KNBC-4 Oct 1-1971 The Tonight Show Serious Antenna Drifting

KNBC-4 Oct-1- 1971 The Tonight Show Serious Antenna Drifting
all tapes are cleaned and baked before transfer. please keep in mind the quality Matters on condition of machines and how they were recorded plus tape stock Used. Also Many of These Recordings were Recorded Off Rabbit Ear Antenna, s Not Cable Tv Yet
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[@dannystrat]

The Rose Marie segment is probably the funniest thing I’ve ever seen Carson do! It’s a damn shame complete official shows pre-1974 don’t exist. Thanks to Obsolete Video we got to see such an unscripted truly funny segment!

[@ChadQuick270W]

dannystrat I agree. That was hilarious seeing all the guys with their shirts off. Priceless 😂

[@MrJoeybabe25]

This is so cool, and I thank you for it. I feel sorry for people who didn't grow up with Johnny. Knowing that he was there every night (or coming back) was really a comfort to this kid who watched him before I was allowed to stay up that late, until I was in my 30's. Watching this reminds me that Johnny took from the best, like Jack Benny, Stan Laurel, and Red Skelton and created, I think, the most memorable entertainer ever. Perhaps only Jack Benny himself was greater. The finding of this tape is a boon to those of us who firmly believe there must be much more yet to come. Oh, one other thing, I have a memory of Johnny's anniversary specials running for two hours in his regular time slot. Anyone else remember that? Thanks again! And keep 'em coming!

[@johnking5174]

So this aired on Friday October 1st 1971. Sends a chill through me to think this is 50 years old!!!

[@ChadQuick270W]

Wow!! This is some rare stuff here. Thanks so much for sharing this with us 😎. Art Fern and the Tea Time Movies are my favorite skit of all 😂

[@AmWestColl]

no matter what quality the tv signal.....Carson is still irreplaceable !

[@rburley204]

Honestly, who would dislike this upload. Great upload and hopefully there will be many more made available!

[@maynardsmoreland]

Thanks for posting this! I have memories of all these clips, and it must be that I watched this anniversary show as a kid.

[@donhailer4994]

omg - that Rose Marie segment. Never saw that before. Absolute gold. Thank you so much for posting!!

[@epaddon]

The "Copper Clapper Caper" bit would over the years become an overly used clip on anniversary shows but this actually for the first time gives us Johnny doing the set-up to the bit from the original airing.

[@byrd56]

Most clips of that sketch ended with Carson saying "I'll clobber him", so it was a bit of a bonus to see Webb get the last punchline in, followed by a spoof of the closing.

[@epaddon]

I've sometimes seen Webb's line and the Mark VII spoof in other retrospectives but Ed's voiceover was another totally new thing in this clip. The Newhart clip during the tremor and the Art Fern bit were the only other totally "new" things in this special that were never seen in later anniversary shows. A lot of these bits were used again three years later on the 12th anniversary show. The last time Johnny ever showed a clip from Tiny Tim's wedding was the 1982 anniversary show.

[@wmbrown6]

@@epaddon - The Art Fern bit (from May 10, 1971, incidentally) was seen on some other anniversary shows in color kinescope form; here was probably the only time it was seen from videotape. Meanwhile, at WNBC-4 in New York, Carson was followed by the 15-minute "Tonight's News" update (anchored over the years by the likes of Geoffrey Pond, Bob Teague and John Masterman), which in turn was followed by "The Great Great Show" which was the late night movie skein. After that was over came the Sermonette followed by the sign-off.

[@ChadQuick270W]

It was great to see the entire skit here and then the commercials that followed. Jack Webb had a great sense of humor.

[@wmbrown6]

@@byrd56 - From Feb. 20, 1968. The next day (the 21st), it would appear, he did an early "Tea Time Movie" on which his host was named "Ralph Willie," Paula Prentiss was the "Matinee Lady," and Richard Benjamin played a parade of "satisfied customers" of the various products and/or services Art Fern's predecessor was peddling. (Those shows, plus the Feb. 16, 1968 edition with the "Japanese Bath" sketch featuring Don Rickles, were from one of his then-road trips to Burbank.)

[@efrem1]

The last full year in New York City.

[@kevinnelson66]

Rest in peace, Carol Wayne. Gone too soon. That lady was awesome.

[@maynardsmoreland]

The Rose Marie segment, with other guests George Lindsey, Debbie Reynolds, Carl Reiner, and John Byner, aired 8/14/1969, as found in the listings for the Long Beach Press Telegram.

[@RayNDeere]

The "French representative" is Robert Mandan, who later went on to star on "SOAP"

[@kevinnelson66]

And the Three's Company spinoff Three’s A Crowd, but there's no need to discuss that show.

[@gregphillips2827]

Watching this, it is clear as day how much influence Carson had on Conan. These bits, even this general layout for an anniversary show, looks like it could’ve been on Late Night or the TBS show. No wonder Conan is the only late night host I ever felt could match the king.

[@vinylbuff1515]

You should look up the few interactions conan had with johnny, it really meant everything to conan to take the tonight show ,however short it lastwx

[@johnsjohnson448]

25:29 Return bumper from station id break. Epic!

[@tdunph4250]

It's an absolute travesty that the majority of the Tonight Shows before 1972 were taped over and lost for ever!!! A disgrace!

[@johnking5174]

The move from New York to Los Angeles saved the archive, as NBC in New York most likely were never keen on keeping the show. Being in Burbank, possibly saved the show.

[@ThamiumOne]

One of the interesting things here is that in 1971, Johnny still apparently had access to a lot of the 60s-era episodes. There’s a number of clips here that never seemed to pop up in later years. (The guest walkoff being one) But it’s always been stated that NBC taped over most of them for tape re-use purposes. So is this at a point where that hadn’t happened yet, or just happened to be bits and pieces that got preserved? Wondering if it’s possible that locating this anniversary show might provide clips that even Johnny’s archive doesn’t even have now-?

[@mattwheeler2511]

For the most part, NBC retained the anniversary shows. Their thinking was, "Johnny included all of his favorite moments. We'll retain these, and wipe the other episodes." The Ed Ames clip, for example, originates from a 1967 show. Because NBC retained the anniversary shows, Carson assumed that NBC kept everything. When he requested a clip not shown in the earlier anniversary shows, the erasure policy came to his attention. He was LIVID.

[@manofmanyinterests]

@@mattwheeler2511 Ed Ames tomhawk was in 1965. He appeared in 1966, which survives on youtube in a black and white tape to talk about that appearance.

[@kevinnelson66]

@@mattwheeler2511 I believe Johnny learned of NBC erasing the New York era Tonight Show studio master tapes while the 10th anniversary show was being put together in 1972.

[@thegameshowguy1]

The gentleman who played the Consulate General to France, was the late Robert Mandan. Star of "Soap", and "Three's a Crowd".

[@wmbrown6]

It looks like the "Tea Time Movie" excerpt was from May 10, 1971. Carol Wayne was a guest on that show, and she appeared in the sketch. He must've been in California that week. Plus, a pose by Carson as Art Fern, dated that very day, is on Getty Images. It would seem that the New York "Big Flick" sketch (with Lee Meredith as the Matinee Lady) would have been around 1970. As for the "Copper Clappers" sketch, it was Feb. 20, 1968. The "Japanese bath sketch" with Don Rickles was from Feb. 16, 1968.

[@thegameshowguy1]

That's awesome that this was on the 9th Anniversary show, and Johnny, Ed, and Doc are about to begin the 10th Year. Love "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson". I really wish Fallon would bring back some of this old comedy. He too, should have Anniversary shows and have the "Best of Fallon" shows every now and then.

[@tapthatt2012]

Still more watchable than stuff we have on cable in HD.

[@manofmanyinterests]

@Executive Decision Bitch, Bitch, Bitch, Moan, Moan, Moan. You have perfect 'version'?? Maybe, but your lack of spelling skills is laughable.

[@epaddon]

This is the 9th anniversary show and the last one Johnny would do in New York. VERY historic (though a lot of these clips would be used again on subsequent anniversary shows).

[@VahanNisanian]

Wikipedia says Mayor John Lindsay was a guest, but I do not see him anywhere. Maybe he appeared at the beginning?

[@wmbrown6]

After moving to Burbank in May 1972, Johnny would do two three-week "road trips" to his old New York stomping grounds - in November 1972 and May 1973. After the last, 6B would be gutted and the set for WNBC-4's "NewsCenter4" which premiered April 29, 1974 would be constructed.

[@epaddon]

And Johnny admitted when he was on Letterman's show in 1985 (when Letterman was doing a road trip to Burbank) that the lack of studio space was why he didn't do anymore road trips back to NY which was unfortunate since it would have been nice for Johnny to have maintained that connection as the 70s progressed.

[@wmbrown6]

@@epaddon - And 6B, compared to Studio 1 in Burbank, wasn't all that great in studio space - 3,600 square feet compared with 10,500 square feet for the latter. The cramped dimensions of the New York studios explain a lot about why there were shadows shown behind Johnny on the painted Big Apple background (which debuted some weeks before this). I think Johnny also mentioned how 6B, since 1973-74, was used by WNBC-TV local.

[@calchick82]

It was interesting to see the clip from when the show was on a visit out here in California(before the move to Burbank)and they felt an aftershock from the earthquake that had happened either that morning or the morning before(which would make it either February 9 or 10, 1971). I was 6 years old at the time when I went through that quake and because it was my first quake and it was so intense(a 6.5), I remember it well. The epicenter of the quake was in the portion of L.A. named the San Fernando Valley(hitting the cities of Sylmar and San Fernando the hardest)which was where my family and I lived(in Van Nuys)and where that particular Tonight Show episode was taped(in Burbank). There were aftershocks for days and weeks. I'm curious to know how big that aftershock was that they felt in the studio!

[@clarkhum]

I read somewhere online where a network engineer, waiting for the launch of SNL in the summer of '75, was assigned to bulk-erase a bunch of Carson episodes.

[@pronemanoldbutyoung5548]

Clark Humphrey Shame NBC

[@Mibbitmaker]

I'd always heard that Carson heard about the erasing of his shows and ordered it stopped, all in 1972.

[@wmbrown6]

@@Mibbitmaker - I know NBC had to keep taped Tonights, up to 1972, for a finite period of time due to repeating them on Saturdays or Sundays. Wonder if the bulk of pre-'72's existed up to '75 if what 'Clark' noted? Whenever it happened, Johnny was right to be fertutzed.

[@stephenzamarin3193]

This dates to October 1st-2nd 1971.

[@NEPatriot]

At the end of the tape is NBC staff announcer Eddie (sp?) King doing the KNBC sign-off news, or part of it.

[@wmbrown6]

Yep, definitely Eddy King. So we see as of 1971, King, Don Stanley, Donald Rickles, Arch Presby, Frank Barton and Victor Bozeman were amongst KNBC's announcing staff and quite a few were heard on NBC's movie shows.

[@fromthesidelines]

24:46- Lori Sanders.

[@swami1]

My kingdom for a copy of the June 24, 1975 Tonight Show.

[@biggobot3253]

Why was that episode so special? I know it was the date of Eastern Airlines 66 crash in NY.

[@swami1]

@@biggobot3253 I have an audio recording of that night's "Carnac" segment. Doc was the co-host. I'd love to see it again.

[@wmbrown6]

@@swami1 - I was reading up on the list of 1974 "Tonight Shows" where filling in for Ed on some nights was - get this - Carol Wayne.

[@StudioZ7]

In the Mission: Impossible spoof taking place in the men's room, note we don't actually see the toilet. I imagine NBC's Standards and Practices did not allow that at the time. Just as "damn" and "hell" would get bleeped, even on late night TV.

[@ericsamuelson5656]

Antenna drifting, another sign how much I miss analog

[@aeneasmacrae5962]

Obsolete Video.....thanks for uploading all these terrific old archives. Do you have any others that have as much static or Antenna Drifting as this one. Would appreciate any recommendations....thanks

[@fromthesidelines]

33:58- Buster Crabbe.

[@AarHan3]

The day after my birth! 😃

[@wmbrown6]

I.I.N.M., John Clarke (NBC New York staff announcer who also did local booth work at WNBC-4) did "The Partners" promo after Carson was over.

[@tvgator1]

13:00 all time classic.

[@johndalton3180]

Is the "French" guy Robert Mandan?

[@FlavioGirl]

love the wedding of tiny tim and miss vicki :)

[@wiedep]

Great find! Network presidents come and go but Johnny was always there. It took me only 3 years to move move from a temp ID (daily hire) to a full-time staff one @ 30 Rock. Heino Ripp, long-time SNL TD as well as many other live shows from 30 Rock. Pete Fatovich AD and Pete LaSsally both with later connections with Letterman. Anybody know anything about Raritan Enterprises?

[@wmbrown6]

An entity founded in the late 1960's to handle Carson's show, after his 1967 contract. It was a predecessor to Carson Productions.

[@wmbrown6]

Superseded in 1972 by Tonight Show Company, Inc., after renegotiating his contract and moving to Burbank.

[@RolloSmokes]

Is that Ernie Anderson voicing the Southern California Edison spot?

[@wmbrown6]

@D Heine - And Durward Kirby for Ivory Soap.

[@Rnyargd]

9th Anniversary show.

[@gates69]

Any idea how this would have been captured back in 1971?? Not many choices for home video recording devices back then.

[@obsoletevideo6048]

Recorded on a Reel to Reel recorder

[@gates69]

Obsolete Video Wow! Very cool. Thanks for the info.

[@jamieschmidt939]

Friday, October 1,1971

[@ericjonmagnuson2728]

Also confirmed by the announcer promo for The Partners' third episode, The Prisoner of Fender (around 54:50)--which did air on Saturday, the 2nd.

[@stldxer2481]

Cleaner clopper clapper clobber clippers!

[@fromthesidelines]

54:49- "THE PARTNERS": "The Prisoner of Fender" [October 2, 1971]

[@augerontgen8240]

Booblag already in the 50ies

[@fromthesidelines]

Jim Mulholland would eventually join Mike Barrie in the writers' room- and they'd later write for David Letterman.

[@pronemanoldbutyoung5548]

Barry I. Grauman Wasnt the NBC president also a Mulholland?

[@marbury2403]

That NBC executive was boring.