The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (NBC TV, 1962-1992), May 22, 1992 Final Broadcast Stage Curtains. ... (Total: 2 Items)

Description

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (NBC TV, 1962-1992), May 22, 1992 Final Broadcast Stage Curtains. "And so, it has come to this..." On Friday, May 22, 1992, Johnny Carson took the stage at NBC Studios in Burbank, CA, before an invitation-only audience of friends, family, and crew to give his final broadcast as host of the show he helmed for 30 years, and which under his stewardship had catapulted the late-night genre into a marquee feature of network television programming. Dressed in a sharp dark-colored double-breasted jacket, white shirt, and sharp red tie, Carson propped himself on a plain stool before two sets of large, instantly recognizable curtains behind him, a dramatic touch of set dressing on an otherwise empty stage. With the stool as an homage to late-night predecessor Jack Paar set before the bold curtains that had become a staple of his nightly broadcasts, Carson addressed the intimate audience and 50 million viewers that night for his final on-air monologues. Though of course the final broadcast featured the iconic "home base" living room set where Carson spent countless hours interviewing thousands of guests (estimated over 24,000) over his 30 year career, it was in front of these curtains that the most powerful images of this final broadcast were filmed. Offered here are the original stage curtains used for the final broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on May 22, 1992, consisting of (1) pair of shimmery rainbow curtains in solid vertical bands of alternating blue, orange, gold, lavender, and peach polyester fabric, with 1- segment measuring 14' x 16' and 1- measuring 12' x 16, and (1) pair of blue and gray curtains with cross-hatch diamond patterns with alternating panels of inset bejeweled adornments and horizontal silver stripes, with 1- segment measuring 14' x 16' and 1- measuring 12' x 16'. Each curtain contains a 3.5" width burlap lining at top for mounting with affixed clasps and fabric tethers, and each with a sewn-in length of chain along the bottom hem for weighting the curtains when mounted. Exhibiting signs of production use, handling, and age, including stains, toning, thread pulls, and other expected indications of stage use. Originally acquired from the Comisar Collection. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions. From The Stewart Berkowitz Television Treasures Collection.

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