If Johnny Carson were alive today, he would be 100 years old. And you can almost hear him giving a clever and perfectly timed monologue about it. (“I’m so old that my cue cards have liver spots.”) To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the late-night king as it became known, the Museum of Broadcast Communications is rolling out the red carpet and reopening its doors with two exhibits: “Johnny Carson 100 Years” and “The Evolution of Late Night Television.”
The exhibit will debut at the museum’s pop-up venue at 440 W. Randolph Street in Chicago, opening to the public on October 24 and remaining open until January 2027. But before it is officially lit up, the museum will host a media preview and charity event on October 23rd. This day would have been Carson’s 100th birthday had he not died of respiratory failure in 2005 at the age of 79. MBC’s Education and Archive Mission.
“We are thrilled that Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications is creating this exhibit to honor Johnny’s legacy and celebrate his remarkable place in American history,” said Jeff Sotzing, president of Carson Entertainment Group. “What would have been his 100th birthday is a perfect time to reflect on his lasting impact on television, comedy and cultural conversation.”
The centerpiece of the reopening is the “100th Anniversary Exhibition,” which draws back the curtain on Carson’s world. Featuring rare artifacts from the museum’s collection, exclusive video content from Carson Entertainment Group and Shout. factory, and special items on loan from the Johnny Carson Gallery at the Elkhorn Valley Museum in Norfolk, Nebraska, including Carson’s “Tonight Show” desk and monologue cue cards.
A replica of the “Tonight Show” set from the Johnny Carson era is also among the exhibit photos.
Highlights of the exhibit include a photo op where guests can take photos standing on a replica of the “Tonight Show” stage entrance and in front of the original curtains that adorned the set, as well as a mock-up of the “Tonight Show” interview area, complete with a desk, backdrop, couch and more.
Carson hosted the late-night show for 30 years, from 1962 to 1992. Not only was Carson’s retirement a huge media event, it was also the year the show finally won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series after 13 nominations.
MBC’s companion exhibit, “The Evolution of Late Night Television,” traces how Carson’s pioneering spirit inspired a parade of hosts who followed in his footsteps, exploring the contributions of hosts ranging from Steve Allen and Jack Paar to David Letterman, Arsenio Hall, Joan Rivers, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert. Explore how formats adapt to streaming, podcasts, and digital media.
“Johnny Carson was more than just an organizer, he was a national institution whose humor and curiosity united Americans for 30 years,” said David Pryor, the museum’s chairman, president and CEO. “This exhibit is a rare opportunity to celebrate a career that helped shape American culture.”
