Jack Paar ends run as host of NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show’ 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: Paar interviews JFK (June 16, 1960)

(Thursday, March 29, 1962) — Jack Paar hosted NBC’s Tonight show for the final time today, although the network aired a repeat the following night.

Paar, citing that he would prefer to do one prime time show per week rather than five late night installments, had hosted the show since July 1957, six months after Steve Allen stepped down.

Johnny Carson would debut as host in Oct. 1962.