April 2nd, 1962-September 28th, 1962
When Jack Paar left the Tonight Show on March 29th, 1962, it created a six-month "window" of guest hosts until October 1st, 1962 when Johnny Carson took over the reins in what would be a 30-year run of hosting until May 22nd, 1992, From April 2nd, 1962-September 28th, 1962, there were a variety of 18 different celebrity guest hosts. Art Linkletter was the first guest host during this six-month "window" period and Donald O'Connor the last on September 28th, 1962.
INTERIM HOSTS ON THE TONIGHT SHOW
(APRIL 2, 1962 - SEPTEMBER 29, 1962)
* Six or more days hosting during this interregnum period.
April 2-6 Art Linkletter April 9-13 Art Linkletter
April 16-20 Joey Bishop
April 23-27 Robert Cummings
April 30-May 4 Merv Griffin May 7-11 Merv Griffin
May 14-18 Jack Carter
May 21-25 Jan Murray
May 28-June 1 Peter Lind Hayes & Mary Healy
June 4-8 Soupy Sales
June 11-15 Mort Sahl
June 18- 22 Steve Lawrence
June 25-29 Jerry Lewis July 2-6 Jerry Lewis
July 9-13 Jimmy Dean
July 16-17 Arlene Francis
July 18 Hugh Downs
July 19-20 Arlene Francis
July 23-27 Jack E. Leonard
July 30- August 3 * Merv Griffin August 6-19 Merv Griffin
August 13-17 * Hugh Downs
August 20-24 Groucho Marx
August 27-31 Hal March
September 3-7 * Joey Bishop
September 10-14 * Art Linkletter September 17-21 Art Linkletter
September 24-28 Donald O'Connor
October 1, 1962 Johnny Carson becomes permanent Host
of the TONIGHT SHOW
Guest Host: Art Linkletter. Tonight's guest is William Bendix. Linkletter's opening monologue is heard. We hear the opening with announcer Hugh Downs introducing who will be on the show tonight. Art Linkletter gives tribute and anecdotes about Jack Paar, including mentioning his "water closet" controversial joke and other Tonight Show moments. Linkletter discusses the upcoming guest hosts who will fill in until Johnny Carson becomes the permanent host of the Tonight Show. One scheduled host, Spike Jones, is asked to stand in the audience (Jones never did host the Tonight Show). Hugh Downs discusses ad-libs related to Elizabeth Taylor. Woody Herman who leads the band this week is introduced. In the three minute abbreviated interview William Bendix tells Linkletter that he first came to Hollywood in 1940. The interview abruptly ends after Art Linkletter praises the movie that Bendix starred in, "Lifeboat." 