The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (12-17-1969)

The Tonight Show as it was broadcast on December 17, 1969. In living color, with no edits and fake music. There will be long paused where the local commercial from TV stations usually run. In the history of the Tonight Show this was the 2nd most-watched episode with a viewer ship of 45 million.
Guest: Florence Henderson, Phyllis Diller, Nick Lucas, Tiny Tim, Vicki Budinger
Wedding party: Allen Harvey Budinger, Emma Elizabeth Budinger, Allene Catherine Budinger, Gene M. Budinger, Judith Ann Budinger, Tracy Budinger, Butros Khaury, Tillie Khaury
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[@mp4str]

My dad playing guitar in the band BUCKY PIZZARELLI

[@johndalton3180]

Very cool!! He must've been talented.

[@dinocrocetti2950]

From Paterson NJ , my Dad just passed was a few years younger but knew Bucky. He was a became a captain in the Paterson police department. Saw John ( Buckys son ) on broadway a Frank Sinatra tribute show . You ?? Or your brother ?❤

[@mp4str]

I play the bass ..was in that show

[@dinocrocetti2950]

Yea great show it was . Took my mom and dad to see it , you and your brother John . So your Martin , the ole timers from Paterson all knew each other . Thanks for the info .

[@MrEvans1973]

Coincidentally, I recently bought I used copy of a book called The Big Bands by George Simon. Tucked inside was a program from a 1980 Jazz Festival in New Jersey signed by your father and brother John!

[@77hodag]

I was 10 years old, living in the Chicago suburbs & my parents let me stay up past my bedtime & watch the historic wedding of Tiny Tim and Miss Vickie😂🎊🎉❤️

[@badapple65]

Soft and fresh as Spring! Salem Menthol cigarettes! I love the old ads. Love the old Carson Episodes!

[@retroguy9494]

Yea I remember those ads. My late aunt used to smoke those.

[@freddyfurrah3789]

I finally get to see this after nearly 55 years.

[@pattih7]

I watched it, at the time it aired! The year before my HS Graduation; still can’t believe this couple! Tiny Tim and Ms Vickie; icons of the time!

[@michaelp8866]

Same here. I've heard about this episode for many years but this is my first time watching it. I was in 1st grade during this time in 1969 ....and it was a school night and way past my bedtime :(

[@davehire1433]

Every wedding should have a Pepto-Bismol commercial just before the service begins.

[@yankeechicken61]

Usually you need Pepto afterwards

[@pattih7]

! 🐽!

[@tomservo56954]

Every wedding should have Mrs. Brady singing....

[@retroguy9494]

@@yankeechicken61 😂🤣👍

[@Mr7c2ll]

Doc Severinsen is incredible. Just incredible. I've been listening to him on the horn several times the last few days. If not the greatest, he's up there. 54:07

[@pattih7]

No one like Dic! So talented and great sense of humor and funky style!

[@christophercox8237]

Just had his birthday the other day. A company made a complete set of mutes, with patterns taken from one of his jackets. Look up Doc Severson surprise birthday gift. There’s a video of him looking them over with the artisan that made the line. I’d love to have a set of them, but I’d also have to have one of the Destino trumpets Doc had designed.

[@mhmrules]

Mrs. Miller counted all the tulips before the show. This is such an awesome find!

[@LucasKombo]

I'm thankful these keep turning up.

[@sandraandrews9907]

I'm sure that both Johnny & Ed are glad about that!! 😅!

[@pinedelgado4743]

AT LAST!!!!!! It has FINALLY happened!!! The FULL EPPIE of THE TONIGHT SHOW on which Tiny Tim and Miss Vickie were married goes on KZbin!!!! Thank you lots for sharing and posting!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[@NYfan2004]

This is amazing! Hopefully we get the 12-31-1969 episode too in the future! Along with other New Year’s Eve Carson shows, as those have the Times Square ball drop in them

[@rburley204]

Great share and thanks for posting! These appear to be original broadcast masters, without the local TV commercials or interruptions. Glad that someone seems to have saved these from destruction!

[@Rlinks]

I'm glad everyone is enjoying this episode of the tonight show. I'm not enrolled in youtube partnership to help keep ads off the videos. You can give us some support by going to the community section and click on the PayPal link. This will help get a new PC 🖥 for better video quality.

[@leehousley8485]

This happened 3 years before I was born. But I've heard since I was a kid about this legendary episode. What a find! Props to Rinks for uploading it.

[@artofmusic303]

I remember that Salem cigarette commercial! "You can take Salem out of the country BUT... you can't take the country out of Sa-lem." Haha.

[@retroguy9494]

Yea so do I

[@cc1k435]

That one made me lol. I forgot cigarette commercials could be so goofy. The only ones I really remember are Marlboro. 😂

[@VideoAmericanStyle]

It’s a crime that they erased so many of the 60s Tonight Show episodes.

[@bobjohnson205]

Just the way it was done back then - NBC needed the videotape!

[@VideoAmericanStyle]

@@bobjohnson205 True, but when Johnny found out, he was livid. Starting keeping his own archives!

[@bobjohnson205]

@@VideoAmericanStyle Yeah, he couldn't believe what NBC had been doing! Shocked him to heck. Thank goodness Johnny wasn't as cheap as NBC, otherwise we'd have no 'Tonight Show' episodes to view!

[@err521]

I think Johnny had more recordings like this.

[@johnvastola7748]

Three Dog Night experienced the same with their recorded master tapes by ABC/Dunhill.

[@johnsjohnson448]

Thank-you for sharing this. It was the most watched Television show of 1969 minus man's first walk on the moon.

[@retroguy9494]

I didn't watch this when it aired because I was only 5 years old and naturally was in bed. However, I DID watch the moon landing. I remember my mother making me watch it because she said not only was I a witness to one of the greatest moments in history, but I would remember it all my life and be able to tell my children and grandchildren about it. Well, I ended up an old bachelor. But I still remember watching it.

[@basementbomber]

If you could possibly find the episode from October 1, 1969 ~ one of the most desirable episodes of the past I'd love to see w/ Dean Martin & Don Rickles

[@garyrasberryjr.552]

A copy (maybe a 16mm film copy made for Armed Forces Television) is out there. (Found in an underground archive. Had hoped that other episodes would have been found in the find)

[@hi-railhardin]

Wow .. what a find!!! Thanks so much for sharing it!!

[@mlaprarie]

Band and Doc are *cooking* on "Aquarius" at 54:00. Those days of TV with incredible live music are sorely missed.

[@King3r77]

this my friends is a true gem.

[@kevink973]

Nick Lucas is GREAT!

[@ms2189]

So nice to see this full episode. I was only 3 in 1969; if they had gotten married on Sesame Street I might have seen it!

[@ChadQuick270W]

This is so awesome! Thanks so much for sharing this one. Amazing find here. The New York episodes are very rare, especially complete like this one.

[@martyduncan2636]

This is an incredible gem! The complete show from the “Living Color” NBC Peacock to the credits AND the commercials for the holiday season 1969! What’s also amazing is from whatever NBC affiliate this Tonight Show was lifted, there were several times when Johnny broke for a commercial and it was just black screen. I don’t know if the local affiliate had no local commercials to show? Also, they covered much of Doc’s commercial interludes in full. I’d be interested in knowing from what affiliate this Tonight Show was taken. You’d never see local affiliates not fully utilizing their commercial breaks today 😂. Thanks soooo much for uploading this show. I could watch them all evening. 😊

[@GrandGame1440]

This is clearly a master tape so obviously there’d be no affiliate breaks.

[@bobjohnson205]

It's all explained in the description.

[@mlaprarie]

And how wonderful for Johnny to book Tiny Tim's main inspiration, the incomparable guitarist and singer Nick Lucas. He was a huge star and sang the original hit version of "Tulips" in Gold Diggers of Broadway, 1929.

[@dctrevett]

First time I ever cried at a wedding - Tiny Tim and Miss Vickie! Gawd we were so innocent then...

[@Slashboss]

This is amazing, I bow to you! Can't wait to watch this one this weekend. I no lie searched for two episodes from 1969 in the trading circuit back in high school.. I wanted to see this one badly along with the episode that George Lazenby was on promoting On her Majesty's Secret Service. The trader who was doing it then told me no copies of either one were existing anywhere and I was a fool for trying. So you have no idea how much this makes me feel better to be vindicated. Hope that guy remembers saying it too and regrets it. Now hoping for the episode with Lazenby to pop up somewhere.. I hear the part where they show the movie clip caused the audience to roar like crazy after it was done. I wanna see that badly.

[@reedgrele6673]

OHMSS is one of my favorite Bond films of all time! I wonder if George Lazenby had a beard during his Tonight Show appearance? That annoyed the producers to no end. I wish he hasn't listened to his agent and signed a multi picture deal. He would have grown into the part.

[@ricknibert6417]

I remember Ed McMahon doing commercials on the show himself.

[@retroguy9494]

So do I. I remember the 'Alpo' commercials with Ed and the dog.

[@alartandy]

Only a handful of the Tonight Show musicians followed Johnny out to the west coast in 1972.

[@EthanPutterman-bm9ki]

I met Tiny Tim a couple of times when I was a front desk clerk at a hotel. Very, very weird guy -I was sure he wasn't straight. The funny thing was that just a moment after I checked him in there was another odd guest: G. Gordon Liddy (of Watergate Fame). That was a strange few days to be working at a hotel :D

[@user-il5oq5df6l]

Florence Henderson did a terrific job singing a cover of "My Love ", which had been a hit single for Petula Clark in the 1960s. Florence's rich mezzo-soprano vocal was solidly backed by Doc Severinsen and the NBC Orchestra.

[@PresidentofPop]

now THAT's music...(the original TTTTT) (Tip Toe Through The Tulips, that is...)

[@hormelinc]

You need some Pepto-Bismol after watching the wedding 🤣 Also, I've seen the wedding as a clip on many other shows, so it makes sense this tape would be a keeper.

[@lwskiner]

This episode and the moon landing were the only TV events I remember at five years-old.

[@retroguy9494]

Your parents let you stay up and watch the wedding? I was 5 years old too but was sound asleep in bed. I remember watching the moon landing though.

[@lwskiner]

@@retroguy9494 I distinctly remember watching it, would usually wake up during the night and see what was on TV, most times it was those old horror movies!

[@Italianole]

The day I was born, 17 dicembre 1969.

[@dennisdivine7448]

I've always been a Carson fan, but I've always considered this to be really bizarre P.R. stunt (even for the end of the '60s). Tiny Tim was a true eccentric whose career and life in general only went downhill after this very moment.

[@MrStewbee]

This is great. Anyway to get the video from December 1st, 1970? Jerry Lewis was guest host and I asked him a question from the audience. It was quite funny my segment. I'd love to see it. Thanks.

[@FlavioGirl]

florence henderson singing just blew me away

[@der22672]

Wow. Florence giving Petula Clark’s “My Love” an operatic flair. ❤️❤️. I didn’t even recognize it at first. To be honest, I think I like Petula’s version better. ❤️❤️

[@garyrasberryjr.552]

Phyllis' dress is actually talent coordinator Shirley Wood's dress. Phyllis was doing a show and did not have anything formal (she had her sparkly cocktail dress and white boots), so Shirley gave her that purple dress so she wouldn't clash.

[@BrianSmith-wh9bi]

Florence Henderson when she was known as Broadway actress, not Carol Brady (just yet).

[@LannieLord]

Let's NOT EVER mention -- the Song of Norway . A complete TURKEY and a Sound of Music knock-off !

[@kevinnelson66]

Didn't The Brady Bunch premiere in September 1969?

[@VideoAmericanStyle]

Huh? Johnny literally says "she stars in The Brady Bunch."

[@cc1k435]

It was still early in the series, and of course, it wasn't yet a cult classic, but the Bradys were definitely on tv by then.

[@keithhyttinen8275]

I hope someone comes up with earlier shows some day. 1962 to 1968 stuff.

[@johnsewell6593]

Its there. They seem to be releasing them in dribs and drabs , here and there. Consequentely the price for tge DVDs goes up as the shows get more complete & closer to the beginning (1962). I've been collecting the Carson shows for over 20 years, and its funny - in the late 90s, before Johnny died it was said that these shows did NOT exist. Then they'd bring out a box set....then another , and once Carson died another compilation. It sure seems to me that the shows ARE There. Carsons estate probably owns the majority - with NBC most likely the rest. Face it, these shows are worth more than double thier weight in gold, and when big money is involved - they can move mountains. You correctly named the only area where complete shows are scarce....62' to 70'. I'm totally convinced that they will magically materialize in the near future... .$$$

[@orvillegibson228]

YES YES YES 60s CARSON CHRISTMAS HAS COME EARLY

[@waynetompkins3006]

When the priest first came out I so thought it was John Cleese.

[@carinaellen3894]

Thank you for posting these! Would you happen to have the November 19, 1971 or the August 24, 1973 episodes? Much appreciated if so and if you're able to post them, thanks again

[@pattih7]

I certainly appreciate and am blessed by these Vows; very basic , truly Christian Vows; meaningful as they should be; sincere. 💖💐🎀🌸💞💐

[@kevinnelson66]

Tiny Tim and Miss Vicky's marriage didn't last long.

[@thomasmcalear8673]

@3:25 AT THAT TEMP I DON'T WANT MY PESKY TO "MELT"....

[@bklynvegas]

Love the video and especially the band segments. I did notice however that after the break at roughly 53:35 that the audio is out of sync. Is there any way that you can fix that. Thanks so much for posting this.

[@Rlinks]

I have to do the whole video processing again and with my old computer that is 15 years old would take time. The wedding part is on the official johnny carson channel in better quality.

[@BroadwayBabyyy744]

There should be a mini series about this...

[@dmiller1000]

The Larry Sanders Show...

[@bradwooldidge6979]

I remember watching this show! I had just turned 11. I thought it was live, but I’m in sure.

[@Sam-rq4yc]

Any way you could upload the episode that aired on 5/4/1967. It had Gore Vidal and Pamela Austin as guest. I need to see it for a project

[@sixtieskid062]

The commercials are priceless.

[@freddyfurrah3789]

I DESPISE COMMERCIALS

[@tomrdee]

These NY Tonight Shows are a little before my time, so I am surprised Ed didn't say how everything you ever wanted to know about weddings were in the book. Johnny would say no and come up with funny fake ones.

[@interactii]

Can you tell me a little about the source of this episode? Is this from 2" Quad? The audio seems too good for a kinescope.

[@GohAhweh]

1:03:04 Tiny Tim Wedding ❤

[@maddoxbresley1491]

Do you have any new years eve episodes?

[@Tom-TV-vl4to]

have any video of the tonight shows new years eve shows like in the 1960s

[@user-uj5lq1mu3z]

how do you have this episode

[@RandomTVarchiveuploadsguy]

have any footage of johnny carsons new years eve show

[@Tom-TV-vl4to]

have video of the tonight show December 31st 1969

[@rockfish74]

I forgot to buy Salems

[@patdecorvo]

"Salem gently air-softens every puff"

[@ChadQuick270W]

I bought mine today. $11 a pack now. I remember when they were 89 cents a pack.

[@user-tv8mg2vh5f]

@@ChadQuick270WGood thing you’re not in NYC-$17 per pack

[@ChadQuick270W]

@@user-tv8mg2vh5f good god! I remember when a carton was $9

[@Metsfan7232]

was not too long after a lot of persons ‘forgot’ (cig ads on TV banned around the turn of 1970)

[@sethflix]

Great but you should have adjusted the out of sync timing.

[@Rlinks]

The audio being out of sync during the wedding happened when I was uploaded to youtube. By the time I noticed, I had too many comments to delete and start over. The wedding part is on the official johnny carson channel

[@michaelmcgee8543]

Doc Sevranson again.

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

1:06:10 Tiny Tim was Catholic even though his mother was Jewish. George Harrison invited Tiny Tim to be a guest on the 1968 Beatle Christmas record where he sang Nowhere Man. George was also a ukelele enthusiast.

[@user-il5oq5df6l]

Tiny Tim's given name was Herbert Buckingham Khaury.

[@LoyalOpposition]

Any episodes with Mort Sahl? Thanks!

[@err521]

Miss Vicky was so pretty !

[@matthewbulger6883]

Where was this program discovered? Was It discovered In a storage facility In Nevada? I await your answer.

[@modernretroradio993]

Probably a home-recording via one of the early VCRs, which mostly rich people could afford until the 1980s. It most likely made its way to the bootleg circuit and is now on KZbin.

[@Rlinks]

For a short time after Johnny retirement, you could buy vhs 📼 master copies of the full episodes. They had to shut it down because of copyrights, especially the music and NBC. They seemed to be more lient now.

[@modernretroradio993]

@@Rlinks But this is during the first ten years. All the official master tapes of the first ten years were erased by NBC.

[@user-uj5lq1mu3z]

do youi mhave any shows with muhamamd ali/cassius clay

[@MrDougster37]

Ah, television in the 70s.

[@MyThirdPlaceLtd]

0:14

[@drjayteamk4531]

AW MAN WHY ARE COMMERCIALS CUT OUT

[@ChadQuick270W]

This is from an NBC master tape. Those black spots were where local stations would air their own commercials. Network commercials are still included.

[@davidblanc458]

which was the bride?

[@MyThirdPlaceLtd]

0:11

[@michaelmcgee8543]

I rather fight than switch!

[@VideoAmericanStyle]

This was basically a freak show. Tiny Tim was 37, Vicky was 17. He almost broke it off days before this aired because he had been seeing another woman already. Vicky wasn’t in love, either; she claimed to only do it because it seemed “fun”. 2 years later, they were already leading separate lives. Later on, Tiny Tim met another 15 year old (Miss Eva) and married her when she was of legal age. Tiny was very likely autistic, and what would be called today neurodivergent. In retrospect, it’s kind of sad this was considered must-see television.

[@moonbeamskies3346]

Why was Johnny so unenthused during the Florence Henderson segments? She was so charming and nice. He acted like it was a chore to acknowledge she was there. And why did anyone care about Tiny Tim getting married? I am triggered in 2024 over this show from 1969. 😂

[@waynetompkins3006]

I don't know, but things go on behind the scenes in a production and people's lives that we never learn about.

[@tfronauer]

I’m trying to ID the band members and admittedly coming up short. Obviously Doc (tpt), Ed Shaughnessy (drums), and Snooky Young (tpt) but I also recognize Arnie Lawrence (alto) and Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar). The rest I’m sure are well-known ringers on the NYC scene at the time, but I don’t know what they look like. Who’s the big guy on the end of the trumpet section? I bet he’d be easy to ID.

[@sethflix]

It's Tommy Newsome with a rug on.

[@tfronauer]

I found out it's Jimmy Maxwell. I'm familiar with Jimmy's playing but I had no idea what he looked like. And John Frosk is the trumpeter on the OTHER side of Snooky.

[@TravelinBand747]

Ed McMahon is pickled as usual.

[@EdWilson-zj7uf]

Why couldn't the cameras show their faces when they were reciting their vows? Talk about having a back-side view!

[@woodlakesound]

They wanted to keep it private for them. At least that was the reasoning.

[@BroadwayBabyyy744]

About 8 years of marriage followed

[@davidblanc458]

what she was 8?

[@BroadwayBabyyy744]

@davidblanc458 no, they were Married 8 years

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

@@davidblanc458 She was 17. He was 37.

[@VideoAmericanStyle]

I’d be very shocked if they actually consummated it.

[@davidblanc458]

I forgot already about the madhouse nightmare. Let me out I'm not like these peeps!

[@jefflivengood1860]

Doc was he hipster back then

[@user-tv8mg2vh5f]

Anyone know why there are some blackout spots ?

[@Rlinks]

That is where the local tv 📺 stations would put their local commercials. This is a copy of the network feed. That is why you don't see any local commercials.

[@user-tv8mg2vh5f]

@@RlinksThanks. Makes sense now

[@freddyfurrah3789]

You're going blind. 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@bobjohnson205]

You should have taken the time to read the video description.

[@user-tv8mg2vh5f]

@@bobjohnson205Ahh, I only saw the basic description. Never hit the “more” prompt so obviously that provides the answer.

[@michaelmcgee8543]

He and Ms. Vickie would divorce later.

[@Wolfinger1935]

I love Carson and the Tonight show... but this wedding was a cringe freak-show. Setting the stage for the likes of Morton Downey, Jr, Jerry Springer and the 'reality' show craze. At the time, seemed like a ratings booster, but man, it spawned the hellish landscape of shock (schlock) TV and worse. The rest of the episode was blast from the past though.