So Ends An Era

			Johnny Carson 1925 - 2005 Related Stories Johnny Carson Dies at 79 January 23, 2005 Carson Helped Young Comics Like No Other January 23, 2005 Carson's Characters Made for Classic Moments January 23, 2005 Carson's Parting Words on 'Tonight Show' 'Tonight Show' Guests Remembrance by Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Johnny Carson, who died Sunday at his home in Malibu, Calif., didn't invent the late-night talk show -- he inherited "The Tonight Show" from Jack Paar, who inherited it from Steve Allen -- but he made it an institution, and with three decades at its helm, became one himself in the bargain. So bound up was the host with his show that it was (informally) "The Johnny Carson Show," even when Carson wasn't hosting it... (cont'd)

Here's the Tonight Show web site