My favorite Johnny Carson moment (it's about golf)

["R&B"]

In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you won't
see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all Carson
moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest stretch of
audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know what they
were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well, mostly
because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't see it
replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions probably
is restrained from ever showing it again. But I'm sure it's locked away
somewhere in their archives. Those who remember it probably already know
what I'm referring to without my even telling you what it was. But for
those who don't recall it, here's how I remember it:

Winnie Palmer, wife of Arnold, was seated on the couch, next to her husband
Arnold, who was a headline guest on The Tonight Show. Arnie had just won a
big tournament. I have no idea which one, but I would guess it was probably
The Masters or a US Open, since talk shows don't make it a habit of inviting
golfers to be guests except right after a big event for which there was
national interest. Although back in those days (the early '60s), Arnie was
such a media darling, it could have been just about any time.

Anyway, Johnny turned to Winnie and asked her if she had any superstitions
before her husband played in a big tournament.

Winnie replied, "I kiss his balls."

Well, the audience erupted in laughter, and as Johnny did his usual facial
expressions, it just fed the laughter further. The laughter seemed to go on
for a minute or two. The Palmers squirmed uncomfortably.

And then Johnny made a crack about Arnie's putter. The way I remember it
(which could be wrong), it was something like, "I'll bet he'll raise his
putter to that."

Another 2-3 minutes of laughter.

The Palmers weren't so amused, and they sued Carson (for defamation of
character, I believe), the outcome of which I have no idea about (although
it's unlikely they would have won such a suit, since malicious intent must
be proven).

But it was classic Carson.

David Letterman is right when he says that the current crop of talk show
hosts are just pretenders. Carson was one-of-a-kind, the likes of which
we'll never see again.

RIP, Johnny. You were missed the minute you left the show, and your brand
of inoffensive, yet uproarious comedy is surely missed today.

Randy

[Windsurfer2]

http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/palmer.asp

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you
won't see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all
Carson moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest
stretch of audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know what
they were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well,
mostly because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't
see it replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions
probably is restrained from ever showing it again. But I'm sure it's
locked away somewhere in their archives. Those who remember it probably
already know what I'm referring to without my even telling you what it
Winnie Palmer, wife of Arnold, was seated on the couch, next to her
husband Arnold, who was a headline guest on The Tonight Show. Arnie had
just won a big tournament. I have no idea which one, but I would guess it
was probably The Masters or a US Open, since talk shows don't make it a
habit of inviting golfers to be guests except right after a big event for
which there was national interest. Although back in those days (the early
'60s), Arnie was such a media darling, it could have been just about any
time.
Anyway, Johnny turned to Winnie and asked her if she had any superstitions
before her husband played in a big tournament.
Winnie replied, "I kiss his balls."
Well, the audience erupted in laughter, and as Johnny did his usual facial
expressions, it just fed the laughter further. The laughter seemed to go
on for a minute or two. The Palmers squirmed uncomfortably.
And then Johnny made a crack about Arnie's putter. The way I remember it
(which could be wrong), it was something like, "I'll bet he'll raise his
putter to that."
Another 2-3 minutes of laughter.
The Palmers weren't so amused, and they sued Carson (for defamation of
character, I believe), the outcome of which I have no idea about (although
it's unlikely they would have won such a suit, since malicious intent must
be proven).
But it was classic Carson.
David Letterman is right when he says that the current crop of talk show
hosts are just pretenders. Carson was one-of-a-kind, the likes of which
we'll never see again.
RIP, Johnny. You were missed the minute you left the show, and your brand
of inoffensive, yet uproarious comedy is surely missed today.
Randy

[Andy]

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you
won't see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all
Carson moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest
stretch of audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know what
they were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well,
mostly because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't
see it replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions
probably is restrained from ever showing it again. But I'm sure it's
locked away somewhere in their archives. Those who remember it probably
already know what I'm referring to without my even telling you what it
Winnie Palmer, wife of Arnold, was seated on the couch, next to her
husband Arnold, who was a headline guest on The Tonight Show. Arnie had
just won a big tournament. I have no idea which one, but I would guess it
was probably The Masters or a US Open, since talk shows don't make it a
habit of inviting golfers to be guests except right after a big event for
which there was national interest. Although back in those days (the early
'60s), Arnie was such a media darling, it could have been just about any
time.
Anyway, Johnny turned to Winnie and asked her if she had any superstitions
before her husband played in a big tournament.
Winnie replied, "I kiss his balls."
Well, the audience erupted in laughter, and as Johnny did his usual facial
expressions, it just fed the laughter further. The laughter seemed to go
on for a minute or two. The Palmers squirmed uncomfortably.
And then Johnny made a crack about Arnie's putter. The way I remember it
(which could be wrong), it was something like, "I'll bet he'll raise his
putter to that."
Another 2-3 minutes of laughter.
The Palmers weren't so amused, and they sued Carson (for defamation of
character, I believe), the outcome of which I have no idea about (although
it's unlikely they would have won such a suit, since malicious intent must
be proven).
But it was classic Carson.
David Letterman is right when he says that the current crop of talk show
hosts are just pretenders. Carson was one-of-a-kind, the likes of which
we'll never see again.
RIP, Johnny. You were missed the minute you left the show, and your brand
of inoffensive, yet uproarious comedy is surely missed today.
Randy

Randy I must say , this was a post that I enjoyed reading. In my child hood I
lived in the same neighborhood as Johnny and some times played with his
kids...For me, I never cared for letterman or leno and have missed Johnny since
he signed off in 1992.
All the accolades now are understated.I have and will miss him and the show.
He was late night talk, there is not other.
http://www.pbase.com/andrcom

["R&B"]

Snopes.com is simply wrong in debunking this myth. Whether or not all the
details of the story are as I described, well, I can't be sure. It was a
long time ago, and this is one episode that didn't make it into any of the
"Best of Johnny" tapes and DVDs, for obvious reasons. But the one part of
the story I'm absolutely sure of is the part about kissing Arnie's balls.
It was NOT Carson who said it, and anyone who understands comedy knows it's
not a punch line that Johnny would have gone for. Johnny fed the straight
line about superstitions, and either Winnie or Arnie himself gave the
classic reply. I'm sure of that.

The reason I know so surely that this actually happened on the air is
because I was watching The Tonight Show when it happened. Though the
details may have faded a bit, I know the essence of what I heard, and I know
the famous line didn't come out of Carson's mouth.

Arnold Palmer's recounting of the story to Jay Leno in 1994 is in error, or,
more likely (since it's something that would be fairly hard to forget), it
was an out-and-out deception by Arnie to try to sweep that embarrassing
episode under the rug. It was probably something that Arnie simply didn't
want to relive, so he dodged the question or fabricated an account of what
happened. Leno was obviously too stupid (or too young) to know the story.
Either that or he did know the story and out of respect for Arnie, he didn't
press the issue. (I'll give Jay the benefit of the doubt and guess it was
the latter.)

I will acknowledge that it's possible that Winnie did not actually appear.
I seem to recall that she did (not as a guest, but she accompanied Arnie, I
believe), but that part is fuzzy. It may have been Arnie himself who
answered Carson's question, "Do you have any superstitions?," to which
Palmer replied, "Winnie kisses my balls." But the line about "kissing
his/my balls" was DEFINITELY SAID ON TV. Of that I'm 100% sure.

Of course in 2005, it's hard to fathom how anyone would say something like
that on national television. But you have to remember that in 1962 (or
thereabouts), times were much different, and people's minds didn't default
to the "dirty" connotation of words and phrases like they do today. It's
actually quite reasonable to presume that Arnie (or anyone) might have said
something like that without ever thinking of how it would be taken. But of
course, the instant it was uttered, everybody knew.

Randy

Post by Windsurfer2
http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/palmer.asp

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you
won't see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all
Carson moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest
stretch of audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know what
they were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well,
mostly because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't
see it replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions
probably is restrained from ever showing it again. But I'm sure it's
locked away somewhere in their archives. Those who remember it probably
already know what I'm referring to without my even telling you what it
Winnie Palmer, wife of Arnold, was seated on the couch, next to her
husband Arnold, who was a headline guest on The Tonight Show. Arnie had
just won a big tournament. I have no idea which one, but I would guess
it was probably The Masters or a US Open, since talk shows don't make it
a habit of inviting golfers to be guests except right after a big event
for which there was national interest. Although back in those days (the
early '60s), Arnie was such a media darling, it could have been just
about any time.
Anyway, Johnny turned to Winnie and asked her if she had any
superstitions before her husband played in a big tournament.
Winnie replied, "I kiss his balls."
Well, the audience erupted in laughter, and as Johnny did his usual
facial expressions, it just fed the laughter further. The laughter
seemed to go on for a minute or two. The Palmers squirmed uncomfortably.
And then Johnny made a crack about Arnie's putter. The way I remember it
(which could be wrong), it was something like, "I'll bet he'll raise his
putter to that."
Another 2-3 minutes of laughter.
The Palmers weren't so amused, and they sued Carson (for defamation of
character, I believe), the outcome of which I have no idea about
(although it's unlikely they would have won such a suit, since malicious
intent must be proven).
But it was classic Carson.
David Letterman is right when he says that the current crop of talk show
hosts are just pretenders. Carson was one-of-a-kind, the likes of which
we'll never see again.
RIP, Johnny. You were missed the minute you left the show, and your
brand of inoffensive, yet uproarious comedy is surely missed today.
Randy

[DJD]

"R&B" wrote:

<snipped>

Post by "R&B"
Anyway, Johnny turned to Winnie and asked her if she had any superstitions
before her husband played in a big tournament.
Winnie replied, "I kiss his balls."

<snipped>



http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/palmer.asp

[c***@webtv.net]

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you won't
see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all Carson
moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest stretch of
audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know what they
were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well, mostly
because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't see it
replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions probably
is restrained from ever showing it again. But I'm sure it's locked away
somewhere in their archives. Those who remember it probably already know
what I'm referring to without my even telling you what it was. But for
Winnie Palmer, wife of Arnold, was seated on the couch, next to her husband
Arnold, who was a headline guest on The Tonight Show. Arnie had just won a
big tournament. I have no idea which one, but I would guess it was probably
The Masters or a US Open, since talk shows don't make it a habit of inviting
golfers to be guests except right after a big event for which there was
national interest. Although back in those days (the early '60s), Arnie was
such a media darling, it could have been just about any time.
Anyway, Johnny turned to Winnie and asked her if she had any

superstitions

Post by "R&B"
before her husband played in a big tournament.
Winnie replied, "I kiss his balls."
Well, the audience erupted in laughter, and as Johnny did his usual facial
expressions, it just fed the laughter further. The laughter seemed to go on
for a minute or two. The Palmers squirmed uncomfortably.
And then Johnny made a crack about Arnie's putter. The way I

remember it

Post by "R&B"
(which could be wrong), it was something like, "I'll bet he'll raise his
putter to that."

I was told it second hand and didn't know if it was from the show or
made as a joke, but the punchline I heard was, "I bet that would make
his putter stand on end!".

As far as the urban legend related by Snopes, I don't think that Mrs.
Palmer would have to have been there. Johnny could have asked Arnie
what his wife does to give him good luck?, without her being there.

As far as uncocking the wrists, I kinda liked the Ed Ames tomahawk
throw....(it landed in the crotch, pointing straight out of some sort
of a human cardboard picture).

Post by "R&B"
Another 2-3 minutes of laughter.
The Palmers weren't so amused, and they sued Carson (for defamation of
character, I believe), the outcome of which I have no idea about (although
it's unlikely they would have won such a suit, since malicious intent must
be proven).
But it was classic Carson.
David Letterman is right when he says that the current crop of talk show
hosts are just pretenders. Carson was one-of-a-kind, the likes of which
we'll never see again.
RIP, Johnny. You were missed the minute you left the show, and your brand
of inoffensive, yet uproarious comedy is surely missed today.

Well said, and he was simply himself and the best.

CJ

Post by "R&B"
Randy

[John "Da Ringer"]

Hi Randy,

I remember that episode of the Tonight Show.

I was very little (I'm 45 now) when that happened.

Winnie Palmer said "Before every tournament I kiss his balls" and Johnny
Carson replied " Well, I bet that makes the ole putter stand up".

A lawsuit resulted, but the television stations did show a clip during the
ensuing lawsuit. I honestly do remember seeing that on TV.

Some are posting links that say the incident never occured. I disagree
because I remember seeing it on TV for myself.

RIP Johnny.

Da Ringer

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you
won't see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all
Carson moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest
stretch of audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know what
they were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well,
mostly because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't
see it replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions
probably is restrained from ever showing it again. But I'm sure it's
locked away somewhere in their archives. Those who remember it probably
already know what I'm referring to without my even telling you what it
Winnie Palmer, wife of Arnold, was seated on the couch, next to her
husband Arnold, who was a headline guest on The Tonight Show. Arnie had
just won a big tournament. I have no idea which one, but I would guess it
was probably The Masters or a US Open, since talk shows don't make it a
habit of inviting golfers to be guests except right after a big event for
which there was national interest. Although back in those days (the early
'60s), Arnie was such a media darling, it could have been just about any
time.
Anyway, Johnny turned to Winnie and asked her if she had any superstitions
before her husband played in a big tournament.
Winnie replied, "I kiss his balls."
Well, the audience erupted in laughter, and as Johnny did his usual facial
expressions, it just fed the laughter further. The laughter seemed to go
on for a minute or two. The Palmers squirmed uncomfortably.
And then Johnny made a crack about Arnie's putter. The way I remember it
(which could be wrong), it was something like, "I'll bet he'll raise his
putter to that."
Another 2-3 minutes of laughter.
The Palmers weren't so amused, and they sued Carson (for defamation of
character, I believe), the outcome of which I have no idea about (although
it's unlikely they would have won such a suit, since malicious intent must
be proven).
But it was classic Carson.
David Letterman is right when he says that the current crop of talk show
hosts are just pretenders. Carson was one-of-a-kind, the likes of which
we'll never see again.
RIP, Johnny. You were missed the minute you left the show, and your brand
of inoffensive, yet uproarious comedy is surely missed today.
Randy

[multi]

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:13:50 -0500, "John \"Da Ringer\""

Post by John "Da Ringer"
Some are posting links that say the incident never occured. I disagree
because I remember seeing it on TV for myself.

So we have to choose between believing you, or believing Arnold
Palmer. Strangely enough, I tend to believe you, because the story
Palmer tells (quoted on Snopes) doesn't ring true -- I don't believe
Carson would have asked him that, and I don't believe Palmer would
have had the witty reply ready to go. Seems like even if there is no
longer a tape of the show, the guest lists would be available, to see
if Winnie was there. I said I find it hard to believe Carson would
ask Palmer that; I find it impossible to believe he would do it in
front of his wife.

On the other hand, I wouldn't bet my house that you and Randy are
right, because nobody's memory is perfect, especially when the
incident is decades old. Sometimes incidents you remember vaguely
become entwined with details you later read or heard about. *I*
remember a TV show from 1986, about the impending arrival of Halley's
Comet. They had a bunch of old codgers discussing the time they had
seen it as youngsters, in 1910. They disagreed about the length of
its tail, but they all remembered the loud "Whoosh!" as it went by.

By the way, I *have* seen the tape of a similar incident from the
Newlywed Game. They asked the husband the strangest place he and his
wife had ever made love, and he said the kitchen table. Then they
brought the wife out and asked her. She turned red, and said to her
husband, "I can't say that!" But it was for a hundred bucks, and her
husband kept saying, "It's OK, just be honest," so finally, in a timid
voice, she answered: "In the butt."

[John "Da Ringer"]

As I remember the Winnie Palmer incident.......

After Winnie said "Before every tournament I kiss his balls" Carson replied
in a Groucho Marx voice while wiggling a pencil like a cigar and leaning
into the microphone" I bet that makes the ole putter stand up".

Winnie was very insulted by Carson and the laughter from the audience.

Believe what you will, but I know that I remember seeing that on TV

Da Ringer

Post by multi
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:13:50 -0500, "John \"Da Ringer\""

Post by John "Da Ringer"
Some are posting links that say the incident never occured. I disagree
because I remember seeing it on TV for myself.

So we have to choose between believing you, or believing Arnold
Palmer. Strangely enough, I tend to believe you, because the story
Palmer tells (quoted on Snopes) doesn't ring true -- I don't believe
Carson would have asked him that, and I don't believe Palmer would
have had the witty reply ready to go. Seems like even if there is no
longer a tape of the show, the guest lists would be available, to see
if Winnie was there. I said I find it hard to believe Carson would
ask Palmer that; I find it impossible to believe he would do it in
front of his wife.
On the other hand, I wouldn't bet my house that you and Randy are
right, because nobody's memory is perfect, especially when the
incident is decades old. Sometimes incidents you remember vaguely
become entwined with details you later read or heard about. *I*
remember a TV show from 1986, about the impending arrival of Halley's
Comet. They had a bunch of old codgers discussing the time they had
seen it as youngsters, in 1910. They disagreed about the length of
its tail, but they all remembered the loud "Whoosh!" as it went by.
By the way, I *have* seen the tape of a similar incident from the
Newlywed Game. They asked the husband the strangest place he and his
wife had ever made love, and he said the kitchen table. Then they
brought the wife out and asked her. She turned red, and said to her
husband, "I can't say that!" But it was for a hundred bucks, and her
husband kept saying, "It's OK, just be honest," so finally, in a timid
voice, she answered: "In the butt."

[Glfnaz]

Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

Post by John "Da Ringer"
As I remember the Winnie Palmer incident.......
After Winnie said "Before every tournament I kiss his balls" Carson
replied in a Groucho Marx voice while wiggling a pencil like a cigar and
leaning into the microphone" I bet that makes the ole putter stand up".
Winnie was very insulted by Carson and the laughter from the audience.
Believe what you will, but I know that I remember seeing that on TV
Da Ringer

Post by multi
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:13:50 -0500, "John \"Da Ringer\""

Post by John "Da Ringer"
Some are posting links that say the incident never occured. I disagree
because I remember seeing it on TV for myself.

So we have to choose between believing you, or believing Arnold
Palmer. Strangely enough, I tend to believe you, because the story
Palmer tells (quoted on Snopes) doesn't ring true -- I don't believe
Carson would have asked him that, and I don't believe Palmer would
have had the witty reply ready to go. Seems like even if there is no
longer a tape of the show, the guest lists would be available, to see
if Winnie was there. I said I find it hard to believe Carson would
ask Palmer that; I find it impossible to believe he would do it in
front of his wife.
On the other hand, I wouldn't bet my house that you and Randy are
right, because nobody's memory is perfect, especially when the
incident is decades old. Sometimes incidents you remember vaguely
become entwined with details you later read or heard about. *I*
remember a TV show from 1986, about the impending arrival of Halley's
Comet. They had a bunch of old codgers discussing the time they had
seen it as youngsters, in 1910. They disagreed about the length of
its tail, but they all remembered the loud "Whoosh!" as it went by.
By the way, I *have* seen the tape of a similar incident from the
Newlywed Game. They asked the husband the strangest place he and his
wife had ever made love, and he said the kitchen table. Then they
brought the wife out and asked her. She turned red, and said to her
husband, "I can't say that!" But it was for a hundred bucks, and her
husband kept saying, "It's OK, just be honest," so finally, in a timid
voice, she answered: "In the butt."

[Colleyville Alan]

Post by Glfnaz
Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

Wilt Chamberlain said he met so many people who said they were there the
night he scored 100 points, they could have filled the arena 20 times over.

Post by Glfnaz

Post by John "Da Ringer"
As I remember the Winnie Palmer incident.......
After Winnie said "Before every tournament I kiss his balls" Carson
replied in a Groucho Marx voice while wiggling a pencil like a cigar and
leaning into the microphone" I bet that makes the ole putter stand up".
Winnie was very insulted by Carson and the laughter from the audience.
Believe what you will, but I know that I remember seeing that on TV
Da Ringer

Post by multi
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:13:50 -0500, "John \"Da Ringer\""

Post by John "Da Ringer"
Some are posting links that say the incident never occured. I disagree
because I remember seeing it on TV for myself.

So we have to choose between believing you, or believing Arnold
Palmer. Strangely enough, I tend to believe you, because the story
Palmer tells (quoted on Snopes) doesn't ring true -- I don't believe
Carson would have asked him that, and I don't believe Palmer would
have had the witty reply ready to go. Seems like even if there is no
longer a tape of the show, the guest lists would be available, to see
if Winnie was there. I said I find it hard to believe Carson would
ask Palmer that; I find it impossible to believe he would do it in
front of his wife.
On the other hand, I wouldn't bet my house that you and Randy are
right, because nobody's memory is perfect, especially when the
incident is decades old. Sometimes incidents you remember vaguely
become entwined with details you later read or heard about. *I*
remember a TV show from 1986, about the impending arrival of Halley's
Comet. They had a bunch of old codgers discussing the time they had
seen it as youngsters, in 1910. They disagreed about the length of
its tail, but they all remembered the loud "Whoosh!" as it went by.
By the way, I *have* seen the tape of a similar incident from the
Newlywed Game. They asked the husband the strangest place he and his
wife had ever made love, and he said the kitchen table. Then they
brought the wife out and asked her. She turned red, and said to her
husband, "I can't say that!" But it was for a hundred bucks, and her
husband kept saying, "It's OK, just be honest," so finally, in a timid
voice, she answered: "In the butt."

[Fred Taylor]

Post by Colleyville Alan

Post by Glfnaz
Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

Wilt Chamberlain said he met so many people who said they were there the
night he scored 100 points, they could have filled the arena 20 times over.

He also said he slept with 20,000 women in his lifetime.

[Colleyville Alan]

Post by Fred Taylor

Post by Colleyville Alan

Post by Glfnaz
Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

Wilt Chamberlain said he met so many people who said they were there the
night he scored 100 points, they could have filled the arena 20 times over.

He also said he slept with 20,000 women in his lifetime.

That part might be true :)

[Craig]

Post by Colleyville Alan

Post by Glfnaz
Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

Wilt Chamberlain said he met so many people who said they were there the
night he scored 100 points, they could have filled the arena 20 times over.

That reminds of a local story. We have a local football club, the
Winnipeg Blue Bombers. One year, I think around 1990 or so (maybe
earlier), they were hosting a semi-final game against the Toronto
Argonauts. The Bombers hadn't played very well that year and were not
expected to beat the Argos. In addition the game was in November with
cold temperatures and snow. As a result, there were only about 10,000 or
so fans (may be mistaken on the number, but the stadium holds about
27,000) who showed up for the game.

Surprise of surprises, the Bombers won! The organization printed up
T-shirts that read "I was one of the 10,000. Bombers beat Argos, blah,
blah".

Apparently, they sold about 20,000 shirts.

Craig

[Tim]

Post by Glfnaz
Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

I saw Jimi Hendrix on MTV Cribs.

tim

[gman99]

Post by Tim
I saw Jimi Hendrix on MTV Cribs.

I saw Elvis at the mall the other day...still kickin'

[The World Wide Wade]

In article

Post by gman99

Post by Tim
I saw Jimi Hendrix on MTV Cribs.

I saw Elvis at the mall the other day...still kickin'

If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators
would be dead. - Johnny Carson

[Bobby Knight]

On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 23:21:28 -0800, The World Wide Wade

Post by The World Wide Wade
In article

Post by gman99

Post by Tim
I saw Jimi Hendrix on MTV Cribs.

I saw Elvis at the mall the other day...still kickin'

If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators
would be dead. - Johnny Carson

I truly wish that Elvis had lived and his music died.
__
\o'
|
/ \
Someone likes every shot
bk

[kjpjr]

And I saw bush tell the truth!

[Peter Strauss]

Post by kjpjr
And I saw bush tell the truth!

Now you've gone too far.

<plonk>

j/k
heheheh

[The World Wide Wade]

Post by Glfnaz
Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

The difference is that the Beatles actually played Shea Stadium.

["R&B"]

Post by The World Wide Wade

Post by Glfnaz
Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

The difference is that the Beatles actually played Shea Stadium.

Oh, this (the Carson episode) did actually happen. I know too many people
(and now add John to the list) who actually saw it when it aired. I saw it
when it aired, too.

Randy

[John "Da Ringer"]

I also remember some of the kids at school (grade school) talking about it a
day or so after it happened. When we were around 7 to10 years old the word
"balls" was the same as saying mother*****r by todays standards. This was
sometime in the late 60's.

My older sister talked about it to her friend during the same time.

It did happen.

I also remember being at the Gator Bowl watching a World Football League
game between the Jacksonville Sharks and the Hawaii Hawains (sp) when they
stopped the game for Nixon's resignation speech. The crowd cheered with a
standing ovation for about 5 minutes when Nixon said he was resigning.

BTW....... Jacksonville won.

Da Ringer

Post by "R&B"

Post by The World Wide Wade

Post by Glfnaz
Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

The difference is that the Beatles actually played Shea Stadium.

Oh, this (the Carson episode) did actually happen. I know too many people
(and now add John to the list) who actually saw it when it aired. I saw
it when it aired, too.
Randy

["R&B"]

Post by John "Da Ringer"
I also remember some of the kids at school (grade school) talking about it
a day or so after it happened. When we were around 7 to10 years old the
word "balls" was the same as saying mother*****r by todays standards. This
was sometime in the late 60's.

My, how times change.

Just last night I was watching an interview with Mark Cuban (it was on
another Carson show on NBC...in this case, Carson Daly's show). Cuban was
being asked about comparisons between his show ("The Benefactor") and Donald
Trump's show ("The Apprentice"). Daly mentioned to Cuban that Trump has his
own catch-phrase -- "You're Fired!" -- and asked if Cuban had one. Cuban
said yes, and quoted it:

"No balls, no babies."

Randy

Post by John "Da Ringer"
My older sister talked about it to her friend during the same time.
It did happen.
I also remember being at the Gator Bowl watching a World Football League
game between the Jacksonville Sharks and the Hawaii Hawains (sp) when they
stopped the game for Nixon's resignation speech. The crowd cheered with a
standing ovation for about 5 minutes when Nixon said he was resigning.
BTW....... Jacksonville won.
Da Ringer

Post by "R&B"

Post by The World Wide Wade

Post by Glfnaz
Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

The difference is that the Beatles actually played Shea Stadium.

Oh, this (the Carson episode) did actually happen. I know too many
people (and now add John to the list) who actually saw it when it aired.
I saw it when it aired, too.
Randy

[uncle k]

.................................. when they stopped the game for Nixon's
resignation speech. The crowd cheered with a standing ovation for about 5
minutes when Nixon said he was resigning.

I taped that speech on a $20 reel to reel deck, setting up a microphone in
front of the TV. Gawd, what I would have given for a DVDR back then.

BTW....... Jacksonville won.

That's it.... just spewed coffee all over the place. I'm outta here.

["R&B"]

I can name at least two other friends of mine who I didn't know back then
who also saw it when it first aired on NBC, and can quote this little
exchange word-for-word, and it's almost exactly as John described it.

My recollection was that Carson's comeback was "I'll bet that makes his
putter rise," but I posted that here once a few years ago and someone
corrected me. I took their version as gospel, but now that I've read John's
recollection of this (which is much closer to my own, and I know I saw it
live when it first aired on NBC), I now know that what I remembered was,
indeed, correct.

The only thing about the story that is truly a mystery to me is what I was
doing up that late. I had to be about 10 when it happened. Must've been a
Friday night. Or maybe it was in the Summer when I could stay up later.
Come to think of it, if Arnie was on The Tonight Show following a US Open
win, that would make sense.

Randy

Post by Glfnaz
Yeah and I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.

Post by John "Da Ringer"
As I remember the Winnie Palmer incident.......
After Winnie said "Before every tournament I kiss his balls" Carson
replied in a Groucho Marx voice while wiggling a pencil like a cigar and
leaning into the microphone" I bet that makes the ole putter stand up".
Winnie was very insulted by Carson and the laughter from the audience.
Believe what you will, but I know that I remember seeing that on TV
Da Ringer

Post by multi
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:13:50 -0500, "John \"Da Ringer\""

Post by John "Da Ringer"
Some are posting links that say the incident never occured. I disagree
because I remember seeing it on TV for myself.

So we have to choose between believing you, or believing Arnold
Palmer. Strangely enough, I tend to believe you, because the story
Palmer tells (quoted on Snopes) doesn't ring true -- I don't believe
Carson would have asked him that, and I don't believe Palmer would
have had the witty reply ready to go. Seems like even if there is no
longer a tape of the show, the guest lists would be available, to see
if Winnie was there. I said I find it hard to believe Carson would
ask Palmer that; I find it impossible to believe he would do it in
front of his wife.
On the other hand, I wouldn't bet my house that you and Randy are
right, because nobody's memory is perfect, especially when the
incident is decades old. Sometimes incidents you remember vaguely
become entwined with details you later read or heard about. *I*
remember a TV show from 1986, about the impending arrival of Halley's
Comet. They had a bunch of old codgers discussing the time they had
seen it as youngsters, in 1910. They disagreed about the length of
its tail, but they all remembered the loud "Whoosh!" as it went by.
By the way, I *have* seen the tape of a similar incident from the
Newlywed Game. They asked the husband the strangest place he and his
wife had ever made love, and he said the kitchen table. Then they
brought the wife out and asked her. She turned red, and said to her
husband, "I can't say that!" But it was for a hundred bucks, and her
husband kept saying, "It's OK, just be honest," so finally, in a timid
voice, she answered: "In the butt."

[multi]

Post by "R&B"
My recollection was that Carson's comeback was "I'll bet that makes his
putter rise," but I posted that here once a few years ago and someone
corrected me. I took their version as gospel, but now that I've read John's
recollection of this (which is much closer to my own, and I know I saw it
live when it first aired on NBC), I now know that what I remembered was,
indeed, correct.

I rest my case. What you "know" you saw changes with the last person
you talk to.

I take this a bit personally, because a few years ago I was on the
wrong end of case concerning an eye-witness who was completely
sincere, 100% sure, but absolutely wrong. Cost me some money, and a
lot of aggravation.

[Jim Hadley]

Post by multi
I take this a bit personally, because a few years ago I was on the
wrong end of case concerning an eye-witness who was completely
sincere, 100% sure, but absolutely wrong. Cost me some money, and a
lot of aggravation.

That pesky child-molesting case again?

[multi]

Post by Jim Hadley

Post by multi
I take this a bit personally, because a few years ago I was on the
wrong end of case concerning an eye-witness who was completely
sincere, 100% sure, but absolutely wrong. Cost me some money, and a
lot of aggravation.

That pesky child-molesting case again?

No, not that one. But since you asked, I'll tell the story, because
it shows how wrong people can be about something they saw with their
own eyes.

I moved into a house in Houston about 15 years ago. After I had lived
there about five years, the termites got to my deck, and I paid a guy
to tear it up and haul it away. He stacked the old boards outside the
gate as he was working. The gate was at the side back corner of my
house.

A couple weeks later, I got a letter from the Homeowner's Association,
which I didn't realize existed except as a yearly bill I had to pay,
telling me that I was in violation of the deed restrictions by
erecting a chain-link fence. Since they obviously had the wrong
house, I threw it in the garbage and forgot about it.

A couple weeks after that, which happened to be Christmas week, I got
another letter repeating that I had violated the covenants by erecting
a chain-link fence, and if I didn't replace it with an approved wooden
fence IMMEDIATELY, they would do it, and I would be fined $200 plus
costs.

So I called them, and told them they had the wrong house. They
verified my address, and the woman said she most certainly did NOT
have the wrong house. I said I hadn't put up any fences. She said
she had verified it just that morning, that the back gate to my house
had a chain link portion, which had replaced the existing wooden
fence. She said she had personally seen the boards from the old fence
piled up there a couple weeks before. Aha! I told her that the fence
(which was all of two feet long, the rest was a gate to a narrow dog
run) had always been there, and the boards she saw were from the old
deck I had removed. She haughtily informed me that she had walked
around the neighborhood three times a week for the last ten years, and
she knew for a fact that there had been a wooden fence there until a
couple weeks ago. I politely told her she was mistaken, and she
became enraged, how dare I call her a liar, blah blah blah. In the
end it was her word against mine, and she won. I had to pay several
hundred bucks to replace a perfectly good fence and gate with an
inferior one, and everybody at the Homeowner's office thought I was a
liar.

I believe this woman was totally sincere, although very unpleasant to
deal with. In her many walks past my house, she either didn't notice
the gate, or had seen the wooden fence behind it through the chain
link fence in front of it, and had thought she was seeing a wooden
fence in front of it. Whatever -- once her integrity was challenged,
she was as sure as she was alive that she had seen a wooden fence
there for the last ten years. Absolutely sure, saw it with her own
eyes, totally wrong. And that was about a memory less than a month
old.

[sjh]

Post by multi
she had walked
around the neighborhood three times a week for the last ten years, and
she knew for a fact that there had been a wooden fence there until a
couple weeks ago. I politely told her she was mistaken, and she
became enraged, how dare I call her a liar, blah blah blah. In the
end it was her word against mine, and she won. I had to pay several
hundred bucks to replace a perfectly good fence and gate with an
inferior one, and everybody at the Homeowner's office thought I was a
liar.

You effectively were lying- you had an non-conforming fence!

["R&B"]

Whatever. Since you didn't see it, I guess it didn't happen. Is that it?

Randy

Post by multi

Post by "R&B"
My recollection was that Carson's comeback was "I'll bet that makes his
putter rise," but I posted that here once a few years ago and someone
corrected me. I took their version as gospel, but now that I've read John's
recollection of this (which is much closer to my own, and I know I saw it
live when it first aired on NBC), I now know that what I remembered was,
indeed, correct.

I rest my case. What you "know" you saw changes with the last person
you talk to.
I take this a bit personally, because a few years ago I was on the
wrong end of case concerning an eye-witness who was completely
sincere, 100% sure, but absolutely wrong. Cost me some money, and a
lot of aggravation.

[multi]

Post by "R&B"
Whatever. Since you didn't see it, I guess it didn't happen. Is that it?

Here's a tip: If you want people to believe that you are accurately
reporting something that happened forty years ago, it doesn't help
your case to misrepresent something they said today.

[uncle k]

Post by John "Da Ringer"
As I remember the Winnie Palmer incident.......
After Winnie said "Before every tournament I kiss his balls" Carson
replied in a Groucho Marx voice while wiggling a pencil like a cigar and
leaning into the microphone" I bet that makes the ole putter stand up".
Winnie was very insulted by Carson and the laughter from the audience.
Believe what you will, but I know that I remember seeing that on TV

Oh, it happened. It's funny how many versions of the exchange come out,
decades later. The reply I recall from Johnny was "I bet that makes his
putter flutter."

Unc

["R&B"]

Post by multi
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:13:50 -0500, "John \"Da Ringer\""

Post by John "Da Ringer"
Some are posting links that say the incident never occured. I disagree
because I remember seeing it on TV for myself.

So we have to choose between believing you, or believing Arnold
Palmer. Strangely enough, I tend to believe you, because the story
Palmer tells (quoted on Snopes) doesn't ring true -- I don't believe
Carson would have asked him that, and I don't believe Palmer would
have had the witty reply ready to go. Seems like even if there is no
longer a tape of the show, the guest lists would be available, to see
if Winnie was there. I said I find it hard to believe Carson would
ask Palmer that; I find it impossible to believe he would do it in
front of his wife.
On the other hand, I wouldn't bet my house that you and Randy are
right, because nobody's memory is perfect, especially when the
incident is decades old. Sometimes incidents you remember vaguely
become entwined with details you later read or heard about. *I*
remember a TV show from 1986, about the impending arrival of Halley's
Comet. They had a bunch of old codgers discussing the time they had
seen it as youngsters, in 1910. They disagreed about the length of
its tail, but they all remembered the loud "Whoosh!" as it went by.
By the way, I *have* seen the tape of a similar incident from the
Newlywed Game. They asked the husband the strangest place he and his
wife had ever made love, and he said the kitchen table. Then they
brought the wife out and asked her. She turned red, and said to her
husband, "I can't say that!" But it was for a hundred bucks, and her
husband kept saying, "It's OK, just be honest," so finally, in a timid
voice, she answered: "In the butt."

I saw it, too, when it happened. It must have happened in the very early
days of Carson, maybe '62 or '63 (when did Arnie stop winning majors?). And
I'm sure if you asked around long enough, you'd find plenty of others who
saw it, too.

Palmers recounting the story to Leno was a lie. Probably just didn't want
to relive an embarrassing moment again. I guess you can't blame him. But
heck, if you can't laugh at yourself, then you're not worth sh*t in my book.
Athletes too often take themselves FAR too seriously.

And as you said, the way Snopes describes the scenario, you really have to
make a huge leap. For Johnny Carson to ask Arnold Palmer if he wife kisses
his balls simply defies the fundamental premise of comedy -- the element of
surprise. It also defies what Carson was known for doing -- being a great
straight man, feeding his guests lines. Johnny would never have fed a guest
an embarrassing line like that (since Carson would surely have known what it
meant).

The only way a line like that gets out is by accident, which means Carson
had to feed a straight line. In this case, I'm quite certain it was a
question about pre-tournament superstition. And it was either Winnie or
Arnie himself who said it.

Snopes.com blew this one. They're simply wrong.

Randy

[Fish]

In > RIP, Johnny. You were missed the minute you left the show, and your
brand of inoffensive, yet uproarious comedy is surely missed today.
Randy

Hear, hear. He was a master at his art.

[Campbe4]

I am also an eye witness to the program and am currently 52 years old.

My quick version:

Winnie Palmer was on the couch and I believe no Arnold.

The interview was boring, Winnie was stiff and nervous and had be proded to
answer questions. She was shy.

Johnny asked her if she did anything to give Arnold good luck before
Tournaments.
He had press her alittle as she was shucking around not able to think of
anything special.

Johnny said something like "Surely, you do something special to bring Arnie
good luck?"
To which Winnie responded " For good luck? Well, I do kiss his little balls."

Johnny bent closer and quickly responded
"I bet that makes his little putter stand up!

The audience went wild with laughter and Johnny was laughing hard knowing it
was a splended one liner!

Winnie was immediately embarrised and Johnny tried to smooth it over with hey
were only kidding please. As the audience continued to roar with laughter -
Winnie got up and half ran- half walked right off the stage. The crowd could
not stop laughing it was so funny. They roared for a good while after Winnie
split.

There was no Carson lines like "Oh, were going to get sued over this" like he
would years later.

As a child I was constanly waking up when my mother was howling with laughter
over his one liners and comedy skits.

An icon - Johnny Carson. "We'll always love you! Here's to you! Here's to you
Johnny!"

The Palmers took them to court and a few year later got some big bucks off the
network.

[The World Wide Wade]

Post by Campbe4
I am also an eye witness to the program and am currently 52 years old.
Winnie Palmer was on the couch and I believe no Arnold.

Yeah, Winnie Palmer was on the Tonight Show by herself. Right.

[multi]

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 11:36:40 -0800, The World Wide Wade

Post by The World Wide Wade

Post by Campbe4
I am also an eye witness to the program and am currently 52 years old.
Winnie Palmer was on the couch and I believe no Arnold.

Yeah, Winnie Palmer was on the Tonight Show by herself. Right.

Well, since we have eye-witnesses here, the obvious explanation is
that it happened twice -- once with Winnie and Arnold, and once with
Winnie by herself. Of course, this is subject to change, in case
someone posts that he clearly remembers it happening with Winnie,
Arnie, Jack, and Tiger on the couch. And as Arnie drove away, there
was a bloody hook hanging from his door handle.

I hate to diss the dead, but Winnie must have been pretty dumb to fall
for the same question twice.

By the way, if the Palmers filed a lawsuit, there would have to be a
public record of the filing, even if it was later settled out of
court. Seems like someone somewhere would have found it by now, if
it's famous enough to make the Urban Legends website.

["R&B"]

Post by multi
On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 11:36:40 -0800, The World Wide Wade

Post by The World Wide Wade

Post by Campbe4
I am also an eye witness to the program and am currently 52 years old.
Winnie Palmer was on the couch and I believe no Arnold.

Yeah, Winnie Palmer was on the Tonight Show by herself. Right.

Well, since we have eye-witnesses here, the obvious explanation is
that it happened twice -- once with Winnie and Arnold, and once with
Winnie by herself. Of course, this is subject to change, in case
someone posts that he clearly remembers it happening with Winnie,
Arnie, Jack, and Tiger on the couch. And as Arnie drove away, there
was a bloody hook hanging from his door handle.
I hate to diss the dead, but Winnie must have been pretty dumb to fall
for the same question twice.
By the way, if the Palmers filed a lawsuit, there would have to be a
public record of the filing, even if it was later settled out of
court. Seems like someone somewhere would have found it by now, if
it's famous enough to make the Urban Legends website.

Well, you make an interesting point about there being a record of it in some
court filings, if, in fact, there was ever a lawsuit filed. That part of
the story is really unclear, as there was no Golf Channel or much of any
other source for such information. Frankly, I'm not sure where I first
heard of the lawsuit, but I did hear of it. But that's hearsay, second- or
even third-hand knowledge.

It could be that just the threat of a lawsuit prompted NBC to grease the
wheels with an out-of-court settlement. Or it may be that there are, in
fact, court documents somewhere. Not sure where they would have been filed.
New York, I guess. Would be an interesting exercise to try to dig them up.
Although frankly, I doubt if you'd find much cooperation from authorities in
New York to go looking for them. I suspect NY law enforcement has bigger
fish to fry these days, and looking for something like that (which is
probably filed away in a box at some warehouse by now) would take weeks for
them to dig out.

I did actually see the event happen on television, so I know it occurred.
Whether the exact details of the story are 100% accurate, I can't say. I
know what I remember, and I know that several others who saw it remember it
essentially the same way, with a few differences in minute details.

It was, after all, about 40 years ago, give or take. Details of something
like this do fade. But I definitely recall seeing (and hearing) it as it
was first telecast.

Randy

[multi]

Post by "R&B"
I did actually see the event happen on television, so I know it occurred.
Whether the exact details of the story are 100% accurate, I can't say. I
know what I remember, and I know that several others who saw it remember it
essentially the same way, with a few differences in minute details.
It was, after all, about 40 years ago, give or take. Details of something
like this do fade. But I definitely recall seeing (and hearing) it as it
was first telecast.

I'm not questioning your word, your integrity, your honesty, or your
motivations. I'm just saying nobody's memory is absolutely reliable,
especially when it concerns something that is 1) long ago, 2) didn't
seem important at the time, and 3) was at an age when you didn't
really understand what was going on. So far, I'm inclined to believe
your version, but as I said, I wouldn't bet my house on it without
better evidence.

["R&B"]

Post by multi

Post by "R&B"
I did actually see the event happen on television, so I know it occurred.
Whether the exact details of the story are 100% accurate, I can't say. I
know what I remember, and I know that several others who saw it remember it
essentially the same way, with a few differences in minute details.
It was, after all, about 40 years ago, give or take. Details of something
like this do fade. But I definitely recall seeing (and hearing) it as it
was first telecast.

I'm not questioning your word, your integrity, your honesty, or your
motivations. I'm just saying nobody's memory is absolutely reliable,
especially when it concerns something that is 1) long ago, 2) didn't
seem important at the time, and 3) was at an age when you didn't
really understand what was going on. So far, I'm inclined to believe
your version, but as I said, I wouldn't bet my house on it without
better evidence.

Well, try to put yourself in that moment. At the time, I may not have
completely understood what they were talking about, but the fact that the
laughter was so uproarious (far more so than at any time I'd ever seen an
audience go nuts over a joke) certainly made the remark stand out.

The part about the story that I'm unclear on is whether Winnie was there, or
if it was just Johnny and Arnie. And Carson's comeback was always a bit
fuzzy to me.

But the line about kissing his balls is one I'll never forget. No one who
saw it would ever forget it.

Randy

[Larry Bud]

Post by "R&B"
I did actually see the event happen on television, so I know it occurred.
Whether the exact details of the story are 100% accurate, I can't say. I
know what I remember, and I know that several others who saw it remember it
essentially the same way, with a few differences in minute details.
It was, after all, about 40 years ago, give or take. Details of something
like this do fade. But I definitely recall seeing (and hearing) it as it
was first telecast.

Ever see the M*A*S*H episode about Capt. Tuttle?

[uncle k]

Post by Campbe4
I am also an eye witness to the program and am currently 52 years old.
Winnie Palmer was on the couch and I believe no Arnold.
The interview was boring, Winnie was stiff and nervous and had be proded to
answer questions. She was shy.
Johnny asked her if she did anything to give Arnold good luck before
Tournaments.
He had press her alittle as she was shucking around not able to think of
anything special.
Johnny said something like "Surely, you do something special to bring Arnie
good luck?"
To which Winnie responded " For good luck? Well, I do kiss his little balls."
Johnny bent closer and quickly responded
"I bet that makes his little putter stand up!

I also don't remember Arnie being there. And, I agree with your account,
except that I'm staying with my version of what I think Johnny said: "I bet
that makes his putter flutter."

Unc
Always a member of Arnie's Army

[The World Wide Wade]

Didn't happen. The Tonight Show was tape-delayed, it was the
early 60s, there were staff lawyers on hand - there's no way in
hell that would have seen airtime.

[sjh]

Post by The World Wide Wade
Didn't happen. The Tonight Show was tape-delayed, it was the
early 60s, there were staff lawyers on hand - there's no way in
hell that would have seen airtime.

I think you mean pre-recorded... they didn't have
digital delays in those days.

[The World Wide Wade]

In article

Post by sjh

Post by The World Wide Wade
Didn't happen. The Tonight Show was tape-delayed, it was the
early 60s, there were staff lawyers on hand - there's no way in
hell that would have seen airtime.

I think you mean pre-recorded... they didn't have
digital delays in those days.

What are you, 14 years old? Do a Google search on "tape-delayed"
sonny.

[sjh]

I'll have you know I just got my driving permit, but I thought you were
referring
to short a short delay to bleep cussing and such- a la the famous SNL
7-second delay
for Richard Pryor.

["R&B"]

Post by The World Wide Wade
In article

Post by sjh

Post by The World Wide Wade
Didn't happen. The Tonight Show was tape-delayed, it was the
early 60s, there were staff lawyers on hand - there's no way in
hell that would have seen airtime.

I think you mean pre-recorded... they didn't have
digital delays in those days.

What are you, 14 years old? Do a Google search on "tape-delayed"
sonny.

Unfortunately, tapes of Carson episodes prior to 1969 don't exist. The few
black and white highlights you see are probably kinescopes. NBC is
notorious for not having not archived its programs prior to the late 1960s,
or just erasing them altogether. A search through Carson Productions'
website for old highlights reveals that nothing is available prior to 1969.
That's sad.

Somewhere along the timeline, the ownership of the show transferred from NBC
Productions to Carson Productions. (This is one of the things Johnny
counseled Dave Letterman about when Dave was considering his move to CBS.
NBC wanted to own the show if he stayed at NBC and take over The Tonight
Show, but CBS was offering full ownership of the show to Dave's company
Worldwide Pants.) This change may have occurred around 1969, which may
account for why Carson Productions has these old episodes, not NBC.

Randy

[sfb]

Most of the obits indicate that the taping didn't start until he moved
west in the early seventies.

Post by The World Wide Wade
Didn't happen. The Tonight Show was tape-delayed, it was the
early 60s, there were staff lawyers on hand - there's no way in
hell that would have seen airtime.

[Colleyville Alan]

Post by sfb
Most of the obits indicate that the taping didn't start until he moved
west in the early seventies.

He was on at 11:30 on the west coast, so that had to be tape-delayed. (it
was referred to as tape-delayed when they taped a program and showed it
later).

I believe that the east coast had the progam on at the same time and, like
when it was shot in Burbank, was recorded earlier in the evening so it would
have been tape-delayed as well.

The obits might be referring to the fact that they did not archive tapes,
Johnny mentioned on his farewell show that it was a shame that some
memorable moments like Bette Midler's first appearance were not taped.

["R&B"]

Post by The World Wide Wade
Didn't happen. The Tonight Show was tape-delayed, it was the
early 60s, there were staff lawyers on hand - there's no way in
hell that would have seen airtime.

I saw it with my own eyes.

Randy

["R&B"]

Post by The World Wide Wade
Didn't happen. The Tonight Show was tape-delayed, it was the
early 60s, there were staff lawyers on hand - there's no way in
hell that would have seen airtime.

You're simply wrong there. In the earliest days of The Tonight Show
starring Johnny Carson, the show was LIVE, not pre-recorded as it is today.
In point of fact, this incident with Winnie Palmer might very well have been
one of the main things that provided impetus for NBC to start doing the show
on tape. Of that, one can only speculate. And I'm not absolutely certain
about whether the show was still live when this incident occurred, but I
know that (a.) it did happen, and (b.) The Tonight Show was broadcast live
during Johnny's earliest days on the show.

Few remember this, but for several years after Johnny took over the show
from Jack Paar, the program ran for an hour and 45 minutes. It actually
came on the air at 11:15 PM ET. Your late local news (on NBC affiliates,
anyway) was only 15 minutes. The first 15 minutes of the show was filled
with Skitch Henderson and the NBC Orchestra and Ed McMahon. Then Ed would
introduce Johnny at 11:30. Carson did 90 minutes. Five nights a week.
(No Monday substitute hosts back then.)

This is another argument against the show being on videotape during those
early days. The tapes themselves weren't long enough to hold 1:45 of
programming, and the technology was still so primative, it's unclear if they
could even do something as simple (by today's standards) as play the show
from two separate reels.

And like I said, it could be a moot point anyway, because we know for sure
that in the early days, The Tonight Show was LIVE. No tape.

Heck, videotape was still in its infancy at that time. Many of the old
shows in the 60s that you would think had been preserved on tape weren't,
simply because tape was a relatively unknown commodity and networks didn't
have the equipment to record programs. Most programs back in those days
were captured for archival purposes on kinescope, not videotape.

Randy

["R&B"]

I stand corrected. The Tonight Show was always on tape, from the first
episode with Carson.

Randy

Post by "R&B"

Post by The World Wide Wade
Didn't happen. The Tonight Show was tape-delayed, it was the
early 60s, there were staff lawyers on hand - there's no way in
hell that would have seen airtime.

You're simply wrong there. In the earliest days of The Tonight Show
starring Johnny Carson, the show was LIVE, not pre-recorded as it is
today. In point of fact, this incident with Winnie Palmer might very well
have been one of the main things that provided impetus for NBC to start
doing the show on tape. Of that, one can only speculate. And I'm not
absolutely certain about whether the show was still live when this
incident occurred, but I know that (a.) it did happen, and (b.) The
Tonight Show was broadcast live during Johnny's earliest days on the show.
Few remember this, but for several years after Johnny took over the show
from Jack Paar, the program ran for an hour and 45 minutes. It actually
came on the air at 11:15 PM ET. Your late local news (on NBC affiliates,
anyway) was only 15 minutes. The first 15 minutes of the show was filled
with Skitch Henderson and the NBC Orchestra and Ed McMahon. Then Ed would
introduce Johnny at 11:30. Carson did 90 minutes. Five nights a week.
(No Monday substitute hosts back then.)
This is another argument against the show being on videotape during those
early days. The tapes themselves weren't long enough to hold 1:45 of
programming, and the technology was still so primative, it's unclear if
they could even do something as simple (by today's standards) as play the
show from two separate reels.
And like I said, it could be a moot point anyway, because we know for sure
that in the early days, The Tonight Show was LIVE. No tape.
Heck, videotape was still in its infancy at that time. Many of the old
shows in the 60s that you would think had been preserved on tape weren't,
simply because tape was a relatively unknown commodity and networks didn't
have the equipment to record programs. Most programs back in those days
were captured for archival purposes on kinescope, not videotape.
Randy

[Glfnaz]

Post by "R&B"

Post by The World Wide Wade
Didn't happen. The Tonight Show was tape-delayed, it was the
early 60s, there were staff lawyers on hand - there's no way in
hell that would have seen airtime.

You're simply wrong there. In the earliest days of The Tonight Show
starring Johnny Carson, the show was LIVE, not pre-recorded as it is
today. In point of fact, this incident with Winnie Palmer might very well
have been one of the main things that provided impetus for NBC to start
doing the show on tape. Of that, one can only speculate. And I'm not
absolutely certain about whether the show was still live when this
incident occurred, but I know that (a.) it did happen, and (b.) The
Tonight Show was broadcast live during Johnny's earliest days on the show.
Few remember this, but for several years after Johnny took over the show
from Jack Paar, the program ran for an hour and 45 minutes. It actually
came on the air at 11:15 PM ET. Your late local news (on NBC affiliates,
anyway) was only 15 minutes. The first 15 minutes of the show was filled
with Skitch Henderson and the NBC Orchestra and Ed McMahon. Then Ed would
introduce Johnny at 11:30. Carson did 90 minutes. Five nights a week.
(No Monday substitute hosts back then.)
This is another argument against the show being on videotape during those
early days. The tapes themselves weren't long enough to hold 1:45 of
programming, and the technology was still so primative, it's unclear if
they could even do something as simple (by today's standards) as play the
show from two separate reels.
And like I said, it could be a moot point anyway, because we know for sure
that in the early days, The Tonight Show was LIVE. No tape.
Heck, videotape was still in its infancy at that time. Many of the old
shows in the 60s that you would think had been preserved on tape weren't,
simply because tape was a relatively unknown commodity and networks didn't
have the equipment to record programs. Most programs back in those days
were captured for archival purposes on kinescope, not videotape.
Randy

I have no idea if it happened or not, but in those dats JC didn't come on at
8:30 PDT that I remember.
Of course, in fact, I probably only saw JC 6 times in my life.

[Bobby Knight]

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 17:28:54 -0700, "Glfnaz" <***@qwesttrash.net>
wrote:

<clip>

Post by "R&B"
And like I said, it could be a moot point anyway, because we know for sure
that in the early days, The Tonight Show was LIVE. No tape.

Nope...they were taped. That changed during the Paar years. Carson
was on at 11:30pm Pacific time, and the taping was at 5:30pm.
__
\o'
|
/ \
Someone likes every shot
bk

[DanL]

Post by Bobby Knight
<clip>

Post by "R&B"
And like I said, it could be a moot point anyway, because we know for sure
that in the early days, The Tonight Show was LIVE. No tape.

Nope...they were taped. That changed during the Paar years. Carson
was on at 11:30pm Pacific time, and the taping was at 5:30pm.
__

So much for knowing "for sure"..... lol

[uncle k]

Post by The World Wide Wade
Didn't happen. The Tonight Show was tape-delayed, it was the
early 60s, there were staff lawyers on hand - there's no way in
hell that would have seen airtime.

You didn't see it, like many of us did, so it didn't happen? It sounds to
me like you're assuming things were the same in the '60's as they are now.
I'll never forget watching it, but the details of what was said get a little
sketchier with every year.

[Howard Brazee]

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you won't
see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all Carson
moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest stretch of
audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

I've read that the longest sustained laughter of all US TV was the Ed Ames
incident on that show.

["R&B"]

Post by Howard Brazee

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you won't
see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all Carson
moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest stretch of
audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

I've read that the longest sustained laughter of all US TV was the Ed Ames
incident on that show.

And I saw that one when it happened, too.

It was hilarious.

Randy

[Peter Strauss]

Post by "R&B"

Post by Howard Brazee

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you won't
see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all Carson
moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest stretch of
audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

I've read that the longest sustained laughter of all US TV was the Ed Ames
incident on that show.

And I saw that one when it happened, too.
It was hilarious.

I saw that one, too. It was not hilarious. It was downright painful.
When I recovered from the shock, I laughed 'til I cried and my sides
hurt so badly I could hardly breathe.

[Larry Bud]

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you won't
see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all Carson
moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest stretch of
audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know what they
were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well, mostly
because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't see it
replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions probably
is restrained from ever showing it again.

So Randy, since we all know this is an urban legend, care to revise
your "memory"??

["R&B"]

Post by "R&B"

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you

won't

Post by "R&B"
see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all

Carson

Post by "R&B"
moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest stretch

of

Post by "R&B"
audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know

what they

Post by "R&B"
were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well,

mostly

Post by "R&B"
because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't see

it

Post by "R&B"
replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions

probably

Post by "R&B"
is restrained from ever showing it again.

So Randy, since we all know this is an urban legend, care to revise
your "memory"??

It's not an urban legend. I saw it myself. So did some of my friends, a
few of whom lived in another part of the country when it happened. But we
all remember it, and we basically remember it the same way.

Snopes.com is wrong.

What's wrong with you people: You just assume that everything you read on
the internet is right?

I really don't care if you believe it or not. At least two other people in
this thread saw it on NBC, too, as did I. It happened. If you choose to
believe it didn't happen, it's no skin off my back. But you'd be wrong,
just as Snopes.com is.

Randy

[multi]

Post by "R&B"
Snopes.com is wrong.
What's wrong with you people: You just assume that everything you read on
the internet is right?

No, but when we are weighing unverified anecdotes against a website
with some established credibility, we tend to go with the latter. The
eyewitnesses in this thread are all over the map --- early sixties,
late sixties, Arnie and Winne, Winnie alone. Snopes gives exact
dates, and verbatim quotes from famous people. That doesn't prove
they are right, but it sure doesn't make it an act of stupidity to
believe their version.

Also note that the Snopes entry was last updated in 1998. That's
quite a long time for something demonstrably wrong to hang out there.

Post by "R&B"
I really don't care if you believe it or not. At least two other people in
this thread saw it on NBC, too, as did I.

Unfortunately, at least two other people in this thread saw it
differently, i.e. with Winnie by herself. So what is wrong with you,
why don't you believe them?

Post by "R&B"
It happened. If you choose to
believe it didn't happen, it's no skin off my back. But you'd be wrong,
just as Snopes.com is.

I believe something must have happened, and your version sounds more
likely than Arnie's. That's a pretty big compliment to you, if you'd
lower your outrage enough to notice. But without better evidence, I
can only tend to believe your version, not accept it as Gospel.

[John "Da Ringer"]

Winnie Palmer was on the show by herself without Arnie. Why? I don't know.

Da Ringer

Post by multi

Post by "R&B"
Snopes.com is wrong.
What's wrong with you people: You just assume that everything you read on
the internet is right?

No, but when we are weighing unverified anecdotes against a website
with some established credibility, we tend to go with the latter. The
eyewitnesses in this thread are all over the map --- early sixties,
late sixties, Arnie and Winne, Winnie alone. Snopes gives exact
dates, and verbatim quotes from famous people. That doesn't prove
they are right, but it sure doesn't make it an act of stupidity to
believe their version.
Also note that the Snopes entry was last updated in 1998. That's
quite a long time for something demonstrably wrong to hang out there.

Post by "R&B"
I really don't care if you believe it or not. At least two other people in
this thread saw it on NBC, too, as did I.

Unfortunately, at least two other people in this thread saw it
differently, i.e. with Winnie by herself. So what is wrong with you,
why don't you believe them?

Post by "R&B"
It happened. If you choose to
believe it didn't happen, it's no skin off my back. But you'd be wrong,
just as Snopes.com is.

I believe something must have happened, and your version sounds more
likely than Arnie's. That's a pretty big compliment to you, if you'd
lower your outrage enough to notice. But without better evidence, I
can only tend to believe your version, not accept it as Gospel.

[Annika1980]

I liked the Tonight Show episode where a young Tiger Woods challenged
Ben Hogan to a putt-off.
Even at 3 years old, Tiger knew that Texas guys suck at putt-offs.

[Colleyville Alan]

Post by Annika1980
I liked the Tonight Show episode where a young Tiger Woods challenged
Ben Hogan to a putt-off.
Even at 3 years old, Tiger knew that Texas guys suck at putt-offs.

Ben Crenshaw notwithstanding.

[Miss Anne Thrope]

If someone would have put that precocious little brat in his place back
then, we wouldn't have to put up with his spoiled little boy act, now.

[The World Wide Wade]

Post by multi

Post by "R&B"
Snopes.com is wrong.
What's wrong with you people: You just assume that everything you read on
the internet is right?

No, but when we are weighing unverified anecdotes against a website
with some established credibility, we tend to go with the latter. The
eyewitnesses in this thread are all over the map --- early sixties,
late sixties, Arnie and Winne, Winnie alone. Snopes gives exact
dates, and verbatim quotes from famous people. That doesn't prove
they are right, but it sure doesn't make it an act of stupidity to
believe their version.
Also note that the Snopes entry was last updated in 1998. That's
quite a long time for something demonstrably wrong to hang out there.

Post by "R&B"
I really don't care if you believe it or not. At least two other people in
this thread saw it on NBC, too, as did I.

Unfortunately, at least two other people in this thread saw it
differently, i.e. with Winnie by herself. So what is wrong with you,
why don't you believe them?

Post by "R&B"
It happened. If you choose to
believe it didn't happen, it's no skin off my back. But you'd be wrong,
just as Snopes.com is.

I believe something must have happened, and your version sounds more
likely than Arnie's. That's a pretty big compliment to you, if you'd
lower your outrage enough to notice. But without better evidence, I
can only tend to believe your version, not accept it as Gospel.

But why must something have happened? I've heard this story a
zillion times. The first few million times, I was very young, but
it was Jack Paar - not Carson! And it was Winnie alone with Paar.
Then it morphed into Winnie alone with Carson. Cuz we all love
Johnny (Paar was great but just a bit weird), so it's gotta be
Johnny who made the uproarious crack. And now fast forward 43
years or so and it's the internet age. And like a good expensive
wine the story has aged nicely. So in this thread we have
definite eyewitnesses - THEY WERE THERE. And it's Arnie AND
Winnie, or wait, no, just Arnie. Uh huh. Yeah. Well at least the
Palmers didn't land in Burbank in a UFO. Good, that's progress
... Yes, and the show was tape-delayed by friggin' hours - I
think we've established that - and you have one of the world's
great and beloved sports figures of the era and there's all kinds
of NBC lawyers with frowns on their faces in the wings and
they're gonna let that thing out into the midnight TV air of the
red states? Jokes about almighty Arnold Palmer's genitalia? In
the early 60's when Rob and Laura Petrie are sleeping in separate
beds? This is a good friend of Dwight D. Eisenhower you know. And
there's no record of massive complaints to NBC and the newpapers
from TEXASS and LUZIANNA and MIZZIZZIPPI?

Snopes has it right. It's an old, old joke from the vaudeville
era, recirculated by the Bob Hope crowd, and recast with
celebrities of the age and spread around until it turns into
mythical reality.

["R&B"]

Three people here have told you they saw it with their own eyes.

I have several friends who saw it with their own eyes.

All their stories are pretty similar, with a few minor inconsistencies, but
all have remarkably similar recollections of the same event.

None claimed to have "heard ABOUT it" or "read ABOUT it." They all said
they heard it and saw it when it originally aired on NBC-TV.

I know I saw it. And since it was before I indulged in hallucenagenic drugs
in the late '60s and early '70s, I am quite sure it actually happened. It's
all the stuff in between then and now that I'm not so sure of. :-)

Randy

Post by The World Wide Wade

Post by multi

Post by "R&B"
Snopes.com is wrong.
What's wrong with you people: You just assume that everything you read on
the internet is right?

No, but when we are weighing unverified anecdotes against a website
with some established credibility, we tend to go with the latter. The
eyewitnesses in this thread are all over the map --- early sixties,
late sixties, Arnie and Winne, Winnie alone. Snopes gives exact
dates, and verbatim quotes from famous people. That doesn't prove
they are right, but it sure doesn't make it an act of stupidity to
believe their version.
Also note that the Snopes entry was last updated in 1998. That's
quite a long time for something demonstrably wrong to hang out there.

Post by "R&B"
I really don't care if you believe it or not. At least two other people in
this thread saw it on NBC, too, as did I.

Unfortunately, at least two other people in this thread saw it
differently, i.e. with Winnie by herself. So what is wrong with you,
why don't you believe them?

Post by "R&B"
It happened. If you choose to
believe it didn't happen, it's no skin off my back. But you'd be wrong,
just as Snopes.com is.

I believe something must have happened, and your version sounds more
likely than Arnie's. That's a pretty big compliment to you, if you'd
lower your outrage enough to notice. But without better evidence, I
can only tend to believe your version, not accept it as Gospel.

But why must something have happened? I've heard this story a
zillion times. The first few million times, I was very young, but
it was Jack Paar - not Carson! And it was Winnie alone with Paar.
Then it morphed into Winnie alone with Carson. Cuz we all love
Johnny (Paar was great but just a bit weird), so it's gotta be
Johnny who made the uproarious crack. And now fast forward 43
years or so and it's the internet age. And like a good expensive
wine the story has aged nicely. So in this thread we have
definite eyewitnesses - THEY WERE THERE. And it's Arnie AND
Winnie, or wait, no, just Arnie. Uh huh. Yeah. Well at least the
Palmers didn't land in Burbank in a UFO. Good, that's progress
... Yes, and the show was tape-delayed by friggin' hours - I
think we've established that - and you have one of the world's
great and beloved sports figures of the era and there's all kinds
of NBC lawyers with frowns on their faces in the wings and
they're gonna let that thing out into the midnight TV air of the
red states? Jokes about almighty Arnold Palmer's genitalia? In
the early 60's when Rob and Laura Petrie are sleeping in separate
beds? This is a good friend of Dwight D. Eisenhower you know. And
there's no record of massive complaints to NBC and the newpapers
from TEXASS and LUZIANNA and MIZZIZZIPPI?
Snopes has it right. It's an old, old joke from the vaudeville
era, recirculated by the Bob Hope crowd, and recast with
celebrities of the age and spread around until it turns into
mythical reality.

[John "Da Ringer"]

Same thing here.

I didn't start sniffing laquer thinner until I turned 15 in 1974.

Da Ringer

BTW........

I also remember watching Kennedy's funeral. The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan
show. The Jets beating the Colts in Superbowl III, The Mets Beating the
Orioles in 69, The Gemini launches in the early and middle 60's, The moon
landing, Johnson's funeral, Wallace being shot, etc..........

If I say that I saw Winnie Palmer on the Tonight Show, you can bet your ass
that I saw it.

Da Ringer

Post by "R&B"
Three people here have told you they saw it with their own eyes.
I know I saw it. And since it was before I indulged in hallucenagenic
drugs in the late '60s and early '70s, I am quite sure it actually
happened. It's all the stuff in between then and now that I'm not so sure
of. :-)
Randy

[Glfnaz]

Post by John "Da Ringer"
Same thing here.
I didn't start sniffing laquer thinner until I turned 15 in 1974.
Da Ringer
BTW........
I also remember watching ......The Jets beating the Colts in Superbowl
III,

Dude, I remember watching Broaday Joe sitting in a lounge chair by the pool
guaranteeing that victory to the media.
We must be the same age.
But unless you ever saw the Dead at Winterland...you ain't ever seen
nothing.

[Larry Bud]

Post by "R&B"
Three people here have told you they saw it with their own eyes.
I have several friends who saw it with their own eyes.
All their stories are pretty similar, with a few minor

inconsistencies, but

Post by "R&B"
all have remarkably similar recollections of the same event.
None claimed to have "heard ABOUT it" or "read ABOUT it." They all said
they heard it and saw it when it originally aired on NBC-TV.

Tonight Show Fact # 281
After 30 years, rumors surrounding certain Tonight Show guests have
grown to near mythic proportions. One of the most famous involves Mrs.
Arnold Palmer, the legendary golfer's wife and a question about what
she does to bring her husband luck on the links. To this day fans of
the show not only repeat her answer, ("I kiss his balls.") but also
Johnny's quick-witted comeback ("I bet that makes his putter stand
up.") However, the truth is that the exchange never took place as
Mrs. Palmer was never a guest on the show.

http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/dear_johnny/carson_chronicles/issue5.jsp

["R&B"]

Thanks. We've already read these myth-busters.

However, it's revisionist history. I don't remember HEARING ABOUT this. I
remember WATCHING IT.

It hapened.

Those who are now saying it didn't happen are saying so because they have
some reason for not wanting it brought up again. The Carson Productions
people (or NBC) were just as embarrassed over it as was the Palmer family.
They are probably restrained from ever showing it again, and quite likely
have made a corporate decision to deny it, figuring it was so long ago,
nobody will remember it, and like some here, will simply not believe those
who remember seeing it.

Frankly, I don't much care whether you remember it or not. I know that I
saw it happen. And so do many others.

Randy

Post by "R&B"

Post by "R&B"
Three people here have told you they saw it with their own eyes.
I have several friends who saw it with their own eyes.
All their stories are pretty similar, with a few minor

inconsistencies, but

Post by "R&B"
all have remarkably similar recollections of the same event.
None claimed to have "heard ABOUT it" or "read ABOUT it." They all

said

Post by "R&B"
they heard it and saw it when it originally aired on NBC-TV.

Tonight Show Fact # 281
After 30 years, rumors surrounding certain Tonight Show guests have
grown to near mythic proportions. One of the most famous involves Mrs.
Arnold Palmer, the legendary golfer's wife and a question about what
she does to bring her husband luck on the links. To this day fans of
the show not only repeat her answer, ("I kiss his balls.") but also
Johnny's quick-witted comeback ("I bet that makes his putter stand
up.") However, the truth is that the exchange never took place as
Mrs. Palmer was never a guest on the show.
http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/dear_johnny/carson_chronicles/issue5.jsp

[David Laville]

Post by "R&B"
What's wrong with you people: You just assume that everything you read on
the internet is right?

You mean it's not? Come on, you're pulling my leg......


David Laville, G.S.E.M.
The Golfing Machine Authorized Instructor

[Larry Bud]

Post by "R&B"

Post by "R&B"

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you

won't

Post by "R&B"
see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all

Carson

Post by "R&B"
moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest stretch

of

Post by "R&B"
audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know

what they

Post by "R&B"
were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well,

mostly

Post by "R&B"
because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't see

it

Post by "R&B"
replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions

probably

Post by "R&B"
is restrained from ever showing it again.

So Randy, since we all know this is an urban legend, care to revise
your "memory"??

It's not an urban legend. I saw it myself. So did some of my

friends, a

Post by "R&B"
few of whom lived in another part of the country when it happened.

But we

Post by "R&B"
all remember it, and we basically remember it the same way.
Snopes.com is wrong.
What's wrong with you people: You just assume that everything you read on
the internet is right?

Did you even read Snopes.com? Leno had Arnie on the show in 1994 and
asked him about it. I'll believe a transcript of the show. 2nd, I'll
believe the official site of the Tonight Show as well:

http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/dear_johnny/carson_chronicles/issue5.jsp
Tonight Show Fact # 281
After 30 years, rumors surrounding certain Tonight Show guests have
grown to near mythic proportions. One of the most famous involves Mrs.
Arnold Palmer, the legendary golfer's wife and a question about what
she does to bring her husband luck on the links. To this day fans of
the show not only repeat her answer, ("I kiss his balls.") but also
Johnny's quick-witted comeback ("I bet that makes his putter stand
up.") However, the truth is that the exchange never took place as
Mrs. Palmer was never a guest on the show.

On Leno:
Leno: . . . apparently Johnny said, "Is there anything your wife does
to bring you good luck?"

Palmer: No, Johnny said, "Does your wife kiss your balls before you
go to play?" and I said, "I don't even go to bed without pajamas."

Leno: I thought that was a tactful way . . . but thanks for getting
right to the point. So we cleared that up. That's like a famous one,
like Jack Benny's, "Your money or your life . . . I'm thinking it
over." I wanted to find out . . . so it is true?

Palmer: There you've got it. And I don't want to hear about it any
more.

["R&B"]

Yes, I read the Snopes article. And I wrote to them to inform them that
Arnie's recounting of this event was in error. Probably because he didn't
want to embarrass his family again by accurately restating what happened.

I saw the thing with my own eyes, so I know it happened. Arnie was covering
it up.

Randy

Post by "R&B"

Post by "R&B"

Post by "R&B"

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one

you

Post by "R&B"

Post by "R&B"
won't

Post by "R&B"
see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all

Carson

Post by "R&B"
moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest

stretch

Post by "R&B"

Post by "R&B"
of

Post by "R&B"
audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know

what they

Post by "R&B"
were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well,

mostly

Post by "R&B"
because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't

see

Post by "R&B"

Post by "R&B"
it

Post by "R&B"
replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions

probably

Post by "R&B"
is restrained from ever showing it again.

So Randy, since we all know this is an urban legend, care to revise
your "memory"??

It's not an urban legend. I saw it myself. So did some of my

friends, a

Post by "R&B"
few of whom lived in another part of the country when it happened.

But we

Post by "R&B"
all remember it, and we basically remember it the same way.
Snopes.com is wrong.
What's wrong with you people: You just assume that everything you

read on

Post by "R&B"
the internet is right?

Did you even read Snopes.com? Leno had Arnie on the show in 1994 and
asked him about it. I'll believe a transcript of the show. 2nd, I'll
http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/dear_johnny/carson_chronicles/issue5.jsp
Tonight Show Fact # 281
After 30 years, rumors surrounding certain Tonight Show guests have
grown to near mythic proportions. One of the most famous involves Mrs.
Arnold Palmer, the legendary golfer's wife and a question about what
she does to bring her husband luck on the links. To this day fans of
the show not only repeat her answer, ("I kiss his balls.") but also
Johnny's quick-witted comeback ("I bet that makes his putter stand
up.") However, the truth is that the exchange never took place as
Mrs. Palmer was never a guest on the show.
Leno: . . . apparently Johnny said, "Is there anything your wife does
to bring you good luck?"
Palmer: No, Johnny said, "Does your wife kiss your balls before you
go to play?" and I said, "I don't even go to bed without pajamas."
Leno: I thought that was a tactful way . . . but thanks for getting
right to the point. So we cleared that up. That's like a famous one,
like Jack Benny's, "Your money or your life . . . I'm thinking it
over." I wanted to find out . . . so it is true?
Palmer: There you've got it. And I don't want to hear about it any
more.

[Miss Anne Thrope]

And yet, when I mention golfer's tiny white balls, or lack thereof, I'm
called a troll.

[Ed Durall]

As to the Ed Ames incident when he hit the figure in the crotch with the
tomahawk, after the laughter died down, Carson said, "I didn't know you were
Jewish."

[Campbe4]

Gosh my post didn't seem to make It through. I'll try again as I've thought it
through and talked to another eye witness.

I am an eye witness to the episode of Winnie Palmer. Some how she was filling
in for Arnold. I am currently 52 years old.

Winnie was stiff, nervous and responses were short and labored. Johnny was
trying to keep the interview going along and asked her if she did anything
special for Arnold before tournaments to bring him good luck.

Winnie was searching for an answer and said I can't think of anything. Johnny
pressing the issue said Surely, you do something to bring Arnie good luck?

Winnie said well when I'm packing his bags before he leaves I kiss his balls.

To which Johnny leaned over and quickly stated "I bet that makes his little
putter stand up."

The crowd roared with laughter and Johnny knowing he had a good one laughed
loudly as well. Winnie was embarrased, through the roar Johnny could be heard
saying we're only kidding, please...

Winnie got up and half ran/half walked right off the stage. The crowd was
still in stiches howling away all through it. It was too funny to stop
laughing.

About 3 years later I saw a small line in the back papers stating the Palmer
Family had finally won their case against Johnny/the network - somebody. Being
a golfer I kept any eye open for how the case would go. Can't remember the
amount but it was less than I thought it would be like a little over 1 million
dollars.

[uncle k]

Post by Miss Anne Thrope
And yet, when I mention golfer's tiny white balls, or lack thereof, I'm
called a troll.

Yeah, but you're a good troll. However, now you're being a whiner.

["R&B"]

One of the other major memories I have about Johnny was how disappointed I
was when I was in Los Angeles and got to attend the taping of The Tonight
Show in Spring of 1974. Johnny wasn't there. Rich Little was the host that
night. Ed Asner was a guest. And Anthony Newly (a complete bore). There
was a major hiccup in the show, somehow the end of it got cut off. Maybe
they just lost track of the time remaining. Not sure exactly what happened,
but the ending was very abrupt, and came in mid-sentence. Probably one of
those "flow" things that Johnny handled so smoothly and effortlessly that
most people would never notice...until something went wrong with a guest
host. I remember how small the set looked in person, compared to how it
looked on TV. And the "window" behind the desk...how it appeared to be a
real window to the outside, and then when you see it in person, it's just a
painting with little blinking "Christmas" lights behind holes that were cut
out of the mural to make it appear as though the lights outdoors were
"flickering." Ah, the magic of television.

I didn't get to see Johnny that night, but while I was in LA, we went to The
Troubadour, a famous night club, and saw Leo Sayer perform. (He was a lot
better than you might guess.) The parking lot attendant couldn't be found
afterwards, and a drunken Joe Cocker helped us locate our keys. But the
coolest part of the evening was when I looked up from my spot in the
standing-room-only audience and noticed that standing right next to me was
none other than George Harrison.

Randy

Post by "R&B"
In all the highlights we've been seeing in the past 36 hours, one you
won't see is the one that stands out in my mind as the funniest of all
Carson moments. And it is, by far, the one that evoked the longest
stretch of audience laughter on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
I was just a young boy when it happened, and I didn't really know what
they were talking about at the time. But I remember it pretty well,
mostly because of how the audience (and my parents) reacted. You won't
see it replayed because it resulted in a lawsuit, and Carson Productions
probably is restrained from ever showing it again. But I'm sure it's
locked away somewhere in their archives. Those who remember it probably
already know what I'm referring to without my even telling you what it
Winnie Palmer, wife of Arnold, was seated on the couch, next to her
husband Arnold, who was a headline guest on The Tonight Show. Arnie had
just won a big tournament. I have no idea which one, but I would guess it
was probably The Masters or a US Open, since talk shows don't make it a
habit of inviting golfers to be guests except right after a big event for
which there was national interest. Although back in those days (the early
'60s), Arnie was such a media darling, it could have been just about any
time.
Anyway, Johnny turned to Winnie and asked her if she had any superstitions
before her husband played in a big tournament.
Winnie replied, "I kiss his balls."
Well, the audience erupted in laughter, and as Johnny did his usual facial
expressions, it just fed the laughter further. The laughter seemed to go
on for a minute or two. The Palmers squirmed uncomfortably.
And then Johnny made a crack about Arnie's putter. The way I remember it
(which could be wrong), it was something like, "I'll bet he'll raise his
putter to that."
Another 2-3 minutes of laughter.
The Palmers weren't so amused, and they sued Carson (for defamation of
character, I believe), the outcome of which I have no idea about (although
it's unlikely they would have won such a suit, since malicious intent must
be proven).
But it was classic Carson.
David Letterman is right when he says that the current crop of talk show
hosts are just pretenders. Carson was one-of-a-kind, the likes of which
we'll never see again.
RIP, Johnny. You were missed the minute you left the show, and your brand
of inoffensive, yet uproarious comedy is surely missed today.
Randy

[bmickey9]

Post by "R&B"
But the
coolest part of the evening was when I looked up from my spot in the
standing-room-only audience and noticed that standing right next to me was
none other than George Harrison.

Are you sure you weren't at Shea Stadium?

bmickey9

["R&B"]

The closest I ever got to Shea Stadium is when we were driving from the
airport to Westchester.

We drove by it.

Randy

Post by bmickey9

Post by "R&B"
But the
coolest part of the evening was when I looked up from my spot in the
standing-room-only audience and noticed that standing right next to me was
none other than George Harrison.

Are you sure you weren't at Shea Stadium?
bmickey9

[Andy]

"\"R&B\""
tadium is when we were driving from the
airport to Westchester.
We drove by it.
Randy

Westchester? They let you in?
http://www.pbase.com/andrcom

[sfb]

Anybody can get into the county.

Post by Andy

"\"R&B\""
tadium is when we were driving from the
airport to Westchester.
We drove by it.
Randy

Westchester? They let you in?
http://www.pbase.com/andrcom

["R&B"]

Post by Andy

"\"R&B\""
tadium is when we were driving from the
airport to Westchester.
We drove by it.
Randy

Westchester? They let you in?

As part of the media, not only did they let me in, but they let me eat in
the clubhouse with the players in their dining area, and walk inside the
ropes with the players.

It was my only trip to NYC. We flew into Laguardia, I think (isn't that the
one with the short runway?). Scared the daylights out of me. But I hate
flying anyway. Stayed at some raggedy-ass hotel (supposedly fancy, but I
thought it was nasty) in Connecticut, but I couldn't tell you which one.

We almost got on at Winged Foot after our Friday walk-through. Damn, that
would've been cool. The arrangements had been made. But alas, it wasn't to
be. Didn't have time.

Randy

[Mike Bowen]

For what its worth I have heard of the story also. But even on the
"official" website they say it isn't true. It really seems that they don't
want the world to know.

http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/dear_johnny/carson_chronicles/issue5.jsp

Tonight Show Fact # 281
After 30 years, rumors surrounding certain Tonight Show guests have grown to
near mythic proportions. One of the most famous involves Mrs. Arnold Palmer,
the legendary golfer’s wife and a question about what she does to bring her
husband luck on the links. To this day fans of the show not only repeat her
answer, (“I kiss his balls.”) but also Johnny’s quick-witted comeback (“I
bet that makes his putter stand up.”) However, the truth is that the
exchange never took place as Mrs. Palmer was never a guest on the show.

Also, like you, I went to a taping of the Tonight Show and the guest host
was McLean Stevenson. Don't remember much about it, though.

Mike Bowen

["R&B"]

Revisionist history. Probably stemming from the settlement of the lawsuit.

I know I saw it.

Randy

Post by Mike Bowen
For what its worth I have heard of the story also. But even on the
"official" website they say it isn't true. It really seems that they don't
want the world to know.
http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/dear_johnny/carson_chronicles/issue5.jsp
Tonight Show Fact # 281
After 30 years, rumors surrounding certain Tonight Show guests have grown to
near mythic proportions. One of the most famous involves Mrs. Arnold Palmer,
the legendary golfer’s wife and a question about what she does to bring her
husband luck on the links. To this day fans of the show not only repeat her
answer, (“I kiss his balls.”) but also Johnny’s quick-witted comeback (“I
bet that makes his putter stand up.”) However, the truth is that the
exchange never took place as Mrs. Palmer was never a guest on the show.
Also, like you, I went to a taping of the Tonight Show and the guest host
was McLean Stevenson. Don't remember much about it, though.
Mike Bowen

[John "Da Ringer"]

My thoughts exactly.

The show with Winnie Palmer was in black and white.

Winnie Palmer was wearing an off-white dress with shoulder length dark hair.
Carson had a plaid type light colored jacket on and a microphone similar to
what Larry King uses on his show.

It probably happened somewhere around 1965 to 1967. I remember my sister
talking about at home and some of the kids at school talking about it just a
few days after it happened.

Tell me this??? If it didn't happen, then why were the kids (many) talking
about it at school. Hmmmmmmm...... very interesting.

There was also a time in 1981 when I was watching "Hart to Hart" with Robert
Wagoner and Stephanie Powers. The local station cut to a commercial around
midnight and instead of a commercial a porno flick came on the TV. It played
for about 10 to 15 seconds before it was cut.

The entire night crew was fired for that.

WRDW in Augusta made an apology the next day during the evening news.

Da Ringer

Post by "R&B"
Revisionist history. Probably stemming from the settlement of the lawsuit.
I know I saw it.
Randy

[multi]

On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 03:31:08 -0500, "John \"Da Ringer\""

Post by John "Da Ringer"
It probably happened somewhere around 1965 to 1967. I remember my sister
talking about at home and some of the kids at school talking about it just a
few days after it happened.
Tell me this??? If it didn't happen, then why were the kids (many) talking
about it at school. Hmmmmmmm...... very interesting.

Nice move. If we doubt your version (which contradicts that of other
people in the group), you produce a dozen more witnesses. Now we have
to doubt lots of people, which makes us stubborn and unreasonable.
Problem is, those kids didn't tell us they heard it, you told us, so
we still just have your word for it. Note that I am not questioning
your honesty here, I'm evaluating your logic.

Tell me this??? If Joseph Smith didn't receive the Book of Mormon on
tablets of gold from an angel, then why did so many people swear he
did? Hmmmmmmmm. Works for the Koran, too.

[Dene]

Post by multi
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 03:31:08 -0500, "John \"Da Ringer\""
Tell me this??? If Joseph Smith didn't receive the Book of Mormon on
tablets of gold from an angel, then why did so many people swear he
did?

You and Randy are eyewitnesses to this JC event. There were no eyewitnesses
to Joseph Smith's event.

-Greg

[multi]

Post by Dene
There were no eyewitnesses
to Joseph Smith's event.

Actually, there were. At the beginning of the Book of Mormon is the
sworn testimony of eight eyewitnesses, besides Smith, who testify that
they saw the gold plates with their own eyes, and felt them with their
own hands. It's up to you whether to believe them, just like it's up
to you whether to believe the story about Winnie. Or the Koran.

[John "Da Ringer"]

You are one dumb sack of shit.

If the tape of Kennedy's assassination was lost today and no copies were
made, does that mean in 100 years that it did not happen?

No one will be around that saw the tape.

There is nothing wrong with my logic.

Da Ringer

Post by multi
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 03:31:08 -0500, "John \"Da Ringer\""

Post by John "Da Ringer"
It probably happened somewhere around 1965 to 1967. I remember my sister
talking about at home and some of the kids at school talking about it just a
few days after it happened.
Tell me this??? If it didn't happen, then why were the kids (many) talking
about it at school. Hmmmmmmm...... very interesting.

Nice move. If we doubt your version (which contradicts that of other
people in the group), you produce a dozen more witnesses. Now we have
to doubt lots of people, which makes us stubborn and unreasonable.
Problem is, those kids didn't tell us they heard it, you told us, so
we still just have your word for it. Note that I am not questioning
your honesty here, I'm evaluating your logic.
Tell me this??? If Joseph Smith didn't receive the Book of Mormon on
tablets of gold from an angel, then why did so many people swear he
did? Hmmmmmmmm. Works for the Koran, too.

[multi]

On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 11:37:10 -0500, "John \"Da Ringer\""

Post by John "Da Ringer"
You are one dumb sack of shit.

Absolutely correct. It's bothered me for quite a long time.

Post by John "Da Ringer"
If the tape of Kennedy's assassination was lost today and no copies were
made, does that mean in 100 years that it did not happen?

No, it would mean that every holder of every crackpot theory about the
assassination would claim that the disappearance of the tape was proof
that the government was trying to hide the truth.

I don't suppose the fact that we do have the tape, and that people who
have spent years studying it disagree on the number, direction, and
timing of the shots, makes the slightest dent in your belief that your
unsubstantiated memory should settle all questions.

Post by John "Da Ringer"
There is nothing wrong with my logic.

That statement is a great help to me in evaluating your credibility.

[sfb]

Your logic may be good, but your facts are not proving that eye
witnesses can be unreliable.

The Kennedy assassination tape is actually an 8mm movie film. When the
black helicopter guys transferred it to tape, they erased the pistol
from Jackie's hand.

Post by John "Da Ringer"
If the tape of Kennedy's assassination was lost today and no copies
were made, does that mean in 100 years that it did not happen?
No one will be around that saw the tape.
There is nothing wrong with my logic.
Da Ringer

[art_classmn]

There is plenty wrong with our logic if you think your Kennedy story
applies at all.

[art_classmn]

There is plenty wrong with your logic if you think your Kennedy story
applies at all.

[sjh]

Post by multi
Tell me this??? If Joseph Smith didn't receive the Book of Mormon on
tablets of gold from an angel, then why did so many people swear he
did? Hmmmmmmmm.

Sounds like you're repeating ringer's argument.
So where's the gold then...

[multi]

Post by sjh

Post by multi
Tell me this??? If Joseph Smith didn't receive the Book of Mormon on
tablets of gold from an angel, then why did so many people swear he
did? Hmmmmmmmm.

Sounds like you're repeating ringer's argument.

Not much gets past you. Have you considered a career with the CIA?

Post by sjh
So where's the gold then...

In a vault, next to the tape of the Carson show. On top of NBC's
record of payment to the guests on that show. Underneath the public
record of the lawsuit the Palmers filed.

[Annika1980]

I like the movie, "Big Fish."