You can see two of his sort of pleasant tics even at that young age ...at 1:33 touching his nose area diagonally and at 1: 02 moving his shoulders...sort of signature proving that's Johnny Carson
As to why his prime-time series failed, Johnny later claimed, "There were too many cooks telling me what to do and how to do it. There was no central control. The {ad} agency {producing the show for General Foods} was putting people on without my knowledge- the scripts were being edited without telling me. I was sitting around like a dummy". Jack Benny tried to help Carson by having him as a guest on his show in November 1955, but bad ratings forced Johnny off the air in March 1956.
you just never know....who would have thought that this skinny young man on stage would be one of the most influential, famous TV personalities in the history of television
@crd721 - After this show failed in 1956 (after one year), Johnny Carson, considered a failure, went off to ABC in 1957 to do what failed comedians back then did - a game show. But he made his game show, "Who Do You Trust?" into a classic, and that was his springboard to NBC in 1962 - and "The Tonight Show."
Amazing footage! I've seen a whole lot of Carson footage, but this is the very youngest I've ever seen him. He looks SO different, but you can still clearly tell it's him!
@Purushadasa That's not Carson, you silly goose, that's jim carrey in a clip from his Truman movie..or george clooney, the dapper dan man in the "O bubba where is you?" movie
Yes, this is a "kinescope", 'Teflon'; the only way networks and local stations could "preserve" live programs (and have them rebroadcast for "delayed telecasts", if a network affiliate couldn't carry the show "live') was to film them from a special 16 or 35mm film camera [adjusted so that the standard 30 frames per second transmission could be photographed without "lines" appearing across the picture- normal film speed is 24fps] off a monitor while it was on the air.
Johnny Carson was doing a LIVE Thursday night variety show for General Foods {"J-E-L-L...O!"}, 10-10:30pm(et), on CBS; this excerpt comes from the beginning of a September 1955 telecast (as he says, he's only been on for about three months).
WoW..his hair is crazy shiny, Youd think the sun was 3 feet above him. I know that there were lights but guys' hair on TV today doesnt look like that...too bad..it looks neat!
@DimensionEye - You're right - he wasn't too hot when he started out. That's why this show was a failure. It lasted only the year from which this clip was taken (1955-1956).
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You can see two of his sort of pleasant tics even at that young age ...at 1:33 touching his nose area diagonally and at 1: 02 moving his shoulders...sort of signature proving that's Johnny Carson
jaydayb 1 month ago
Comment removed
fancygg 1 month ago
I'd never seen "young" Johnny before! Thanks for sharing!
DavidRosenthal74 4 months ago
As to why his prime-time series failed, Johnny later claimed, "There were too many cooks telling me what to do and how to do it. There was no central control. The {ad} agency {producing the show for General Foods} was putting people on without my knowledge- the scripts were being edited without telling me. I was sitting around like a dummy". Jack Benny tried to help Carson by having him as a guest on his show in November 1955, but bad ratings forced Johnny off the air in March 1956.
fromthesidelines 8 months ago
He looks like Jim Carey a little and his mannerisms.
goldengirl67 10 months ago
Seems, that he got much funnier during his career! ;-).
But, really....what a good-looking guy he was!! =)
lukasnummer1 1 year ago
you just never know....who would have thought that this skinny young man on stage would be one of the most influential, famous TV personalities in the history of television
inkey2 1 year ago 2
Johnny Carson was the best host ever ! i think in his younger years he looked like Anthony Perkins.
Cosmic86x 1 year ago
johnny carson rocks!!
TeamCoco98 1 year ago
Carson was on CBS first (I see the CBS logo in the background)? when did he move to NBC?
crd721 1 year ago
@crd721 - After this show failed in 1956 (after one year), Johnny Carson, considered a failure, went off to ABC in 1957 to do what failed comedians back then did - a game show. But he made his game show, "Who Do You Trust?" into a classic, and that was his springboard to NBC in 1962 - and "The Tonight Show."
WSenator1 1 year ago
imo he has the face of the tipical american that troll however respect to the years 50
QCBEC 1 year ago
Amazing footage! I've seen a whole lot of Carson footage, but this is the very youngest I've ever seen him. He looks SO different, but you can still clearly tell it's him!
Thumbs up, and thanks for posting!
Purushadasa 1 year ago
@Purushadasa That's not Carson, you silly goose, that's jim carrey in a clip from his Truman movie..or george clooney, the dapper dan man in the "O bubba where is you?" movie
celloprofundo 1 year ago
He reminds of the new Late Night guy - Jimmy Fallon. Kinda, sorta funny, but not really.
I guess everyone has to start somewhere.
harleykman 2 years ago 2
He had the same smile in '94 that he did here, amazing.
Z0hann 2 years ago
He actually looks a little like Jim Carrey
YeahRight825 2 years ago 3
It's amazing to think this aired 7 years before his Tonight Show run.
danolson68 2 years ago 10
Great post. Don'tcha just love the pomade?
Waldocounty 2 years ago 4
"we've been on for about 2-3 months" wow
kxmode 2 years ago 13
Yes, this is a "kinescope", 'Teflon'; the only way networks and local stations could "preserve" live programs (and have them rebroadcast for "delayed telecasts", if a network affiliate couldn't carry the show "live') was to film them from a special 16 or 35mm film camera [adjusted so that the standard 30 frames per second transmission could be photographed without "lines" appearing across the picture- normal film speed is 24fps] off a monitor while it was on the air.
fromthesidelines 2 years ago
Is this from an old kinescope? (A film of a live performance?)
Teflon65 2 years ago
He looks like he could've done a great George Bush impression.
PistoltheGreat 3 years ago 3
Johnny Carson was doing a LIVE Thursday night variety show for General Foods {"J-E-L-L...O!"}, 10-10:30pm(et), on CBS; this excerpt comes from the beginning of a September 1955 telecast (as he says, he's only been on for about three months).
fromthesidelines 3 years ago
WoW..his hair is crazy shiny, Youd think the sun was 3 feet above him. I know that there were lights but guys' hair on TV today doesnt look like that...too bad..it looks neat!
JustLeiLani 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Wow, he didn't start out very funny...
DimensionEye 3 years ago
@DimensionEye - You're right - he wasn't too hot when he started out. That's why this show was a failure. It lasted only the year from which this clip was taken (1955-1956).
WSenator1 1 year ago
looks so much like Jim Carrey
badnewsbarnett 3 years ago
i cannot agree more.
iamgerald2000 3 years ago
i thought the same thing... i also think he looks like adam levine of maroon 5
freaaa1 2 years ago