WFGR Retrovision–50 Years ago Today–October 1st, 1962

It was 50 years ago that the world got a look at Johnny Carson as the host of The Tonight Show. Groucho Marx introduced him for the first time, even though Ed McMahon was the sidekick, as he was for all 50 years of the show. The Tonight Show started in 1954 with Steve Allen as host, but it was Johnny who took it over and made it "Carson"

Back in those days, they recorded over tapes of shows most of the time. No one knew Carson and the Tonight Show would be what it ended up being. No tape of the first episode exists today, but the audio does. Here is the first Carson Tonight show...