TeleTales #72…Speaking Of Johnny Carson And Studio 1
Here’s a nice color shot of the set with an RCA TK44 in the shot, probably a tour group stopping in. Notice the star on the floor…Johnny’s monologue marker. I don’t think this is the ’72 set, so this pix may be from around ’76. Please remember to visit this page to make sure you see everything…just click on the blue text at the top of this post. -Bobby Ellerbee
CBS Uses Thomson Cameras…1985 NCAA Championships Yesterday, veteran cameraman Kevin Vahey mentioned in a note his surprise to see CBS using Thomson cameras on a remote in 1977 in Los Angeles. Kevin wondered if that was just an LA truck or if there was more to it. I think there was more to it and […]
Above is a photo of Fred Astaire and dancer Barrie Chase in dress rehearsal for ‘An Evening With Fred Astaire’ at NBC Burbank on October 17, 1958. Further below is a link to the whole show. The show was broadcast live in the east, but was recorded on color video tape for playback to the […]
February 15, 1982, WE Were David Letterman…Sort Of… Beautifully shot from David’s point-of-view, this opening segment starts in this dressing room and gives us a great look at NBC Studio 6A. I posted this a couple of years ago, but thanks to Andy Rose, here it is again with some names to the faces that […]
Compatible Color TV Announcement…December 19, 1953 ‘Your Show Of Shows’ was NBC’s top rated show and that’s where they chose to make this announcement on Saturday night, December 19, 1953. The decision had come down from the FCC that Thursday afternoon and capped a multi year court battle which pitted the CBS backed Field Sequential […]
One of the best shows ever! I’d love to see more images of Studio 1 in Burbank if someone has them.
The NBC camera is fantastic!
Hey ohooooo!
I agree Jodie, similar to seeing HD for the first time comes close.
Any idea when this was taken? I’ve been power-watching the “From the Vault” shows from the ’70s.
This looks like a tour group. The 44A would never be in that position before show start in my opinion.
That has to be from September 1980 onward from the look of the desk.
6 pages about Johnny here, plus a page about Ed McMahon. http://rwkates2001.wix.com/late-night-tv#!johnny-carson/ccjb
Thanks, I love stuff like this.
was there ’81…
it’s definitely early 80s, the late 70s had the “water” background and different furniture. This set debuted when the show went to an hour, if I remember correctly.
Bobby, Thanks for the wonderful memories. I spent 3 years of my NBC career as the TD on the Tonight Show in the mid 70’s..
The best darn night time show I have ever seen!
I was there with a buddy in ’81. We sat down front left side and Ed McMahon did his “Here’s… Johnny!” bit right next to us. Can see his mic on a stand down there. The set looks how I remember it for that year but not totally sure. Thought it interesting that Fred DeCordova sat in front of that monitor with several cocktails. The show had Tony Bennett singing three songs throughout and yapping about his paintings. David Brenner came out toward the end of the show. We missed Bo Derek by one day – I was too late to get tickets. Had to be at the ticket office at the crack of dawn and then get in line around noon for the 5pm-ish taping. Saw Leno at the same stage eight years ago and noticed the setup of the stage was turned ninety degrees to the right to create a larger set and wider audience seating. It was all fascinating. 🙂
Miss Johnny Carson
We were there for promo shoots in “76. The warm-up was funny as Ed McMahon started with “Guess what? He’s here. Two nights in a row.”
What a fantastic website you’ve created,Bobby!
This photo is from the early 1980s.
Great memories of his show thanks
The camera was actually in that position during the monologue. It was camera #1 and picked up shots of Doc Severinsen. During the commercial camera #1 moved into position between Johnny’s desk and the audience and then became Johnny’s closeup camera.