# Challenge! Who is the man sitting with all the stars on Johnny Carson? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321 "2014-04-30T00:42:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/481 "2014-05-05T04:14:35Z")
It’s like watching Bletchley Park in action. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/482 "2014-05-05T04:23:59Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I don’t have an ebay account. Maybe someone who does can use the “ask a question” feature to see if the magazine has an article about the awards. > > I’d guess no. Magazines used to have a lot of lead time, so the November issue probably wouldn’t have an article about an event that occurred in November. It’d be more likely in the December issue. I was thinking December would be better but I could not find it. I don’t have an E-Bay account either, I was going to try to ask about it. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/483 "2014-05-05T04:43:11Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Say … what does Marcel Marceau look like without his makeup? I think that’s a very good guess-- his hair was lighter before it started to go gray. Google “Marcel Marceau without makeup.” Even if the photo is a hoax-- a composite-- that’s still someone. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/484 "2014-05-05T05:07:29Z")
Wiki has a picture of Marcel Marceau dated 1974. I linked it earlier. Here it is again. I don’t think it looks much like MM. [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marcel_Marceau_-_AP_1974.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marcel_Marceau_-_AP_1974.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/485 "2014-05-05T05:18:41Z")
Here’re more: [http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LRG//27/2762/KACTD00Z.jpg](http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LRG//27/2762/KACTD00Z.jpg) [http://www.agefotostock.com/previewimage/bajaage/8ae22be6677d64ef32f0c5a3cf71dc41/NOR-NP00052851.jpg](http://www.agefotostock.com/previewimage/bajaage/8ae22be6677d64ef32f0c5a3cf71dc41/NOR-NP00052851.jpg) I can’t find any in color. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/486 "2014-05-05T05:23:04Z")
Found December 1970. [http://www.ebay.com/itm/Photoplay-December-1970-features-Jackie-Kennedy-Johnny-Cash-/121289957378?pt=Magazines&hash=item1c3d71e002](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Photoplay-December-1970-features-Jackie-Kennedy-Johnny-Cash-/121289957378?pt=Magazines&hash=item1c3d71e002) Maybe someone with an E-bay account can contact the seller to find out if there’s an article or photos of the awards. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/487 "2014-05-05T07:05:28Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Patrick43: This thread has numerous posts referencing newspaper clippings that show that this lineup of guests was on the show Nov 11, 1970. We should move past this debate about when the show aired. We know. And we know these were the winners of the Photoplay awards that night. Unfortunately, the mystery man is not listed. Yes, please. There is no longer any possible question about this fact: the picture is from the show 11/11/70, in honor of the Photoplay awards. That’s not a maybe. it’s a for damn sure. I think if we ever get solid confirmation of who he is, it will end up being someone without any degree of celebrity, no matter how familiar he seems. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/488 "2014-05-05T07:12:59Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > Found December 1970. > > [http://www.ebay.com/itm/Photoplay-December-1970-features-Jackie-Kennedy-Johnny-Cash-/121289957378?pt=Magazines&hash=item1c3d71e002](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Photoplay-December-1970-features-Jackie-Kennedy-Johnny-Cash-/121289957378?pt=Magazines&hash=item1c3d71e002) > > Maybe someone with an E-bay account can contact the seller to find out if there’s an article or photos of the awards. I would think it would be mentioned on the cover if there were, but I went ahead and asked the question of both sellers. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/489 "2014-05-05T08:26:25Z")
I don’t know what it was like in 1970, but remember that now days at least the date on the magazine covers is often a month or two in advance of when it goes on the newsstands, particularly the holiday issues. I wouldn’t be surprised if something that happened in November 1970 didn’t make the magazine until the issue dated January 1971 (which was probably mailed to subscribers in December 1970). Maybe even February 1971. Sand don’t forget that there were both US and UK editions of Photoplay. ---
**Author:** ![sandy\_shooz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sandy\_shooz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandy_shooz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/490 "2014-05-05T18:17:43Z")
No doubt that the Mystery man is Jay Sandrich…Big Time TV Director ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/491 "2014-05-05T18:18:43Z")
> [@sandy\_shooz](#): > > No doubt that the Mystery man is Jay Sandrich…TV Diector Cite? StG ---
**Author:** ![sandy\_shooz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@sandy\_shooz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandy_shooz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/492 "2014-05-05T18:23:08Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I meant the Google pics of Peter Mark Richman. Jay Sandrich Director ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/493 "2014-05-05T19:17:25Z")
Sandrich is a possibility. He would have been a few months shy of 39 at the time of this photo. [This](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mhyzW5rK904/TI73rYN5_aI/AAAAAAAABLI/jPNyS8q8Egk/s320/6.+Blog+Jay+Mark.jpg) seems to be the youngest photo I can find of him via Google Images. There’s some resemblance. Sandrich was a much lauded TV director — although as of November 1970, his résumé included only an assistant director position on _I Love Lucy_ and directing _The Bill Dana Show_ and _Get Smart_. He would have been just a month or so into directing the debut season of _The Odd Couple_ in. His greatest triumphs (_Soap_, _The Mary Tyler Moore Show_ and _The Cosby Show_) were in the future. So the question might be asked, what was he doing with this group of people? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/494 "2014-05-05T19:37:23Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > I found out that Photoplay Magazine merged with TV Mirror Magazine around the early 70’s. > > I looked under both names and found this if anyone is interested. > > [http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-NOVEMBER-1970-PHOTOPLAY-MAGAZINE-ETHEL-KENNEDY-ELVIS-JACKIE-O-LIZ-TAYLOR-/400704661809?pt=LH\_DefaultDomain\_0&hash=item5d4bdbe931](http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-NOVEMBER-1970-PHOTOPLAY-MAGAZINE-ETHEL-KENNEDY-ELVIS-JACKIE-O-LIZ-TAYLOR-/400704661809?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d4bdbe931) > > It might have an article or pictures from the awards. The seller of the Nov. 1970 issue says no, nothing about the awards in this issue. Haven’t heard from the seller of the Dec. 1970 issue yet. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/495 "2014-05-05T20:24:09Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > Sandrich is a possibility. He would have been a few months shy of 39 at the time of this photo. [This](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mhyzW5rK904/TI73rYN5_aI/AAAAAAAABLI/jPNyS8q8Egk/s320/6.+Blog+Jay+Mark.jpg) seems to be the youngest photo I can find of him via Google Images. There’s some resemblance. Those photos look like two entirely different people. It doesn’t prove anything, one way or the other as to the MM – just thought it was weird. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/496 "2014-05-05T21:18:55Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > Sandrich is a possibility. He would have been a few months shy of 39 at the time of this photo. [This](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mhyzW5rK904/TI73rYN5_aI/AAAAAAAABLI/jPNyS8q8Egk/s320/6.+Blog+Jay+Mark.jpg) seems to be the youngest photo I can find of him via Google Images. There’s some resemblance. Psssst…check out post #472. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/497 "2014-05-05T21:38:56Z")
:smack: I just saw the captions on the Sandrich photos. Two different men. You don’t think the older one (on the left) looks like he could be the MM? But again, he has no reason to be in that photo, at least not according to his IMDB credits. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/498 "2014-05-05T23:08:50Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > There is a bunch of people on Facebook going crazy trying to figure out who the blonde man closest to Johnny’s desk is. > > The others are: > Danny Thomas > Marlo Thomas > Carol Burnett > Glen Campbell > Robert Young > James Brolin > Karen Valentine > and Ed. I’m not sure who “Ed.” is, but according to the TV guide linked below, the guy next to Karen Valentine who isn’t James Brolin should be John Wayne. > [@Mithras](#): > > [Here’s a TV listing](http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xJgrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=p_UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6247%2C1344116) that states the show was in California that night. > > [Here’s another](http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=becrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OWcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2934%2C3768774) that has Burt Bacharach guest hosting the night before. Carson was presumably unavailable because he was heading west at the time. MM could be Burt Bacharach. He isn’t what I’d call a dead-ringer, but he could definitely stand in a police line-up with Bacharach, so it could just be Bacharach at a weird angle. 2D photos sometimes look odd. Or, it could be a different guest host. Taking my Google-fu out to discover who else subbed for Carson in the early 70s. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/499 "2014-05-05T23:12:51Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I’m not sure who “Ed.” is, but according to the TV guide linked below, the guy next to Karen Valentine who isn’t James Brolin should be John Wayne. Ed would be Ed McMahon. With weird lighting and angles it could be John Wayne if he were crouching down. But it’s not, it’s Ed. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/500 "2014-05-05T23:15:40Z")
The more I look, the more I’m thinking it’s Hans Conried. I initially rejected that notion because I figured that Conried would be older playing, as he did, the uncle on Danny Thomas’ show. But in reality Thomas was actually older! Also, looking at the pic it looks like Thomas and Mystery Man are eyeballing each other behind the backs of the folks sitting in between them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=26)