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Next » You’ll Be Surprised To See Who This Lady Is!
On October 5, 2014
- TV History
Just For Fun…You’ll Be Surprised To See Who This Lady Is
This was a special edition of ‘I’ve Got A Secret’ from 1958 that featured family members of famous stars. You will be shocked and wildly surprised by who the lady is. The video is cued to start at the head of her segment, but if you skip around here and especially at the front, you’ll see some of CBS Studio 59 in the background. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
http://youtu.be/RCKQvZWy8r0?t=7m11s
October 5, 1951…’The Honeymooners’ Debut…Ultra Rare Video
On October 5, 2014
- TV History, Viewseum
This is the first time America met Ralph and Alice Kramden…it was October 5, 1951 on Dumont’s “Cavalcade Of Stars”.
In July of 1950, Jackie Gleason took over as host of Dumont’s ‘Cavalcade Of Stars’. The original hosts were Jack Carter and then Jerry Lester with Morey Amsterdam filling in occasionally. By the middle of ’51 Gleason and his writing staff developed an idea for a sketch based on the popular radio show ‘The Bickersons’.
Gleason wanted a realistic portrayal of life for a poor husband and wife living in Brooklyn. The couple would fight almost constantly, but ultimately show their love for each other. After rejecting titles like The Beast, The Lovers, and The Couple Next Door, Gleason and his staff settled on ‘The Honeymooners’ for the name of the new sketch.
The debut sketch on October 5, 1951 was six-minutes and the tone of these early sketches was much darker than the later series, with Ralph exhibiting extreme bitterness and frustration with his marriage to an equally bitter and argumentative middle-aged woman. By the way, Kelton was nine years older than Gleason.
Due in part to the success of these sketches, ‘Cavalcade of Stars’ became a huge success for DuMont. It increased its audience share from nine to 25 percent. Gleason’s contract with DuMont expired in the summer of 1952, and the financially struggling network was unable to re-sign him. That’s when he moved to CBS and ‘The Jackie Gleason Show’ debuted September 20, 1952 from CBS Studio 50, now known as The Ed Sullivan Theater. The rest as they say is history! Enjoy and SHARE! -Bobby Ellerbee
October 5, 1947…First Televised Presidential White House Address
On October 5, 2014
- TV History
October 5, 1947…First Televised Presidential White House Address
On this day in 1947, President Harry S. Truman delivered the first televised presidential address from the White House. As far as we know, this was the first White House pool feed and was handled by NBC.
Television was still in its infancy and there were only about 44,000 TV sets in U.S. homes, concentrated in a few cities, compared with some 40 million radios.
Though Truman pioneered the now-familiar ritual of a White House telecast to the nation, he was not the first president to appear on television. President Franklin Roosevelt was telecast from the New York World’s Fair on April 30, 1939, but FDR’s remarks on the fair’s opening day were seen only on receivers at the fairgrounds and at Radio City Music Hall, in midtown Manhattan. The next day, TV sets went on sale to the public, as RCA and NBC, began broadcasting on a daily basis. Telecasts were then largely suspended for the duration of World War II.
In his speech, Truman called on Americans to conserve food to help hard-pressed Europeans, still recovering from the devastation caused by the war and threatened with a massive winter famine. He asked the agricultural industry and distillers to reduce grain use. He asked Americans to forgo eating meat on Tuesdays and eggs and poultry on Thursdays and to consume one fewer slice of bread every day. The food-saving initiative was short-lived, however, as the Marshall Plan spurred Western Europe’s economic revitalization. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
The Perils Of Covering Live Sports…A Knockout Blow
On October 5, 2014
- TV History
The Perils Of Covering Live Sports…A Knockout Blow
Many will tell you soccer is a kinder and gentler game than American football, but not for this cameraman. These low angle sideline cameras give viewers a great look at the action, but this is not the first time these run ins have happened. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Hoffenheim captain Andreas Beck goes over the hoardings in his side’s game against Mainz 05 and spectacularly takes out a cameraman, who temporarily lost con…
EOAG Exclusive Photos…’The Doctors’, NBC Studio 3B
On October 5, 2014
- TV History
EOAG Exclusive Photos…’The Doctors’, NBC Studio 3B
Thanks to Bob Batsche, we have these two color photos that he took on the set in 3B, and thanks to Chuck Snitchler, we have a shot of the slate from the first color episode which would air December 4, 1967, but was taped almost a month before.
On April 1, 1963, ‘The Doctors’ replaced Merv Griffin’s first daytime talk show in the 2:30 timeslot, where it remained for nearly sixteen years. This is an extraordinary feat considering its competition, which included long-running favorites such as ‘House Party with Art Linkletter’ on CBS and ABC’s ‘Dating Game’. On occasion, it was also up against one of the longest-running soap operas in television history, ‘The Guiding Light’ on CBS.
In a move the proved fatal, NBC moved ‘The Doctors’ to 12 noon eastern on March 29, 1982. The show aired its final episode on December 31, 1982, some three months before it would have celebrated its 20th anniversary on NBC.
Frankly, I am stunned that NBC, or any network, would offer any programing at noon on a weekday in the 80s. I grew up in the Atlanta area and as best I remember, there was always a noon news show. In the early 60s, they were not half hour shows, but by the mid 70s they were. Somewhere, I have seen a mid 70s CBS daytime schedule that leaves open the 12 – 12:30 block for local programing. I wonder why NBC didn’t do that? Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
October 4, 1976…Barbara Walters Co Anchors ABC Evening News
On October 4, 2014
- TV History
October 4, 1976…Barbara Walters Co Anchors ABC Evening News
38 years ago today, Walters became the first female anchor for a US network evening news program. On her move from NBC’s ‘Today’ show, she was teamed with ABC anchorman Harry Reasoner and the sparks immediately started to fly!
This short clip goes directly to the heart of the conflict and includes footage from that first night. Morbid curiosity was the main reason most viewers tuned in. Sad but true. Enjoy and Share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Barbara Walters interviews with Harry Smith and reveals her early ambitions of becoming an actress.
Exclusive New Photos From NBC Brooklyn…4 of 4
On October 4, 2014
- TV History
Exclusive New Photos From NBC Brooklyn…4 of 4
Thanks to Peter Katz, here is another of four photos taken on the set of ‘Amahl And The Night Visitors’ at NBC Brooklyn.
This was first performed on December 24, 1951 in Studio 8H where it was broadcast live as the debut production of the ‘Hallmark Hall of Fame’. It was the first opera specifically composed for television in America and became a holiday staple at NBC.
For its first three telecasts, the program had been presented in black-and-white, but beginning in 1953, it was telecast in color. Because it was an opera, it later began to be scheduled as an afternoon television program, rather than shown in prime time as had been done in its first few telecasts. For years, Amahl was presented live annually, but in 1963 it was videotaped, but accidentally erased and redone in 1964. This series of four photos were taken in 1954 during the rehearsals at NBC Brooklyn, shortly after it went into service on November 12, 1954.
Thanks to Peter Katz for sharing these with us. Enjoy and share! – Bobby Ellerbee
October 4, 1954 – ‘December Bride’ Debuted On CBS
On October 4, 2014
- TV History
October 4, 1954 – ‘December Bride’ Debuted On CBS
Spring Byington starred not only in the television version, but in the CBS Radio version as well which began in 1952 with a cast of stars that included Hal March and Doris Singleton as her daughter and husband, and Hans Conrad as neighbor Pete Potter.
‘December Bride’ was produced by Desilu and Desi Arnaz personally chose the cast. Desi liked all of the radio actors and all were eventually guests on ‘I Love Lucy’, but he wanted Byington to shine in her own light, so he chose a new cast of relatively unknown actors.
One interesting casting choice Arnaz made to hire Harry Morgan as neighbor, Pete Potter…this was Morgan’s first job in television. At the end of this show’s successful six year run, Morgan’s character was spun off into ‘Pete And Gladys’. Enjoy and Share! -Bobby Ellerbee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjQRcyTWUZg
Miniepisode of “December Bride” “The Grandfather Clock”
October 4, 1956…’Playhouse 90′ Debuts on CBS
On October 4, 2014
- TV History, Viewseum
October 4, 1956…’Playhouse 90′ Debuts on CBS
Thursday nights at 9:30 eastern, television’s most distinguished dramatic anthology series was anxiously awaited in most American living rooms. Below is a full episode of the show that you will want to see...it’s full of RCA TK11s and many Television City studio shots all the way through. This is “The Comedian” starring Mickey Rooney and Mel Torme. It was written by Rod Serling and directed by the great John Frankenheimer and live ran on February 14, 1957. This is a kinescope copy of Season 1’s, Episode 20.
From it’s inception in 1956, everyone knew that this 90 minute weekly presentation was a big bite for any production schedule…even the new CBS Television City facility. So, that first year, three out of four episodes were done live with every fourth episode being done on film at another location.
Remember, the worldwide debut of video tape was in April of 1956 and it took nearly a year to get some machines built and in use, but soon after CBS TVC got theirs, they began to experiment with using them on ‘Playhouse 90’. Although the were live to tape, with no editing, having this ability helped a lot, and in early ’57, the show moved completely to videotape.
The move to tape allowed the show to keep it’s live look and best of all, it allowed them to break the 90 minute show into segments and gave them the ability to retake scenes and move sets without the urgency of the live clock against them.
In the final ’59 – ’60 season, the pressures and cost of this truly ambitious effort proved overwhelming and ‘Playhouse 90’ cut back to alternate weeks and rotated with ‘The Big Party’, which was a 90 minute celebrity talk and variety show. Enjoy and Share! -Bobby Ellerbee
1944 RCA Television Milestone Ad
On October 3, 2014
- TV History
Just For Fun…1944 RCA Television Milestone Ad
If you know what you are looking for, you can see a lot of history in this RCA ad! At the very top, the small camera all the way left is THE RCA IMAGE ORTHICON PROTOTYPE CAMERA at Madison Square Garden with its picture being compared to the RCA Orthicon camera to the right. RCA sponsored and broadcast several events for servicemen in 1944 and sent the pix to local hospitals where veterans were recovering and to RCA in Princeton and Camden NJ, and to NBC at 30 Rock. The USO shows that RCA cosponsored were broadcast for wounded soldiers in the NY area hospitals that were watching on RCA donated receivers. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
An Exclusive Eyewitness Account…Billy Crystal & The Debut Of SNL
On October 3, 2014
- TV History
An Exclusive Eyewitness Account…Billy Crystal & The Debut Of SNL
Last week, with the debut of the 40th season of ‘Saturday Night Live’, we looked at the history of the show’s missed start date and the first episode. As you know, Billy Crystal was scheduled to appear, but he didn’t. You are about to learn the real story of why he didn’t from someone who was there…Joel Spector, who was on the audio crew for the first 17 years of SNL.
Many, including me, were curious about how this happened…was it a last minute thing or did it come earlier in the week? In later years, Billy had talked about the disappointment of being bumped but thanks to Joel, we’ll hear what really happened. Here is his account…
“This is the real story. Billy did indeed appear in the dress rehearsal and got big laughs. I was at the post-dress rehearsal production meeting. For this week only, every staff and crew member attended this meeting, held right in the middle of the studio. There were three “new young comedians” scheduled to appear that week, in addition to host George Carlin. They were Andy Kaufman, Billy Crystal and Valri Bromfeld. Lorne announced that the show was very long and that only two of the three new comedians could be on the air show: Andy (with two spots) worked to recorded music, “which couldn’t be cut.”
“Billy was set to do his “Late Show” routine, in which he did all of he sounds for the typical late movie show on a local station, complete with badly spliced film hiccups. He said that he had been doing this routine for some time and that it had already been refined to be “just right.” “I understand that this might rule me out,” he said.”
“Valri piped up: “I can cut down my piece…no problem.” Lorne then wished Billy well and promised him a spot during the next few weeks. He then was cast on “Soap” and became a big star. We didn’t see him on SNL until 1984. Andy went on to the comedy stratosphere until his untimely demise. Valri did her shortened and not very funny routine and then resumed her career as a comic actor and writer.”
– Joel Spector
To follow up on Joel’s account, as Lorne had promised, Billy returned on April 17, 1976 on Season 1’s 17th Episode which was hosted by President Ford’s Press Secretary, Ron Nessen with musical guest Patti Smith.
Thanks to Joel, we now know that it was only after the dress rehearsal that Crystal was cut. Till now, that part had never been known. Many thanks to Joel for this missing piece of history and to the many that share similar first hand information on this page.
In the photo below we see our friends Joel Spector (L) and Gady Reinhold (R)…friends since childhood and television veterans extraordinaire. Joel joined NBC in 1965 and Gady joined CBS a year later. Both have been a tremendous help to this site and their passion for television’s history and friendship is greatly appreciated! Enjoy and Share! – Bobby Ellerbee
Saturday Night Live Transcripts
On October 3, 2014
- TV History
A Treasure For SNL Fans…Save And Bookmark This Site
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/
This is the most complete and interesting ‘Saturday Night Live’ sites I’ve ever seen. If you want a full account of the show’s history, you’ll find it here. Enjoy and Share! – Bobby Ellerbee
Saturday Night Live Transcripts
Saturday Night Live Transcripts contains over 4,000 transcripts of SNL’s most popular sketches. Updated weekly with new transcripts, from the early days of the Not Ready For Prime Time Players to its current incarnation.
Exclusive New Photos From NBC Brooklyn…3 of 4
On October 3, 2014
- TV History
Exclusive New Photos From NBC Brooklyn…3 of 4
Thanks to Peter Katz, here is another of four photos taken on the set of ‘Amahl And The Night Visitors’ at NBC Brooklyn.
This was first performed on December 24, 1951 in Studio 8H where it was broadcast live as the debut production of the ‘Hallmark Hall of Fame’. It was the first opera specifically composed for television in America and became a holiday staple at NBC.
For its first three telecasts, the program had been presented in black-and-white, but beginning in 1953, it was telecast in color. Because it was an opera, it later began to be scheduled as an afternoon television program, rather than shown in prime time as had been done in its first few telecasts. For years, Amahl was presented live annually, but in 1963 it was videotaped, but accidentally erased and redone in 1964. This series of four photos were taken in 1954 during the rehearsals at NBC Brooklyn, shortly after it went into service on November 12, 1954.
Thanks to Peter Katz for sharing these with us. Enjoy and share! – Bobby Ellerbee
Ultra Rare…Color Footage Of The Mouseketeers Debut
On October 3, 2014
- TV History
Ultra Rare…Color Footage Of The Mouseketeers Debut
On October 3, 1955 ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’ debuted on ABC, but the nation first met the Mouseketeers in the live broadcast of the opening of Disneyland in July. Here is recently discovered color footage of the rehearsal of the July 17 broadcast cut into the b/w footage. Enjoy and Share! – Bobby Ellerbee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge3QXyxwsGk
The Mousekateers appeared in public for the first time, on the day of Disneyland’s opening, on July 17th, 1955..while this appearance was televised in black …
October 2, 1946…Network Television’s First Soap Debuts…Or Did It?
On October 2, 2014
- TV History
October 2, 1946…Network Television’s First Soap Debuts…Or Did It?
‘Faraway Hill’ debuted on The Dumont network on this date 68 years ago today and is considered by many to be the first soap opera on network television, in that the shows were produced and broadcast on more than one television station. In this case that would be Dumont’s New York and Washington stations.
BUT, there exists tales of another television soap opera, a program that may have aired for about 13 episodes in the summer of 1946, premiering just before ‘Faraway Hill’.
A television history book written by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, noted that prior to the broadcast of ‘Faraway Hill’, W2XB (which later became WRGB) in Schenectady may have aired a 13 episode drama called ‘War Bride’. The photo below is from the Schenectady Museum and is labeled “War Brides, June 7, 1946”.
NBC’s W2XBS and GE’s W2XB linked up to form the first network of television stations in 1943 and there are scattered reports of an early co broadcast of a show called ‘War Bride’ on that two city network.
Unfortunately, a lot of television’s early history is lost to the ages but often, bits and pieces of information like this help us form our conclusions and to me, it seems that ‘War Bride’ is actually the first network television soap opera. Most of the details of this article come from Chuck Miller who discovered the ‘War Bride’ photo and our thanks to him for his writings, effort and research. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
A New Angle For ‘NBC Nightly News’…Studio 3B Changes
On October 1, 2014
- TV History
A New Angle For ‘NBC Nightly News’…Studio 3B Changes
We’ve had some questions on this lately, so here’s what I know about the changes on ‘Nightly News’.
In the top photo, we see the location of the news desk as it has been for a few years now…at the top end of Studio 3B. The red box in the top photo shows the studio door to help you get your bearings.
Last week, the desk and set was moved to the other end of the rectangular studio. Now, instead of being on an end wall, the desk has it’s back to the long wall and is in the back corner where the old ‘Rock Center’ set was. The bottom photo was taken from just in front of the studio door and the red box shows approximately where the desk is now. On the left In this photo, you can see where the desk was (covered).
From what I’ve heard and saw last night in the Ben Affleck piece, the midway point between the old desk location and the new location is now being used as an interview space. Enjoy and share! – Bobby Ellerbee
Exclusive New Photos From NBC Brooklyn…2 of 4
On October 1, 2014
- TV History
Exclusive New Photos From NBC Brooklyn…2 of 4
Thanks to Peter Katz, here is another of four photos taken on the set of ‘Amahl And The Night Visitors’ at NBC Brooklyn. After posting the first one yesterday and mentioning the show was finally recorded in color in 1963, we found out that someone accidentally erased that master and it had to be redone again in 1964.
This was first performed on December 24, 1951 in Studio 8H where it was broadcast live as the debut production of the ‘Hallmark Hall of Fame’. It was the first opera specifically composed for television in America and became a holiday staple at NBC.
For its first three telecasts, the program had been presented in black-and-white, but beginning in 1953, it was telecast in color. Because it was an opera, it later began to be scheduled as an afternoon television program, rather than shown in prime time as had been done in its first few telecasts. For years, Amahl was presented live annually, but in 1963 it was videotaped, but accidentally erased and redone in 1964. This series of four photos were taken in 1954 during the rehearsals at NBC Brooklyn, shortly after it went into service on November 12, 1954.
Thanks to Peter Katz for sharing these with us. Enjoy and share! – Bobby Ellerbee
A Story Of TV History Treasure…LOST
On October 1, 2014
- TV History
A Story Of TV History Treasure…LOST
For a year and a half on what was then WRCA, Bill Cullen hosted a local (New York) fifteen minute television show called ‘Inside NBC’…here is a description of just a few of the shows. It would be fantastic to see all of this backstage stuff, BUT…sadly, as far as I know, all of this is gone. If you know more, please tell us.
Monday, December 12, 1955 [DEBUT] Bill Cullen hosts this 15-minute program which spotlights NBC’s personnel, history, features, and entertainment. NBC cameras pick up rehearsals in progress, previewing shows to appear the same evening or later that week.
Monday, December 19, 1955 Viewers see a Playwrights 56 rehearsal in action. Bill Cullen interviews producer Fred Coe, director Arthur Penn, and stars Kim Stanley and Louis Jean Heydt.
Friday, December 23, 1955 Bill Cullen visits David Aiken as he is made up for his role in Sunday’s Alcoa Hour production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. The cameras also pick up a rehearsal of Babes in Toyland to be seen on Max Liebman Presents.
Monday, December 26, 1955 Bill Cullen tours the Home studios. Guest: Dick Linkroum, Home’s exec. producer.
Friday, December 30, 1955 Bill Cullen’s guest, Mary Martin, discusses the forthcoming Peter Pan.
Friday, January 6, 1956 The operation of the NBC news department is explained through interviews and films. The cameras pick up a rehearsal Ken Banghart’s news program.
Monday, January 9, 1956 Bill Cullen visits NBC’s special effects dept. to show how fog, rain, snow, etc. are made for TV.
Friday, January 13, 1956 Les Colodny, director of NBC’s comedy development program, explains and tells of plans for ’56. He introduces an act by some new talent.
Monday, January 16, 1956 Richard Linkroum, executive producer of Home, conducts a tour of the Home studios.
Monday, January 23, 1956 Tex Antoine explains the preparation of his weather programs. Bill Cullen interviews Henry Salomon, producer of Circle Theater’s Nightmare in Red, to be repeated tomorrow evening.
Friday, January 27, 1956 Bill Cullen takes viewers behind the scenes of radio’s Monitor. Guest will be Gene Rayburn.
Monday, January 30, 1956 The NBC Technical Operations Department demonstrates the transmission of a TV picture from coast to coast. Cameras pick up a rehearsal of Milton Berle’s show from Hollywood, Cal. Bill Cullen.
Friday, February 3, 1956 Host Bill Cullen and Maurice Evans discuss this Sunday’s Hallmark Hall of Fame production of The Good Fairy, starring Julie Harris. Chet Huntley of the NBC News Department previews Outlook, a news program which debuts this Sunday. Special guest: J. Fred Muggs.
Monday, February 6, 1956 Bill Cullen visits Sid Caesar at his office and studios.
Friday, February 10, 1956 Bill Cullen reviews the first NBC telecast, April 30, 1939. This was the NBC special events pickup of the opening of the World’s Fair at Flushing Meadows.
Monday, February 27, 1956 The cameras switch to Hollywood to pick up a rehearsal of Tuesday’s Matinee Theater production, A Tall Dark Stranger. Its star, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and host John Conte are guests. Bill Cullen, in New York, does a feature on the early days of NBC news coverage.
Friday, March 2, 1956 The cameras switch to the RCA Hall of Progress in Camden, N.J., which holds electronics equipment developed during the past century. Bill Cullen hosts.
Monday, March 5, 1956 Guest: Stockton Hellfrich of NBC’s Continuity Acceptance Dept. Bill Cullen shows Martha Raye Show in rehearsal, via film.
Friday, March 9, 1956 Host Bill Cullen highlights NBC’s coverage of the Presidential campaign. He also interviews Laurence Olivier.
Monday, March 12, 1956 Ike Kleinerman, film editor of Wednesday’s Project 20 production, explains how the film was procured and edited.
Friday, March 16, 1956 Host Bill Cullen discusses the presentation of the TV “Emmy” Awards.
Monday, April 16, 1956 Bill Cullen conducts a remote program with WRCA-TV’s new mobile unit.
Monday, May 7, 1956 Host Bill Cullen and his special guest, Lee Ann Meriwether, conduct a quiz show. Contestants are the five finalists of the “Miss NBC” contest.
Friday, May 18, 1956 Bill Cullen is host to Thomas B. McFadden, general manager of WRCA-TV and Ray Owen from the reporting staff of WRCA’s Pulse. Owens discusses Pulse’s technique for covering news.
That is a pretty amazing trove of treasure…and only a small sample of the ‘Inside NBC’ shows Cullen hosted. I think these are all gone but hope someone knows if they survive. – Bobby Ellerbee
October 1, 1952…’This Is Your Life’ Debuts On NBC
On October 1, 2014
- TV History
October 1, 1952…’This Is Your Life’ Debuts On NBC
‘This Is Your Life’ had its genesis in radio as a good natured gesture on the ‘Truth or Consequences’ show in 1946. General Omar Bradley asked Ralph Edwards to do something to help returning World War II veterans, especially paraplegics. He said they were depressed and reluctant to see anyone, including their families. Ralph’s ingenious solution was to profile a returning hero on his radio program, which created a “voice” for all veterans. Lawrence Tranter was selected as the first honoree. His story was told by surprising him with people from his past – family, friends, school teachers, and others in an emotion-filled episode. Knowing Tranter had ambitions to be a watch repair technician, the show arranged for him to attend the Bulova School of Watchmaking in New York.
‘This Is Your Life’ began its official TV run on October 1, 1952 with the life of Laura Stone Marr, mother of actor Milburn Stone who we best remember as “Doc” on Gunsmoke. An instant hit on NBC, the show virtually stopped America in its tracks every Wednesday night and ran till 1961.
This was among the first NBC series to originate from California, so in order to get this on the air in the east in early prime time the show had to start in late afternoon with a kinescope broadcast for the west coast. The reason the east rarely ran a kine was that most of the nation’s population was there…the most viewers got the best quality.
The photos below are from the 1958 Francis Farmer episode and were taken by the father of Jim Early. Thanks to Jim for sharing them with us as these are the only known color photos of the show. Enjoy and share! – Bobby Ellerbee
October 1, 1962…’Tonight’ With Johnny Carson Debuts
On October 1, 2014
- TV History
October 1, 1962…’Tonight’ With Johnny Carson Debuts
At the clip link above is the audio of the first 3 minutes of the debut show with Groucho Marx introducing Johnny. The video has been lost but below, we have the next best thing…rare pictures from that night!
The guests that night in NBC’s Studio 6B were Joan Crawford, Mel Brooks, Tony Bennett and Rudy Vallee. We are fortunate to have photos of all but Mel Brooks and I’ll make some comments on the pictures that you’ll see when you click on them individually.
Notice in the audio Carson mentions two intros…one for the east and one for the rest of the country. This is a bit confusing, but here is what he was referring to and why.
Carson inherited from Paar a show that was 1 3/4 hours (105 minutes) long. The show actually had two openings, one starting at 11:15 p.m. and included the monologue, the other that listed the guests and re-announced the host, starting at 11:30. The two openings gave affiliates the option of airing either a fifteen minute or thirty minute local newscast preceding ‘Tonight’, but remember…even the network evening news was only fifteen minutes long till 1963.
As I understand it, this actually started with Steve Allen. As we saw last week, ‘The Steve Allen Show’, sponsored by Knickerbocker Beer on WNBT in New York, was a big hit. This was the predecessor to ‘Tonight’ and when the show moved to the NBC network and The Hudson Theater, they wanted the loyal local audience to follow the show to the network, so they give Allen fifteen minutes to do some bits that were more for the local NYC area audiences.
The thinking was that most of the country may not “get” the local humor, so Gene Rayburn re introed Allen at 11:30 for stations to join in after that. At that mark, Allen continued with a broader but short monolog.
Somewhere along the line, the local humor emphasis went away in that 11:15 segment and it became the broader monolog but national viewers saw the show without any monolog if stations joined at 11:30. This is all quite murky and there is very little written on this, but we do know that Carson never liked this.
As more affiliates introduced thirty minutes of local news, Carson’s monologue was being seen by fewer people. To rectify this situation, Ed McMahon and Skitch Henderson co-hosted the first fifteen minutes of the show between February 1965 and December 1966 without Carson, who then took over at 11:30. Finally, because he wanted the show to start when he came on, at the beginning of January 1967 Carson insisted the 11:15 segment be eliminated and it was. Enjoy and Share! – Bobby Ellerbee
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