Lot 95
Johnny Carson Collection - Original Tea Time Movie Clip Celluoid framed and inscribed
Few would argue with the notion that Johnny Carson changed the face of television. As the host of NBC’s Tonight Show from 1962 - 1992, a full thirty years, he ruled the airwaves. Who amongst us can’t recall at least occasionally tuning in to Johnny’s timely monologues, look forward to the show’s many skits and laugh along with tens of millions of other viewers as Johnny interviewed countless guests ranging from Marlon Brando to Tiny Tim to the handler of baby chimps. To this day, the familiar words of Johnny’s sidekick Ed McMahon still resonate...“Here’s Johnny”.
Very little, if any, material from Johnny Carson and The Tonight Show have reached collector’s hands. The Show’s archival items have been safely guarded by caring family members. To our knowledge, the following offering is indeed the first time items from The Tonight Show are intentionally being released. We suspect that through these items, the lucky winning bidder will be able to relive joyful moments from what was for many the most memorable show in television history.
This Tonight Show Collection consists of a. the text for the monologue Johnny Carson used on May 7, 1987, which consists of seven (7) teletyped pages with Johnny Carson’s own handwritten notations*, b. a framed original Tea Time Movie** clip along with a still from the film (created by the Tonight Show staff as a gift for Johnny), and c. one of Johnny’s legendary “coffee” mugs he sipped from on air. (*Typically, the Tonight Show’s writers would prepare fourteen jokes or social satire snippets from which Johnny himself would choose seven to present at the outset of each show. **Many will recall Johnny portraying Art Fern who, along with the Matinee Lady, presented the Tea Time movies. Breaks in the film often found the couple in “compromising” positions.)
Including in the lot is a photograph of Johnny with the mug, photographs of Johnny as Art Fern and a dvd of Johnny giving the May 7, 1987 monologue.
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000