CEG online index as September 13, 1971 (13-minute excerpt with Buddy Hackett). 

With few exceptions, all air dates as notated by the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP website are egregiously inaccurate, as notated here based on 2010 information. Some  blatant  errors are obvious. Judy Garland is listed as a guest in an entry dated October 12, 1969. Garland passed away June 22, 1969. There are hundreds of other inaccurate air dates listed (a correct air date is the exception) which need to be researched and corrected for it undermines the scholarly, arduous and prestigious accomplishment of such a praiseworthy peerless research source.  Reference resources available to accurately and definitively do such corrections exist as evidenced in my own reference library which include Tonight Show NBC INDEX CARD FILES, ROSS REPORTS TELEVISION INDEX, and NY METROPOLITAN TV GUIDES. 

Also, inaccurately listed, are air dates which contain not one but a multitude of excerpts each representing a multitude of different programs, combined together…giving the impression that all segments pertain to one show when in essence we are scrutinizing a compilation of programs, representing a dozen shows. 
Those brief excerpt segments which do survive from the first five years of Tonight Shows (1962-1967), seem, to this archivist/researcher, to be personal request copies by performers who made arrangement to have just their own segment kinescoped, or video taped. These truncated brief excerpts, which include, from time to time Carson at his desk, live commercial spots, station ID, segues, etc., read like a who’s who of “unknown/forgotten” entertainers. Most of these TS guests are lesser named celebrities or non-show business individuals.
 
The premiere show, October 1, 1962, survives as an AUDIO excerpt, as confirmed by Johnny Carson on a Tonight Show broadcast, September 14, 1987 which exists in this collection.
Other resources which maintain archive broadcasts representing the TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON include THE PALEY CENTER for MEDIA (2,489 items…99% of their                                                                         archive represents post September 1972 programs). Pre-1972 saved broadcasts represent only five entries. THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS have only a few scant regular episodes with picture, but does have 416 ARMED FORCES RADIO (thirty minute excerpt recorded episodes) AUDIO ONLY discs which are one sided analog shellacs, 33 1/3 rpm; 12 inches). They represent the time period, January 1967 thru November 1968. 
The MUSEUM OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS have listed on their website only five archived programs, all post 1981 with one 1969 exception (12/17/69-marriage of Tiny Tim). 

 UCLA FILM & TELEVISION ARCHIVE have no listings related to TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON broadcasts.
The following list is a guide documenting those 276 surviving shows, representing the first 10 years of the THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, archived by the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP which has been prodigiously created and orchestrated by Jeff Sotzing and company, and implemented in its current on-line structure to the public in 2010.
 
I have included all notated air dates which represents each surviving 1962-1972 (thru September) TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON broadcasts, as preserved and listed on-line by the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP. The air dates, as collated by CEG, while mostly inaccurate, are included as a guide. The running time of each surviving excerpt and or complete show, indicated by an *, is included. On occasion I correct and indicate actual air dates (s/b) that I know off the top of my head, and I offer occasional additional pertinent information deemed interesting and relevant. Possibly, at another time a list representing the Complete Archive by the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP (all 30 years) can be tabulated, further scrutinized, and amended, for accuracy (especially accurate original broadcast date information), creating a more definitive listing with all current data researched, amending inaccuracies and adding omissions. 
There are approximately 3,300 hours of TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON broadcasts currently archived and existing in the collection of the CARSON ENTERTAINMENT GROUP. Incredibly, only 119 archived hours (first 10 years) survive. 
They are listed as follows:

                                                                     

1962(4 broadcasts archived – 1 hour 30 minutes survive)
Oct. 31, – 15 min. Emily Yancy (s/b -Oct. 30); Nov. 26, – 28 min. Major Ralph Gibson & Robert Bell (s/b Nov.19); Dec. 5, - 29 min. John Bubbles, Tony Martin, Fran Warren (s/b Nov. 23); Dec. 21, - 17 min. Robert McCormick (s/b Richard).


1963 (18 broadcasts archived – 1 *complete – 1 guest host - 6 hours survive)
Guest Host – Allan Sherman.
Jan. 16, – 7 min. Tommy Leonetti; March 21 – 11 min. Roger Ray; April 14 – 13 min. Francis Brunn; May 3 – 9 min. Allen & Rossi (s/b April 22); June 4 – 9 min. January Jones;  June 20 – 28 min. (Bert Parks remote at the premiere of Cleopatra. Brief interviews with Rex Harrison, Beatrice Lillie, Joan Fontaine, Red Buttons, Mary and Richard Rodgers, Roddy Mc Dowall, Leonard Bernstein, Darryl Zanuck, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Tony Randall (s/b June 12); June 24, - 29 min. Kitty Kallen; June 26, - 15 min. Mr. Hughes, Marie Jacobs; July 19, - 31 min. Lefty Gomez, Jerry Holmes, Patrice Munsel, Rona Jaffe, Milt Kamen; July 25, - 12 min. Johnny at desk; Aug. 5, - 6 min. STUMP THE BAND; Aug. 8, - 29 min. ALLAN SHERMAN GUEST HOST, with Craig Breedlove, Johnny Mercer (s/b Aug. 7); Sept. 10, - 11 min. Oriel Smith; Sept. 19, - 16 min. Johnny at his desk / spots; Oct. 21, - 12 min. yoga demonstration; Dec. 12, - 12 min. Johnny & Ed; Dec.29, - 29 min. Dr. Edward R. Annis; *Dec. 31 – 84 min. (COMPLETE) Woody Allen Louise Lasser, Yvonne Constant, Rudy Vallee, Ben Grauer, in Times Square. 

1964 (31 broadcasts archived - 0 complete –  2 Guest Host - 8 hours 15 minutes survive)
Guest Hosts – Pat Boone, Groucho Marx.
Jan. 3 – 10 min. Carl Reiner; Jan. 30, – 16 min. Dick Capri; Feb. 26, – 18 min. June Valli; March 3, - Gigi Robin; April 1, - 19 min. Caterina Valente; April 17, - 8 min. Ethel Ennis; April 24, - 29 min. Kay Ballard; April 28, - 10 min. Charles Aznavour; April 30, - 11 min. Sara Rubine; May 5, - 14 min. Michael Rapinchuk, Dr. Robert Baird; May 21, - 9 min. Felicia Sanders; June 12, - 8 min. Alan Lamb; June 14, - 22 min. Sylvie Vartan; July 10, - 10 min. The J’s Singing Group; July 21, - 7 min. Bobby Vinton; July 22, - 6 min. PAT BOONE GUEST HOST, with Selma Diamond; 
 Aug. 13, - 15 min. GROUCHO MARX GUEST HOST, with Catherine Curry; Aug. 18 (EARLIEST COLOR BROADCAST ARCHIVED), - 60 min. Harry Goldan, Jack Haskell (Video breaks up through-out playback); Aug. 19, - 7 min. Marion Colby; Sept. 3, - 7 min. Carson at his desk; Sept. 10, - 31 min. Gig Young, Jim Franciscus, Leila Edmons; Sept. 24, - 12 min. The Interludes; Sept. 27, - 30 min. Pearl Bailey; Sept. 30, - 11 min. Fred Wayne; Oct. 6, - 31 min. Zsa Zsa Gabor, Corbet Monica; Oct. 16, - 21 min. Dr. Jonathan Karas; Oct. 26, - 9 min. Ed Ames; Nov. 11, - 12 min. Eva Gabor; Nov. 23, - 9 min. Nick Hewlett, Tony Hendra; Dec. 7, - 16 min. Robert Lewis; Dec. 30, - 12 min. commercial breaks;


1965(4 broadcasts archived –  2 *complete – 2 Guest Hosts - 4 hours 45 minutes survive)
Guest Host – Joey Bishop (2).
*Oct. 3, - 87 min. (COMPLETE) - JOEY BISHOP GUEST HOST, with Phil Foster, J. Richard Kennedy, Juliet Prowse, Dave Grusom; Oct. 4, - 59 min. Groucho Marx, George Segal, Ray Hasting, THE MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS with Carol Anderson as the Matinee Lady; Oct. 5, - 59 min. JOEY BISHOP GUEST HOST, with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin; *Dec. 31, - 87 min. Woody Allen, Willam Walker, Gila Golan, Phil Ford & Mimi Hines, The Muppets, Ben Grauer at Times Square. 


1966 (57 broadcasts archived – 0 Complete – 7 Guest Hosts - 13 hours 15 minutes survive)
Guest Hosts – Alan King, Joey Bishop (2), Sammy Davis Jr., Hugh Downs, Steve Lawrence (2)
Jan. 8, - 32 min. Don Adams, Hal Frazier, Theodore Bikel; Jan. 31, - 13 min. June Valli; Feb. 2, - 8 min. Laura Greene; Feb. 17, - 8 min. Dick Hyman & spots; Feb. 28, - 15 min.  ALAN KING GUEST HOST, with Mark Traynor; March 2, - 15 min. Jerry Smith, Lana Cantrell; March 4, - 14 min. Los Indios Tabajaras; March 11, - 13 min. Miriam Makeba, Sam Levenson; March 24, - 8 min. TEA TIME MOVIE; March 25, - 7 min. spots: March 30, - 8 min. Baja Marimba Band; April 8, - 17 min. Smothers’ Brothers, Pat O’ Bien; April 19, - 6 min. April 20, - 6 min. spots; April 23, - 19 min. Dick Cavett, Diahann Carroll, Vidal Sassoon; April 28, - 18 min. June Valli, Ivan Rivers, Charles Deaton; May 12, - 14 min. Gretchen Wyler, Eydie Gorme; May 12, (COLOR VERSION) – 11 min. Gretchen Wyler, Eydie Gorme; May 19, - 14 min. Vicki Hayes; May 25, - 20 min. Tom Smothers; May 27, - 7 min. Lana Cantrell; June 1, - 10 min. Van McCoy; June 7, - 10 
 min. Stiller & Meara “computer dating routine;” July 4, - 20 min. Les & Larry Elgart, Mark Russell; July 5, - 13 min. Bill Staton; July 6, - 15 min. Dennie Coffet; July 18, - 7 min. Bonnie Jacobs; July 22, - 7 min. JOEY BISHOP GUEST HOST, with Bonnie Jacobs; July 26, - 11 min. Ethel Merman (SOUND ONLY); Aug. 2, - 17 min. JOEY BISHOP GUEST HOST, with Ronnie Martin; Aug. 5, - 7 min. United States Marines; Aug. 8, - 5 min. Bonnie Jacobs; Aug. 9, - 15 min. Nat Gale; Aug. 12, - 10 min. SAMMY DAVIS JR. GUEST HOST, with Phyllis Newman; Aug. 27, -  7 min. HUGH DOWNS GUEST HOST, with Jackie Vernon; Aug. 29, - 7 min. Florence Henderson; Sept. 9, - 20 min. Dick Cavett, George Carlin; Sept. 24, - 13 min. Hank Bradford; Sept. 29, - 5 min. Ruth Price; Oct. 7, - 10 min. Norm Crosby; Oct 15, - 20 min. STEVE LAWRENCE GUEST HOST, with Bill Lear, Vidal Sassoon, Phil Ford & Mimi Hines (  last minute guests not listed in any resource); Oct. 22, - 20 min. Arthur Bornstein, Joan Rivers, Allan Sherman, Skitch Henderson; Oct. 27, - 5 min. STEVE LAWRENCE GUEST HOST, with Bill Lear; Nov. 1, - 20 min. Robert Ricci, Nov. 4, - 20 min. Guniall Knutron; Nov. 10 , - 24 min. Buddy Rich; Nov, 4, (COLOR VERSION with slight video break-up) – 60 min. Soupy Sales, Milton DeLugg, Roland Popular; Nov. 14 – 20 min. Dr. Richard Evans, Buddy Hackett; Nov. 17, - 10 min. show open…JC monologue…spots; Nov. 19, - 7 min. January Jones; Nov. 25, - 10 min. Johnny Carson’s son Ricky, and his band; Nov. 29, - 7 min. Leon Bibb; Dec. 2, - 20 min. CARNAC THE MAGNIFICENT, Danyale Luna; Dec. 19, 15 min. Fannie Flagg; Dec. 24, - Fannie Flagg, George Segal intro only; 


1967 (78 Broadcasts Archived – 0 Complete – 13 Guest Hosts – 20 Hours survive)
Guest Hosts – Woody Allen, Bob Newhart (8), Gene Rayburn (4), Victor Borge, Allan King.
Jan. 6, - 7 min. Shari Lewis; Jan. 19, - 11 min. Norman Wisdom; Jan. – 23, - 19 min. Beverly Todd; Jan. 26, - 17 min. Woody Woodbury; Feb. 2, - 22 min. Bud Greenspan; Feb. 3, - 13 min. June Valli (SOUND ONLY); Feb. 8, - 21 min. Fannie Flagg; Feb. 9, 21 min. Sarah Churchill; Feb. 16, - 9 min. Van Harris; Feb. 19, - 15 min. John Byner; Feb. 23, - 32 min. Glen Lamar; Feb. 26, - 16 min. Eddie Arnold (VERSION #1); Feb. 23, -  24 min. Carol Wayne, George Segal (VERSION #2); Feb. 29, - 4 min. sketch; March 4, - 5 min. Johnny & Ed; March 6, - 13 min. David Hemmings; March 14, - 12 min. Danielle Aubrey; March 15, - 20 min. Joan Meyers; March 17, - 9 min. Johnny & Ed; March 31 (COLOR) – 5 min. Danielle Aubrey; April 1, - 7 min. Jake Holmes; April 4, - 14 min. Sandra Hiller; May 9, - 17 min. WOODY ALLEN GUEST HOST, with guest Lee Leonard; May 10, - 14 min. Bill Fiore & Phyllis Eldridge; May 11, - Joan Meyers, Clint Eastwood (loose sound after 1 minute…Eastwood segment continues silent for 2 more minutes). May 17, - 9 min. Charlie Callas; May 18, - 11 min. Peter Allen, Chris Allen; May 19, - 15 min. Zsa Zsa Gabor; May 23, - 17 min. Father Bernard Bassett; June 4, -(COLOR COMPOSITE 9O MINUTE ENTRY…MANY DIFFERENT BROADCASTS LUMPED TOGETHER)…James Garner, Richard Crenna in a MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS sketch “Mutiny on the Bounty,” Milton Berle, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Louis Armstrong, Chief Bill Red Fox, Tom Seaver, Dr. Frank Field, William “Bill” Cheung, Little Dion, BAR ROOM SKETCH with James Drury, Doug McClure, Chuck Courtney, DRAGNET SKETCH with Jack Webb, BONNIE & CLYDE SKETCH, TEA TIME MOVIE SKETCH, Mary Harper (101 years old) telecast New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 1967, Benny Goodman; June 10, - 16 min. John Fairchild, Times Square Two, Misty Moore; June 11, - 17 min. Jim Bishop, Chris Allen, Peter Allen, Jackie Vernon; June, 15, - 20 min. Pierre Berton; June 16, - 17 min. Kathleen Holly, Ray Price; June 22, - 6 min. Charlie Manna; June 24, - 20 min. (SOUND ONLY) Hugh Hefner, George Segal, Engelbert Humperdinck, Milton DeLugg; June 24, - (VERSION #2) 7 min. Shelley Winters; June 30, - 14 min. Angeline Butler, Johnny Tillotson, Corbett Monica (brief); July 2, - 17 min. SKETCH “Mr. President Beauty School” (SOUND ONLY); July 4, - 16 min. Paul Revere and the Raiders; July 6, - (COLOR) 5 min. STUMP THE BAND; July 10, - 11 min. Gary & the Hornets band; July 11, - 9 min. Times Square Two; July 19, - 17 min. BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Angeline Butler, Albert Lipton; July 24, - 8 min. Linda Bennett; July 27, - 16 min. (VERSION #1)  BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with  Lynn Kellogg; July 27, - 11 min. (VERSION #2) BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Jocko Conlon;  July 31, - 12 min. Carey Garfin Four; Aug. 5, - 15 min. (VERSION #1) BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Frank Buxton; Aug. 5, - 20 min. (VERSION #2) BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Dr. Haim Ginott; Aug. 7, - 23 min. Joe DeCirto, Vincent Price; Aug. 8, - 7 min. Tony Randall, Carmen Lombardo; Aug. 10, - 6 min. (VERSION #1) Judy Scott, Buddy Greco (brief); Aug. 10, - 17 min. (VERSION #2) Mark Traynor; Aug. 16, - 14 min. BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Jan Sterling; Aug. 19, - 18 min. Ron Carey; Aug. 22, - 15 min. Alfred Lipton; Aug. 28 – 17 min. Twiggy, Donna Theodore; Aug. 29, - 11 min. Ray Price; Aug. 30, (COLOR) – 7 min. Bobbie Gentry; Aug. 31, - 8 min. Jack Curtiss & Bill Tracy; Sept. 8, - 9 min. Teddy Neely; Sept. 11, - 16 min. Leslie Uggams; Sept. 16, - 8 min. BOB NEWHART GUEST HOST, with Ann Hilton segment, and COLOR 9 min. segment (Sept. 16 (?) with Ann Dawson with Johnny Carson; Sept. 19, - 7 min. Alan King; Sept. 22, - 9 min. GENE RAYBURN GUEST HOST, with Peggy Walters; Sept. 22, (?) – 16min. Michael Butler, Tom Hughes, Polo players with JC; Sept. 27, - 16 min. GENE RAYBURN GUEST HOST, with Walter Wanderly Trio (s/b – Sept. 21); Sept. 29, - 14 min. Susan Oliver (s/b Sept. 12); Oct. 5, - 12 min. Dr. Dare Miller; Oct. 10, - 10 min. GENE RAYBURN HOST, with Monique Van Vooren (s/b Sept. 21); Oct. 14, - 17 min. GENE RAYBURN HOST, with Pat Kirby (s/b Sept. 18); Oct. 21, - 7 min. Bill Dana (brief); Oct 21 (?) – 11 min. Monique Van Vooren, Danna Theodore; Oct. 27, - 7 min. Johnny Carson monologue; Nov. 3, - 14 min. Beverly 
Penberthy, Sarah Vaughan; Nov. 12, - 8 min. BOB NEWHART HOST, with Elias & Shaw (s/b Nov. 6); Nov. 18, - 6 min. unidentified guest with JC; Nov. 24, - 7 min. Jimmie Rodgers; Dec. 8, (COLOR) – 9 min. Members of the New York Ranger Hockey Team (NO SOUND); Dec. 9, - 8 min. Johnny and Ed; Dec. 16, - 12 min. Bill Cowden; Dec. 17, - 32 min. Dr. Edward Annis; Dec. 27, - 6 min. ALAN KING HOST. End of the show; Dec. 28, - 7 min. VICTOR BORGE HOST;


1968 (37 Broadcasts Archived – 3 Complete – 8 Guest Hosts - 15 hours survive)
Guest Hosts – Orson Bean, Sammy Davis Jr., Harry Belafonte (2), Joe Garagiola (2), Barbara Walters, Pearl Bailey.
Jan. 12, - 20 min. Richard M. Nixon (s/b Nov. 22, 1967); Jan. 15, - 8 min. Eddie Lawrence; Jan. 20, - 9 min. Georgie Kaye; Jan. 30, - 16 min. George Kaplan; Feb. 9, - 14 min. Chris Calloway; Feb. 10, - 12 min. ORSON BEAN GUEST HOST, with Bob McGrath (s/b Jan. 23); March 1, - 10 min. Barbara Cowsill; March 2, - 10 min. Jim Garrison (s/b Jan. 31); March 18, - 14 min. Louis & Earl Mountbatten; April 6, - 32 min. SAMMY DAVIS Jr. GUEST HOST, with Eydie Gorme, Bob Melvin, Louis Armstrong (s/b March 28); April 12, - 14 min. Florence Berry, Tonia Bern-Cambell; April 19, - 11 min. Marilyn Maye; April 20, - 11 min. The Hello People; April 24, - 28 min. HARRY BELAFONTE GUEST HOST, with Robert F. Kennedy, Bill Cosby (s/b Feb. 5); April 25, - 32 min. HARRY BELAFONTE GUEST HOST, with Dr. Martin Luther King (s/b Feb. 8); May 8, - 11 min. Steve Lawrence; May 11, - 17 min. Marlon Brando (s/b April 19); May 13, - 16 min. JOE GARAGIOLA GUEST HOST, with Jack Paar; May 16, - 14 min. Toni Carroll, Tony Randall; May 18, - 32 min. Johnny & Ed, Tony Kahmann; May 19, (COLOR) – 53 min. Debbie Drake, Jim Fowler, THE MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS, Robert Klein; May 25, - 14 min. JOE GARAGIOLA GUEST HOST, with Barbara Walters (s/b May 17);  June 2, - 7 min. Leon Bibb; *June 19, - 87 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST IN COLOR) Raquel Welch, Alan King, Pigmeat Markham, Cleve Baxter; July 6, - 82 min. (ALMOST COMPLETE BROADCAST IN COLOR) Galan Sisters, Richard Harris, Bobby Gentry, Dr. Frank Field, Tiny Tim, MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS; *July 19, - 85 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST IN COLOR) Edward G. Robinson, Karl Malden, George Burns, Sam Jaffe, Carl Reiner, Debbie Reynolds; July 22, - 16 min. James Garner, Lucille Ball; July 30, - 9 min. Stiller & Meara; Aug. 12, - 14 min. Dick Carson, Don Rickles, MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS; Aug. 20, - 15 min. Peter Max (s/b Aug. 15); Sept. 9, - 82 min. (ALMOST A COMPLETE BROADCAST IN COLOR); Sept. 13, - 17 min. BARBARA WALTERS GUEST HOST – Paris Fashion Show; Sept. 27, - 7 min. Irwin C. Watson; Oct. 12, - 13 min. Corky Hale, Tony Bennett; *Oct. 20, -87 min. (COMPLETE SHOW IN COLOR) Joan Fontaine, Don Piccard, David Frye; Nov. 16,  8 min.  Terry-Thomas; Dec. 7, - 32 min. PEARL BAILEY GUEST HOST (s/b Nov. 4); Dec. 13, - 11 min. The Hello People;


1969 (14 Broadcasts Archived – 4 Complete – 1 Guest Host – 13 hours 15 minutes survive)
Guest Host – Don Rickles.
BEGINNING IN 1969 THOSE BROADCASTS WHICH ARE ARCHIVED ARE MOSTLY IN COLOR
Feb. 15, - 90 min. Robert O. Lowery, Bob Sinclair, Marian Mercer, Larry Haines, Peter Lawford, skits; March 22, - 7 min. (IN BLACK & WHITE) Richard Claire & Jenna McMahon; March 14, - 12 min. (IN BLACK & WHITE) Johnny and Ed with new products; March 28, - 10 min; *May 22, - 90 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST)…includes re-creation of Radio Superman Episode as presented by THE MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS, Art Scholl, Eva Gabor, Bob Hope, John Byner, Carl Reiner, George Lindsey, Rose Marie; *May 22, - 90 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST ) DON RICKLES GUEST HOST, with Ed Sullivan(s/b May 14); June 8, - 33 min. Judy Garland, (s/b Dec. 17, 1968); June 8, - 54min. Philippe Halsman, George Raft, Charlton Heston, Jimmy Stuart Multiple skits (COMPOSITE TAPE CONTAINING MANY DIFFERENT BROADCASTS);* June 13, - 88 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST IN BLACK & WHITE); Dana Valery, Joan Rivers, Stan Feberg, Jim Fowler; July 11, - 9 min. William Gargan; Oct. 12, - 79 min. (COMPOLATION BROADCAST) Tiny Tim, Judy Garland; Oct. 13, - 19 min. (Black & White) Charles Luce; Nov. 17, - 12 min. (BLACK & WHITE) STUMP THE BAND; Nov. 20, - 84 min. (COMPOSITE BROADCAST FROM MANY DIFFERENT DATES) MIGHTY CARON ART PLATERS, Charlton Heston, Bishop James Pike, Shirley Jones, Two different TEA TIME MOVIE skits, the classic Feb. 21, 1969 broadcast with Bob Hope, George Gobel, Dean Martin and Louis Bellson & Buddy Rich; *Dec. 17, - 87 min. 
(COMPLETE BROADCAST) Tiny Tim & Vicki Budinger marriage…Nick Lucas, Phyllis Diller, Florence Henderson;


1970 8 BROADCASTS Archived– 1 Complete Broadcast – 0 Guest Hosts – 8 Hours 30 Minutes survive)
March 24, - 13 min. (BLACK & WHITE) Rose Marie; April 4, - 84 min. (COMPILATION FROM MANY DIFFERENT BROADCASTS) two MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS, Marcel Marceau, Tony Randall, Cliff Robertson, Circus Sketch, Sketch with James Coco; June 7, - 84 min. (COMPILATION FROM MANY DIFFERENT BROADCASTS) Spiro T. Agnew, multiple sketches, Johnny Carson shows clip of one of his earliest television appearances (1953) when he filled in for Red Skelton, who injured his leg. Jolly Green Giant sketch, Jay Silverheels; June 12, - 7 min. Doc Severinsen & the Now Generation of Brass, The Brothers & Sisters; Aug. 1, - 73 min. Apollo 13 Astronauts, James Lovell, John Swigert and Fred Haise, Ruth Webb, The Brothers & Sisters, MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS; *Aug. 13, - 87 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST) Dr. Paul Ehrlich, Ben Wattenberg, Buddy Hackett; Sept. 27, - 90 min. (COMPILATION BROADCASTS FROM VARIOUS PAST SHOWS) Joe Frazier, Mel Brooks, Alan King, Phyllis Newman, Mary Harper (104 year old women guest with Johnny), TEA TIME MOVIE, EL MOULDO Sketch, Lou Burk, CARNAC THE MAGNIFICENT; Oct. 1, - 48 min. (COMPILATION OF DIFFERENT BROADCASTS) Jack Webb DRAGNET sketch, Charlton Heston, Carson sketches with Sammy Davis Jr., Paula Prentiss and Tiny Tim, Japanese Message sketch with Don Rickles, Doug McClure, James Drury, JC classic BAR ROOM BRAWL SKETCH; Oct. 30, - 17 min. (BLACK & WHITE) Mac Davis; Nov. 12, - 7 min. Miss Finland;


1971 (9 BROADCASTS ARCHIVED – 5 COMPLETE – 0 GUEST HOSTS – 8 Hours survive)
Jan. 5, - 20 min. Alex Karras; May 24, - 13 min. TEA TIME MOVIE, Carol Wayne; *July 1, - 88 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST) Jerzy Kosinski, Della Reese, Doc & Johnny, Rodney Dangerfield; *July 21, - 87 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST) Mac Davis, Mrs. James Munnings, Billy DeWolfe, Rodney Dangerfield; Sept. 13, - 13 min. Buddy Hackett (LAST BLACK & WHITE BROADCAST ARCHIVED IN THIS COLLECTION); Sept. 23, - 86 min. Beverly Sills, Della Reese, Bob Uecker, Hans Conried; Nov. 16, - 13 min. Joel Lanford, Steve Tracey; *Nov. 17, - 87 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST) Vikki Carr, Jo Anne Worley, Danny Thomas, Robert Goulet, Dick Martin, Perkins Hamly; *Dec. 14, - 87 min. (COMPLETE BROADCAST) Helen Reddy, Robert Shaw, Paul Williams, Phyllis Newman; 


1972- (16 BROADCASTS ARCHIVED – 15 COMPLETE – 1 GUESTS HOST – 20 Hours 15 minutes survive
Guest Host – Don Rickles.
ALL COMPLETE 87 MINUTE BROADCASTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF August 7th excerpt.
                                                                     

*Feb. 18, - Billy De Wolfe, Burt Reynolds, Albert Brooks, Pat Boone; 
*Feb. 29, - Flip Wilson, George Carlin, Ann-Margret, MIGHTY CARSON ART PLAYERS, Susan St. James;
*March 9, - Desmond Morris, Bobby Goldsboro, Shecky Greene, Bob Hope;
*May 2, - Johnny Mathis, Carol Wayne, Mr. Blackwell, George Carlin, Rob Reiner;
*May 19, - Adelle Davis, Alton Ruff, Gwen Davis, John Twamley, Mitzy Gaynor, Randy Doney, Robert Blake;
*July 27, - Gloria Stewart, James Stewart, Linda Hopkins, Sam Blotner, Slappy White;
Aug. 7, - 7 min. DON RICKLES GUEST HOST, with Carol Wayne;
*Sept. 12, - Karen Valentine, Larry Kert, Phyllis McGuire, Rodney Dangerfield, CARNAC THE MAGNIFICENT;
*Sept. 15, - Albert Brooks, Burt Reynolds, Dr. Melvin Anchell, Peter Falk, Vikki Carr;
*Sept. 19, - Bob Hope, Dom DeLuise, John Denver, Peter Fonda;
*Sept. 20, - Dionne Warwick, Don Rickles, Dr. Irwin Maxwell Stillman, Pat Boone;
*Sept. 22, - Ace Trucking Company, Gail Parent, Kenny Solms, Peaches Jones, Shecky Greene, Tommy Leonetti;
*Sept. 26, - Paul Williams, Redd Foxx Tony Randall;
*Sept. 27, - Robert Klein, Jaye P. Morgan;
*Sept. 28, - Billy DeWolfe, Dennis Weaver, Tottie Fields;
*Sept. 29, 1972 – Carazini, Earl Holliman, Joan Rivers, Mitzi Gaynor. 

                                                                                                                                      
              FIRST TEN YEARS (NOTABLE FACTS) 
“THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON”
October 1, 1962 – September 29, 1972
•	Only 276 Broadcasts (mostly excerpts) survive.
•	Only 33 Complete Broadcasts survive.
•	Only 119 hours of programming survive.
•	NO COMPLETE 1HOUR & 45 MINUTE BROADCAST SURVIVES
•	Only 20 and ½ hours survive representing the first 3 years & 3 months of broadcasting TTSSJC (Oct. 1, 1962 – Dec. 31, 1965).
•	From Oct. 1, 1962, thru June 18, 1968, spanning 5 years 9 & ½ months, only 3 COMPLETE BROADCASTS survive.
•	Earliest surviving Complete Broadcast – Dec. 31, 1963.
•	Earliest surviving COLOR excerpt – August 18, 1964.
•	Last recorded and archived Black & White excerpt – September 13, 1971.
•	36 Broadcasts survive which have Guest Hosts filling in for Johnny Carson.
Allan Sherman, Pat Boone, Groucho Marx, Joey Bishop (4), Alan King (2), Sammy Davis Jr. (2), Hugh Downs, Steve Lawrence, Woody Allen, Bob Newhart (8), Gene Rayburn (4), Victor Borge, Orson Bean, Harry Belafonte (2), Joe Garagiola (2), Barbara Walters, Pearl Bailey, Don Rickles (2).

*The Tonight Starring Johnny Carson was broadcast from New York Oct 1, 1962, to May 1, 1972 when it permanently moved to California, broadcasting from Burbank where it would televise remaining programs for the next 20 years.

During the New York broadcasting years (1962-1972) Johnny Carson and staff would travel to Burbank, California 23 times broadcasting 212 shows during that time span. 

Broadcasts of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson produced from Burbank, California (May 1963 - November 1971)...intervals of one week at times, two weeks at times and three weeks at times. 

May 14-28, 1963, Feb. 17-28, 1964, Feb. 1-12, 1965, 
Sept. 27-Oct. 8, 1965, March 14-25, 1966, Sept. 26- Oct. 7, 1966,  Feb. 27- March 10, 1967, Sept. 25 - Oct. 6, 1967, Feb. 12-23, 1968, July 8 -19, 1968, Nov. 6-26, 1968, Feb. 17-28, 1969, 
Aug. 11-25, 1969, Nov. 5-25, 1969, Feb. 16-27, 1970, Feb. 8-19, 1971 (Los Angeles Earthquake Feb. 9th), May 10,-21, 1971, 
Aug. 2-20, 1971, Nov. 1-19, 1971.
                                                                                                                                     

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. 

Joined in progress. 

Guest Vincent Price discusses various topics including forgery in art related to Vermeer, "Master Of Light," and making films that are not horror movies but classic stories. He describes his enjoyment of working with actors such as Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre and recites from the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
An NBC news bulletin interrupts the interview to announce the crash of Eastern Airlines flight 512 from Charlotte, North Carolina shortly after 9PM at New York City's Idlewild Airport. Bob Parson reports from the scene. 25 passengers are killed. 
A return to the Tonight Show with guest Vincent Price. He speaks once again about art and the value of Rembrandt's works and Vermeer forgeries. A painter from the Netherlands copied the style of Vermeer and at first it was considered a true Vermeer. Price talks about his seven-month-old daughter and seven-week-old grandson. Johnny Carson shows pictures of Vincent Price movies and adds captions to them.
Commercial: Philco portable televisions, Vivid Vision, and Town And Country. Carson asks Price to read from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat." 
Another bulletin about Eastern Airlines plane crash with Bob Parson reporting from the scene. It is announced plane was flying in heavy fog. Return to Tonight Show with Vincent Price ending his Poe reading. 
Commercial: Sunbeam Grill Party. 
Ed McMahon ends TV commercial for Sunbeam Party Grill
Brook Benton is introduced and sings ""Good News."
Commercial for Tire Repair Kit
Weekend movie promo for Channel 14, Evansville.
Return to Tonight Show. Vincent Price speaks of spending time with Mrs. Kennedy and her collection of paintings. He states his future plans and speaks about his new upcoming movie, "Diary Of A Madman," to be released in March, 1963. 




Host: Johnny Carson. 
Guests: Vincent Price, Brook Benton.                                                                                                                                              

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.

Johnny's guest is legendary actor Robert Taylor. A rare talk show appearance.

                                                                                                                   

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. 

Host: Johnny Carson. 
Guest, James Garner.                                   

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.

Johnny's guests are Zsa Zsa Gabor, Marlon Brando, Howard Duff, Ida Lupino, and Allan Sherman.

15-minute excerpt. 

NOTE: Marlon Brando appears slightly inebriated and before long he irritates Ms. Gabor to the extent that she walks off the show. 

  This was Marlon Brando's first appearance on a late-night talk show. He was preceded on the panel by Zsa Zsa Gabor and when it was Brando's turn, Gabor continually interrupted his conversation with Johnny Carson. It looked like Brando might not get a word in beyond his opening remark, so Carson asked Gabor to leave the show, which she did.

On the May 11, 1968 episode of the Tonight Show, guest Marlon Brando reminisces with Johnny about the 1963 show and how he, without realizing it, drank way to much champagne prior to his guest appearance. He admits he was drunk and barley able to not trip on himself when introduced.  

On the July 26, 1979, episode of the Tonight Show, Johnny tells a story about this night. After commenting that his and Ed's mugs contain only coffee and tea respectively (no alcohol.) He reminisces about when they were doing shows in California a few times a year, They had a courtesy bar set up for the guests. He says that Marlon Brando didn't come out till 20 minutes before the end of the program, and by then he had been imbibing champagne for over an hour. He laments that the episode was not on tape.

*Both of the above clips are included in this ATA#14098 air check, preceding the infamous May 15, 1963 broadcast moments. They both run a combined four minutes making this total air check 19 minutes long.

A brief clip from the May 15, 1963 Brando guest appearance is heard in the slightly under three hour biography documentary BRANDO (2007). 
                                                                                                                                                                                              

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.
  
  We are introduced to the show's opening by announcer Ed McMahon, who also jokes with Johnny Carson during his monologue. 

Guests are Mort Sahl and Elsa Lancaster. Sahl comments on current events.            

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.
  
  

A Special telecast tonight for the motion picture premiere on Broadway at the Rivoli theater of "CLEOPATRA" with  Bert Parks live at the theater interviewing celebrities in the lobby as they enter the theater with cut-aways to Johnny Carson in Studio 6B, who interacts with those being interviewed.   

NOTE: There is much humor happening during this remote pick-up as celebrities get out of their cars at the curb and  they are stopped for photographs by some 500 photographers at the premiere. Local TV Station WPIX Channel 11 in New York City has first opportunities to interview celebrities on the outside, delaying Bert to do his interviews in the lobby. At times Bert frantically calls out to them and there is much humor exchanged between Parks and Johnny Carson who watches, and comments.

After the remote interviews Roddy McDowall joins Johnny in the NBC Tonight Show studio and discuses photographs he took on the set of CLOEPATRA, including those of Elizabeth Taylor getting made up for her role.   

NOTE: At one point Johnny Carson, breaking up with laughter says: "I want a copy of this show." 
Ironically, this broadcast  was wiped (erased) and is one of the thousands of "lost" TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts never saved/archived during the first ten years of  broadcasting.       

One of the rare TV Audio Air Checks archived  by ARCHIVAL TELEVISION AUDIO, INC. originally recorded off the air when broadcast, June 12, 1963.                                                                                

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.
    

Johnny's guest is Vance Packard           

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.



Johnny Carson plays "Stump the Band" with the audience. Among the participants is 19 year old aspiring actress Linda Day who would later become actress Linda Day George. Guests are Mickey Rooney and impressionist Adam Keith. Ed McMahon is co-host.                          

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.
  
         

Guests are Brian Keith and Mickey Rooney.   

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. 

FIRST ANNIVERSARY BROADCAST

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 Abbe Lane, Henny Youngman, and New York City Mayor Robert Wagner help Johnny celebrate his first anniversary as host of the Tonight Show.  

This broadcast opens with Ed McMahon announcing the guests on this show, the First Anniversary broadcast. Johnny Carson related to this special telecast night. 

Mayor of New York City Robert Wagner is introduced. Carson quips that during his own first two years living in NYC he thought newsman Gabe Pressman was the Mayor. Carson takes advantage of the moment asking Wagner if he can be instrumental in bringing back New York City's 11:15pm to 11:30pm segment which was replaced because of a newspaper strike by adding an additional 15 minute of local news after only 10 weeks of TTS broadcasting a full 105 minutes in NYC...on the air for the last time a full one hour forty five minutes, December 14, 1962. 
Johnny praises the Mayor for the great job he is doing. He and Mayor Robert Wagner discuss the forthcoming NY World's Fair, anticipating 70 million visitors, taxes, and the challenges dealing with the second largest budget in the USA.

Abbe Lane already on the panel as Johnny Carson welcomes comedienne Henny Youngman, who praises Carson for the job he is doing...making guests feel comfortable when on the show. Henny jokes with Abbe Lane stating that he use to work with her husband Xavier Cugat. Hew tells Carson about his early career and how he use to deal with hecklers...some how use to wait outside after hours after him for cracks made during the show. 
Henny Youngman does his stand-up routine, after which the tape ends. 
   
                                  

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 Sterling Hayden, who appeared earlier in the day on THE TODAY SHOW, appears with Johnny Carson  on THE TONIGHT SHOW in this extant excerpt segment recorded off the air by ATA archivist Phil Gries.

Joined in progress, Carson  expresses his admiration for Sterling Hayden during a time in Hollywood when it took "guts" to rebel against the film industry...working at a craft he felt not comfortable with or wanted to really pursue any longer. Sterling states that he just didn't want any more of the "rat race," and sought to find peace living the "normal life."  

Hayden confirms that out of mistakes one makes in life come the best experiences. He quotes Theodore Roosevelt who said, "Adventure is simply the result of a miscalculation."

Sterling Hayden mentions a film he just finished, "Dr. Strangelove: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb."  He feels the film was made with tremendous courage and vision by Stanley Kubrick who also made the picture "The Killing" (starring Hayden in 1955), Sterling states that Kubrick elected to describe his film as a "nightmare comedy," which in Hayden's opinion is the most hilarious script he has ever seen in his life. 

Johnny Carson mentions the autobiography  Sterling Hayden has just written, "WANDERER," and states to Hayden that there is no question in his mind of Hayden's love for the sea...the last place where one can be really free. Sterling Hayden agrees and says that "The sea is another world."                        

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. 
Joined at  11:30pm. Johnny Carson monologue. Johnny introduces his guests which include Andy Williams.  He discuses with Ed McMahon the rain deluge New York City is currently experiencing. Other topics include last night's program that featured an audience member bobbing for apples, his head submerged in water. Because the last two minutes of the program was preempted for an NBC News Bulletin, viewers at home thought the man drowned. 
Johnny cuts away for a cigarette commercial. 

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.                                       

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.
  
  

New Year's Eve show with guests Woody Allen and Rudy Vallee. Ben Grauer reports from Times Square in New York City.                                      

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.

Johnny Carson's guests are Henry Morgan, Denise McLaglen, author Frederick Pohl and singer Nina Simone                        

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.                                    

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.

Johnny's guests are George Jessel, Eydie Gorme, Jack Bailey, Leon Bibb, The Aradcom Choral Group. Open of show recorded, but missing Johnny Carson monologue. All else complete including "Stump The Band" segment. 

                                                                                                      

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.



Johnny Carson's guests are Lawrence Welk, Louise Lasser, Woody Allen.          

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 are Woody Allen and his wife Louise Lasser. Woody, Louise, and Johnny impersonate Lawrence Welk. Woody Allen segment runs for 15 minutes.

                                                        

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.
  
  

Joined in progress. Johnny's guest is producer David Merrick. They discuss the theatre strike and the New York World's Fair. 

                                                       

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.

This is the earliest extant COLOR Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. There is an "Adventures of Johnny Chan" skit, introduced by Jack Haskell,  which is performed by Johnny Carson and guest Barbara Eden. Other guest include Al Capp, with many anecdotes, Harry Golden who talks disparagingly about Barry Goldwater and discusses his appraisal of Robert Kennedy who is running for Senate in New York.
Johnny Carson talks lovingly about the comedy team of Laurel and Hardy. He mentions a recent phone call he had with Stan Laurel, and airs a clip from a 1923 movie starring Stan Laurel, "Kill or Cure."
Singer, Karen Rondell sing, "As Long as He Needs Me."
Commercials include:
Alpo dog food, Sucral sugar substitute, L&M cigarettes, NBC plug upcoming Convention, Bromo Seltzer, Green Mint mouthwash, and Poligrip denture adhesive cream. 
                        

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.
  
         

Guests are Selma Diamond and Robert Vaughn who plugs his new NBC show "The Man From Uncle."              

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.



Johnny welcomes guests Myron Cohen and Buddy Hackett.            

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.

Johnny Carson's second anniversary hosting the Tonight Show. 
His guests are Jayne Mansfield, George Jessel, Sophie Tucker, Tony Bennett, Joe E. Lewis, Buddy Hackett, Tony Martin, and Myron Cohen.                                              

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.

Johnny's guest is Bob Hope. 

                                                                                                                                

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 Host: Woody Allen. Includes monologue.          

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: Woody Allen. Opening introduction is missing.           

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. Monologue 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 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.                               

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. Guests include former boxing undefeated heavyweight champion  Rocky Marciano who discusses with Johnny the heavyweight championship boxing match last night between Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali.

In Carson's opening monologue he talks sardonically  about last night's fight. 

JC: "We have a championship show for you tonight, and you know what a farce the championship was. I suppose you read abut it in the paper which was listed as the chuckle of the day. Some fight! Better name would have been 'swan dive a-go-go.'
Only in America can a man win $600,000 in sixty seconds and be called a loser. I would get in there for $600,000 with a live alligator. Robert Goulet who sang The Star Spangled Banner was on longer. NBC is in kind of a dilemma now. They don't know whether to run the tape of the fight on Wide World of Sports or on Let's Make a Deal. Technically people are calling it 'The Big Joke.' in the fighting game, but it's really not  a joke, because nobody saw the punch line.
But, Cassius Clay still has his championship belt. Now, if he just puts it over his mouth. 

We have Rocky Marciano on the show tonight who was a former heavyweight champion. I have a feeling Rocky would have got up if he was ever knocked down. I'm not sure if Rocky was ever knocked down.  People are talking about this as something suspicious. I don't think it was a dive. I just couldn't understand why anybody would sell advertising space on Sonny Liston's shoe soles. Than bothered me." 

NOTE:
A rare almost complete "LOST" Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson" broadcast with commercials. Long interview with former undefeated heavyweight boxing champion, Rocky Marciano,  who states that Muhammad Ali may be the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.  

                                                                                                

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)                         

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 host: Joey Bishop. Opening monologue 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 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 host: Joey Bishop. Opening monologue. 

                                                                                                                                                                       

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 Host: Joey Bishop.   

This program is a sixty-minute excerpt.                                  

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.
  
  

Monologue 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 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.
  
  

Monologue 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 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.

Monologue 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: Bill Dana.  

Joined in Progress.         

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. 

An excerpt from this "lost" broadcast. 
Tony Randall discusses with Johnny his new record album which includes the the original "Boo-Hoo" classic co-written by Carmen Lombardo. Both Lombardo and Randall sing a duet of the song.
 
Tony recounts the time he was co-hosting with Betsy Palmer "It's Oscar Night in Hollywood," live from the Brown Derby on April 4, 1960. It was a half hour broadcast where Randall was suppose to interview celebrities attending the Oscar broadcast, including Gary Cooper, prior to the Academy Awards actual telecast. Everything goes wrong for Tony including a last minute decision by the Academy to NOT have any actors or actresses appear before the the actual Oscar telecast itself. Randall relates numerous incidents from that disastrous broadcast. 

Johnny and Tony discussing moments when they would forget their lines, actress Shirley Jones tells the story of John Barrymore who on stage was drunk and forgot his lines. The stage manager feeds Barrymore and his co-star on stage the line. Barrymore yells to the stage manager, "We know the line, but who says it?"  Johnny loves the anecdote. 

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.

                                                                                                  

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: Florence Henderson                                                                 

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.

We hear Johnny Carson's opening monologue. 

Special guest is Barry Goldwater, candidate for the President     1964. 
Goldwater talks with Johnny about the Indians of the state of Arizona and about his hobby and avocation - flying.
He is a Major General in the Air Force Reserve. Goldwater talks about being "unemployed" and about his grandchildren, and his Arizona home. He discusses using his ham radio set to transfer personal messages from boys fighting in Viet Nam to their families in the USA. He states that he uses a phone patch which he monitors conversations, relating the calls. 
Barry Goldwater discusses his book of photographs which he says will be published by Bennett Cerf and will be out next year.  

Goldwater talks to Johnny Carson about political jokes, saying very few politicians get mad at lampoons. Discussing Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Goldwater says listening to Hubert is like looking at "Playboy" magazine with your wife turning the pages. 

Barry Goldwater says he's anxious to get back into politics again. "I am too young to retire and too old to go to work!"           

October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992. 

Joined in progress:  Don Rickles, and Myron Cohen who relates how fellow comedian friend, Joe E. Lewis is recuperating from a stroke. 

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.