MovieChat Forums > The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) Discussion > First Show

First Show

posted 19 years ago by JRogers714
8 replies | jump to latest

Are there copies of the first show available? It was with Joan Crawford, Mel Brooks and Nat King Cole I believe.

[–] ajlposh 19 years ago

No, I don't think so. The guests were Joan Crawford, Mel Brooks, Tony Bennett, Rudy Vallee, The Pheonix Singers. Groucho Marx introduced Johnny.

Johnny Carson 1925-2005. We will never forget you.

[–] onecuddlyteddybear 18 years ago

From what i have read, they were taped over by NBC, or they were thrown away, thats what Entertainment Weekly wrote when they did their tribute to him right after he past away

[–] JaseDallas1 18 years ago

Unfortunately, the first Tonight Show was erased along with the majority of the other Tonight Shows from the 60s. It was my understanding that NBC did not think Carson would last as long as he did and TV being relatively new then, they saved money by using the tapes for other shows. What a shame! When Carson moved to the west coast for good in 1972 and found this out, he was incensed and none of the shows from then on could be touched. Carson is the king!

[–] j-1 18 years ago

So can anyone tell me - who was the first guest?

I've read that Groucho introduced JC. So was Groucho the host of that first show? (I know he hosted from time to time during the April-Sept hiatus after Jack Parr left)

And can anyone give me the running order for the rest of the show please?

thanks!

[–] grandma202020 18 years ago

I would be interested in finding out just how many of his pre 1972 shows exist, either as color tape or black and white kinescope/film recording, plus I know some might exist as color film recordings too. I've tried to find a definitive episode guide on the web, but can't find one.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mactach 12 years ago

I doubt thinking how long Johnny would of lasted had anything to do with the situation as many of these type of shows were preserved.

[–] GooniorJr 12 years ago

I know this is YEARS late, but..... Another reason is, the video tape used at that time was VERY expensive, in 1962 it was still about $1000 per reel of tape, so I can see the reason for erasing and reusing especially if they felt Johnny wasn't going to last. In hindsight (always 20/20) they probably wish they had saved it. Maybe someone has a kinescope of it that hasn't been discovered yet..