Video: 'First Tonight Show 9/27/54'

(Monday, September 27, 1954, 11:30 p.m. EDT) — The Tonight Show, the world’s longest-running talk show and the longest-running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, made its debut tonight on NBC under the original title Tonight.

Hosted by Steve Allen, who predicted “this show is going to go on forever,” the program’s format combined comedy, interviews, and variety performances, setting the standard for future late-night talk shows.

During its initial run under Allen, it originated from the Hudson Theatre at 139–141 West 44th Street, between Seventh Avenue and Sixth Avenue, in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City.

The first show featured “Eydie Gormé, Steve Lawrence, Pat Marshall, Andy Williams, the music of Skitch Henderson; tonight’s special guest Wally Cox, Bill Kenny of Ink Spots fame and New York’s greatest giant Willie Mays.”

Video: 'A Brief History Of The Tonight Show'

Henderson was the bandleader during the Steve Allen years. Gene Rayburn served as Allen’s announcer and sidekick.

The program was groundbreaking for its time, offering a blend of humor and entertainment during the late-night hours.

Allen’s charm, wit, and improvisational skills made the show an instant success and established him as a pioneer of late-night television.

Since Allen left the show in 1957 to concentrate all his efforts on his Sunday-night variety program, Tonight has had five hosts, including Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009; 2010–2014), Conan O’Brien (2009–2010), and Jimmy Fallon (2014-present).