Gleason on the Tonight Show (Links Inside)

[Bill S.]

I found a video of Gleason on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, some time in the 80's I'm assuming...just thought I'd share:

Part 1:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zyhQQhIys9Q

Part 2:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=v3ZL2ME9Dd0

Part 3:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7m2FjOjUHw4

When they talked about the Honeymooners in Part 1, I think they both got a little confused. It seemed like Carson was asking Gleason when the Classic 39 started, but Gleason was talking about when they did the very first sketch, on Cavalcade. Part 2's also pretty interesting, Carson asks him if the story about him turning down Audrey Meadows for the part of Alice was true and Gleason says, "Well that's the legend, I'll go along with it." Gleason also mentions the time when the door got stuck and Carney had to come in through the window, but he said, "Carney one time, was trying to get out the door and it was stuck, so he went out the window." It seems like there were a lot of conflicting stories about certain incidents.

[VIDEOWACK]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

I found a video of Gleason on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, some time in the 80's I'm assuming...

Gleason's appearance was on 10/18/85.

[MrBand]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

I found a video of Gleason on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, some time in the 80's I'm assuming...just thought I'd share:

Part 1:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zyhQQhIys9Q

Part 2:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=v3ZL2ME9Dd0

Part 3:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7m2FjOjUHw4

When they talked about the Honeymooners in Part 1, I think they both got a little confused. It seemed like Carson was asking Gleason when the Classic 39 started, but Gleason was talking about when they did the very first sketch, on Cavalcade. Part 2's also pretty interesting, Carson asks him if the story about him turning down Audrey Meadows for the part of Alice was true and Gleason says, "Well that's the legend, I'll go along with it." Gleason also mentions the time when the door got stuck and Carney had to come in through the window, but he said, "Carney one time, was trying to get out the door and it was stuck, so he went out the window." It seems like there were a lot of conflicting stories about certain incidents.

What bothered me is that Carson says that he was part of "You're in the Picture," even going as far as identifying the other panelists. I believed this as fact for years until I actually got to see it. Was this a mistake in research made by one of his staff that he just reinforced, thinking he had forgotten about it?

[VIDEOWACK]

Originally Posted by MrBand

What bothered me is that Carson says that he was part of "You're in the Picture," even going as far as identifying the other panelists. I believed this as fact for years until I actually got to see it. Was this a mistake in research made by one of his staff that he just reinforced, thinking he had forgotten about it?

True, Johnny never appeared on the ONLY episode that aired on that January night in 1961. However, I remember reading somewhere that there IS a show that was videotaped (maybe as a pilot) and its existence was questioned. Maybe Carson appeared on THAT show.

[W.B.]

There had also been another episode that had been taped, from what I've read - but because Gleason, in his apology the week after YITP's debut/finale, ended with words along the lines of "I don't know what we'll do next week, but I'll be back," the episode never aired and was effectively junked. I don't know if Carson would've been part of that aborted lineup.

[VIDEOWACK]

Well, the program went on to become a talk show basically, with guests such as Jayne Mansfield, Rudy Valle, Mickey Rooney and a noteable episode with a chimp, that has been seen in clips on various tribute specials. When the run ended (Gleason told Tom Snyder it lasted 13 weeks) he left for Paris to film "GIGOT". Maybe one day we'll get to see those remaining shows. On my next visit to the Museum of Radio and TV I will look those up and see if they have any to view.

[T-Greg]

If you want to see who appeared on the shows that followed "You're in the Picture", you can find it on Phil Greis' website. The bomb aired on 1/20/61 and the "apology" show aired on 1/27/61. Search "Jackie Gleason Show".

www.atvaudio.com

#67- JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, THE
1961-02-17, WC 20min.
Jackie Gleason, Art Carney

Guest Art Carney ad libs with Jackie Gleason, who also does a seven minute stand up comedy routine on the subject of "Bob Hope." For two months, Jackie conducted this informal talk show replacing the abortive quiz show "You're in the Picture," which aired only one time (Jan. 20, 1961).

#68- JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, THE
1961-02-24, WC 23min.
Jackie Gleason, Gordon MacRae, Sheila MacRae

Gordon MacRae and Sheila MacRae ad lib with Jackie Gleason. For two months, Jackie conducted this informal talk show replacing the abortive quiz show "You're in the Picture."

#70- JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, THE
1961-03-03, WC 26min.
Jackie Gleason, Jayne Mansfield

Guest Jayne Mansfield ad libs with Jackie Gleason. For two months, Jackie conducted this informal talk show replacing the abortive quiz show "You're in the Picture," which aired only one time. Gleason talks about reaching his 45th birthday with observations, past, present and future.

#72- JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, THE
1961-03-10, WC 16min.
Ingemar Johansson, Jackie Gleason, Floyd Patterson

Guests Heavyweight Champion Floyd Patterson and former champ Ingemar Johansson meet with Jackie Gleason. For two months, Jackie conducted this informal talk show replacing the abortive quiz show "You're in the Picture," which aired only one time.

#74- JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, THE
1961-03-17, WC 26min.
Jackie Gleason, Bobby Darin

Bobby Darin ad libs with Jackie Gleason. A March 24th, 1956 kinescope from the television series "Stage Show" is presented by Gleason. It is the very first professional engagement by Darin, who sings "The Rock Island Line."

#75- JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, THE
1961-03-24, WC 27min.
Jackie Gleason, Rudy Vallee, George Jessel

Guests Rudy Vallee and George Jessel ad lib with Jackie Gleason. For two months, Jackie conducted this informal talk show replacing the abortive quiz show "You're in the Picture," which aired only one time.

[Benno123]

I also recall reading or hearing about 1 or 2 other episodes of YITP being taped but never airing. It is very possible that Carson was on one of those shows since it was about a year and a half before he starting on NBC's Tonight Show.

I saw these clips on YouTube a couple of weeks ago, and I thought they were great! The best part, to me anyway, was when Gleason was talking about recording the mandolin album and he said something to the effect of having a room full of barbers and "not being able to get a haircut within a 50 mile radius!"

[W.B.]

Originally Posted by T-Greg

#68- JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, THE
1961-02-24, WC 23min.
Jackie Gleason, Gordon MacRae, Sheila MacRae

Gordon MacRae and Sheila MacRae ad lib with Jackie Gleason. For two months, Jackie conducted this informal talk show replacing the abortive quiz show "You're in the Picture."

Ironic, given that during Sheila's subsequent run as Alice in what became known as The Color Honeymooners, one of the episodes (in the Trip-to-Europe arc) was called "You're in the Picture."

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by VIDEOWACK

On my next visit to the Museum of Radio and TV I will look those up and see if they have any to view.

When you do that be sure to let me know, I have a few things I'd like you to check out for me if you could.

[VIDEOWACK]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

When you do that be sure to let me know, I have a few things I'd like you to check out for me if you could.

Sure thing!

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by VIDEOWACK

Sure thing!

BTW, are you a member there? I was always curious to know how it works, is there a limit to what you can see if you aren't a member? I'd imagine they wouldn't let some random person just waltz in there and watch whatever they want.

[VIDEOWACK]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

BTW, are you a member there? I was always curious to know how it works, is there a limit to what you can see if you aren't a member? I'd imagine they wouldn't let some random person just waltz in there and watch whatever they want.

That's me though, a random person! You CAN join with membership, but I never have. Don't know the benefits of membership, but a "walk-in" can view for 2 hours. They don't watch you like a hawk.....if it goes a little beyond they don't kick you out. I try to go on weekdays and it's empty. I watched 4 "American Scene Magazine" shows one day (full length) and they didn't even bat an eye. They even told me ahead of time to pick out more than 2 shows, so I did!

[T-Greg]

Originally Posted by VIDEOWACK

That's me though, a random person! You CAN join with membership, but I never have. Don't know the benefits of membership, but a "walk-in" can view for 2 hours. They don't watch you like a hawk.....if it goes a little beyond they don't kick you out. I try to go on weekdays and it's empty. I watched 4 "American Scene Magazine" shows one day (full length) and they didn't even bat an eye. They even told me ahead of time to pick out more than 2 shows, so I did!

Do they check your bags for video cameras? I went with my family to one of the nice museums in Houston once, and the caretakers/security guards followed you around at every turn. They did not make it obvious, but every time you turned a corner, moments later you could see one of them strolling around (just to make sure).

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by VIDEOWACK

They even told me ahead of time to pick out more than 2 shows, so I did!

How does that work? Do you tell them what your looking for or do you have to look through a bunch of lists to find what you want?