Jack Paar (above) succeed Steve Allen as host of The Tonight Show in 1957. At first,
the show was called The Tonight Show With Jack Paar; after 1959 it was officially
known as Tonight With Jack Paar. Jack was often unpredictable and emotional. On February 11, 1960, he received national attention by walking off the show when NBC censors cut a joke from his monologue. He didn’t return to the show until three weeks later. Paar signed off the show for the last time on Thursday night, March 29, 1962.

John F. Kennedy, right, with Jack Paar in a 1959 episode of The Tonight Show

Pictured left to right: Pat Harrington, Zsa Zsa Gabor with her dog and Jack Paar

 

Jose Melis (right) was the music director of the Tonight Show

.