JACK PAAR
Name: Jack Paar
Born: 1 May 1918 Canton, Ohio, USA
Died: 27 January 2004 Greenwich, Connecticut, USA
Jack Harold Paar (May 1, 1918 – January 27, 2004) was an American radio and
television talk show host most noted for his iconic status as host of The
Tonight Show.
Born in Canton, Ohio, he moved, along with his family, to Jackson, Michigan,
approximately 30 miles south of Lansing, Michigan, during his childhood. Leaving
school at 16, he first worked as a radio announcer at WIBM in Jackson, Michigan
and later a humorous disc jockey at stations throughout the Midwest including
WJR in Detroit, WIRE in Indianapolis, WGAR in Cleveland and WBEN in Buffalo. In
his book P.S. Jack Paar, he recalled doing utility duty at WGAR on the night
Orson Welles broadcast his infamous War of the Worlds over the CBS network (and
affiliate WGAR). Attempting to calm possible panicked listeners, Paar announced,
"The world is not coming to an end. Trust me. Have I ever lied to you?"
During World War II, as part of a special services company entertaining troops
in the South Pacific, Paar was a clever, wisecracking master of ceremonies. More
than once. his pointed jibes at officers nearly got him into trouble. Paar
became renowned among servicemen, who thought he was even better than
professional comedians.
Jack Paar came to the attention of RKO Radio Pictures in Hollywood, which hired
him to emcee Variety Time (1948), a compilation of vaudeville sketches. Paar
later recalled that RKO didn't know what to do with him. His producers, trying
to decide what kind of screen characters he could play, compared Paar with other
RKO stars. Finally, Paar said, one of the executives had an inspiration, and
figured out who Jack Paar really was: "Kay Kyser, with warmth." Paar projected a
pleasant personality on film, and RKO called him back to emcee another filmed
vaudeville show, Footlight Varieties (1951). Paar was featured in a few films,
including a role opposite Marilyn Monroe in Love Nest (1951).
Like fellow humorists Steve Allen and Henry Morgan, Jack Paar dabbled in motion
pictures but was much more comfortable behind a studio microphone, broadcasting.
Paar found loyal listeners nationally as the 1950-51 host of radio's The $64
Question on NBC. He appeared as a standup comic on The Ed Sullivan Show and
hosted two TV game shows, Up To Paar (1952) and Bank On The Stars (1953), before
hosting The Morning Show (1954) on CBS. In 1956 he hosted The Jack Paar Show on
the ABC Radio network.
Name: Jack Paar
Born: 1 May 1918 Canton, Ohio, USA
Died: 27 January 2004 Greenwich, Connecticut, USA
Jack Harold Paar (May 1, 1918 – January 27, 2004) was an American radio and
television talk show host most noted for his iconic status as host of The
Tonight Show.
Born in Canton, Ohio, he moved, along with his family, to Jackson, Michigan,
approximately 30 miles south of Lansing, Michigan, during his childhood. Leaving
school at 16, he first worked as a radio announcer at WIBM in Jackson, Michigan
and later a humorous disc jockey at stations throughout the Midwest including
WJR in Detroit, WIRE in Indianapolis, WGAR in Cleveland and WBEN in Buffalo. In
his book P.S. Jack Paar, he recalled doing utility duty at WGAR on the night
Orson Welles broadcast his infamous War of the Worlds over the CBS network (and
affiliate WGAR). Attempting to calm possible panicked listeners, Paar announced,
"The world is not coming to an end. Trust me. Have I ever lied to you?"
During World War II, as part of a special services company entertaining troops
in the South Pacific, Paar was a clever, wisecracking master of ceremonies. More
than once. his pointed jibes at officers nearly got him into trouble. Paar
became renowned among servicemen, who thought he was even better than
professional comedians.
Jack Paar came to the attention of RKO Radio Pictures in Hollywood, which hired
him to emcee Variety Time (1948), a compilation of vaudeville sketches. Paar
later recalled that RKO didn't know what to do with him. His producers, trying
to decide what kind of screen characters he could play, compared Paar with other
RKO stars. Finally, Paar said, one of the executives had an inspiration, and
figured out who Jack Paar really was: "Kay Kyser, with warmth." Paar projected a
pleasant personality on film, and RKO called him back to emcee another filmed
vaudeville show, Footlight Varieties (1951). Paar was featured in a few films,
including a role opposite Marilyn Monroe in Love Nest (1951).
Like fellow humorists Steve Allen and Henry Morgan, Jack Paar dabbled in motion
pictures but was much more comfortable behind a studio microphone, broadcasting.
Paar found loyal listeners nationally as the 1950-51 host of radio's The $64
Question on NBC. He appeared as a standup comic on The Ed Sullivan Show and
hosted two TV game shows, Up To Paar (1952) and Bank On The Stars (1953), before
hosting The Morning Show (1954) on CBS. In 1956 he hosted The Jack Paar Show on
the ABC Radio network.