Dave Garroway was the founding host of NBC’s Today from 1952 to 1961. It
was the first and longest-running early-morning network show. His co-host was
a feisty, scene stealing chimp, named J. Fred Muggs (shown above).

Photos (top and bottom) from the first Today broadcast, January 14, 1952.  

Dave doing his famous signoff of the first show

On October 27, 2009 Bill Cosby was presented with the 12th annual Mark Twain
Prize for American Humor. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in
2002 for his constitutions to television and won the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
in 2003.

NBC, 1965 to 1968

NBC, 1969 to 1971

 
   
             On NBC, 1984 to 1992
 

Aired on CBS (1972-1984) and syndication (1984-1985).

Comedian Milton Berle, was host of NBC’s Texaco Star Theater (1948–55). In
1948 he was the first major star of American television and as such became
known as Uncle Miltie and Mr. Television to millions of viewers during TV’s
great golden age. Berle died of colon cancer at the age of 93.

1956

Ed Ames is a singer and actor who was part of the popular 1950s singing group
called The Ames Brothers. When the group disbanded in 1960, Ed pursued a
career in acting. His first starring role was in an off Broadway production of Arthur
Miller’s The Crucible. His greatest success on stage came with his portrayal of
Chief Bromden in the Broadway production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, opposite Kirk Douglas.Talent scouts saw Ed’s stage performance and invited him
to play the Native American Mingo on the NBC-TV series Daniel Boone starring
Fess Parker. The show aired from 1964 to 1970. 

While playing Mingo on television, Ames developed some skill in throwing
a tomahawk. This led to one of the most memorable moments of his career,
when he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on April
29, 1965.

Fess Parker (left) and Ed Ames in the television series Daniel Boone.