As the third host of “The Tonight Show,” Johnny Carson officially took over the interviewing desk on October 1st, 1962. For the next thirty years, Carson welcomed the biggest names in Hollywood. On his very first night, Joan Crawford was honored as his featured guest.
Receiving awards for her role in the psycho-thriller, “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” Joan would still be resentful towards her co-star, Bette Davis, who was nominated for several awards for her performance in the film, while Crawford was not. Their rivalry was so iconic that they even made a miniseries about it! Now that’s saying something.
Elizabeth Taylor
The name and the legend, Elizabeth Taylor, was one of the most popular leading ladies in Hollywood, bringing in box office numbers. It may seem like it was always fame and fortune for Taylor, but for a period of time, Taylor considered walking away from it all.
That was when she was offered a role in the star-studded cast of "Giant." She played alongside James Dean, Dennis Hopper, and Rock Hudson. As an actress and philanthropist, Taylor would often appear on late-night talk shows, including many visits with Johnny Carson. And boy, she had plenty of juicy things to talk about, including her many marriages.
Jill Corey
Jill Corey's story isn't your typical "rise to fame" story. She found success as a teenager singing on a live radio show in her hometown of Avonmore, Pennsylvania. She found a record deal with a recording company and created several hit singles and records in the early 1950s.
In addition to her many stage performances, the young woman was also featured on a number of radio and television shows, including, you guessed it, "The Tonight Show," with Johnny Carson. Corey had a creative style of singing, dancing, and a selection of outfits. Her unique taste and girl-next-door demeanor made her a fan favorite.
Engelbert Humperdinck
It almost never happens that a singer has three chart-topping hits in a single year, but for Engelbert Humperdinck, 1976 was a year to remember. His three hit songs took over both the United Kingdom's and North America's music charts. He really was the talk of the town around this time.
Humperdinck was nominated for a Grammy and was named the "most played jukebox record of the year." Of course, with fame comes promotion, and Humperdinck made the rounds on the talk shows, including "The Tonight Show" and "The Dean Martin Show." Johnny Carson could not get enough of him!
Elvis Presley
The original host of "The Tonight Show," Steve Allen, returned to guest host the show in 1961. He welcomed "The King of Rock and Roll" to the segment. Recently released from his commitment to the military, Elvis Presley came on stage to perform his hit, "Hound Dog."
Elvis was excited to return to the stage and return to entertaining. Serving in the army forced Presley to take a break from the limelight, which ironically increased his popularity. His absence made fans excited when he returned, and he ultimately became bigger than ever before. But in this photo, we see peak Elvis.