# 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:** 41
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/801 "2014-05-12T13:10:05Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > _Stop This Thread - I Want to Get Off_ > > There’s no way in hell that’s Anthony Newley. NO.NO.NO. What is wrong with your eyes people? 😃 :smack: ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/802 "2014-05-12T13:21:43Z")
OK I have read every word in this thread and looked at every picture link. After those 2 hours that I will never get back and am now invested in, my money is STILL on Richman as he is the ONLY picture that even looks remotely accurate. I do not care that he denies it, it’s him. Game over, the Richman backers win 😃 Maybe he has alzheimers or dementia but that is him DAMNIT! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cococ173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@cococ173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cococ173)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/803 "2014-05-12T19:50:29Z")
Richman is married to an actress who is decades younger than he is. He seems to be healthy, going by public appearances as late as April, 1014. Here is her contact info: [Contact](http://www.helenrichman.com/contact/) I think it is a close match but not quite exact. I am going by the arch of the eyebrows, the nose tip, and the apple of the cheek. However, PMR and MM have the same kind of smile: closed mouth where they draw in their top lips. Upon printing the photo, I see that MM has a bigger lower lip than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/804 "2014-05-12T21:26:30Z")
> [@cococ173](#): > > Richman is married to an actress who is decades younger than he is. He seems to be healthy, going by public appearances as late as April, 1014. Is he still touring with Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner? ---
**Author:** ![cococ173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@cococ173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cococ173)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/805 "2014-05-12T21:30:48Z")
I saw it and could not find an edit button.:smack: I wanted to rewrite the entire post. ---
**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 12, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/806 "2014-05-12T22:41:58Z")
> [@cococ173](#): > > Upon printing the photo, I see that MM has a bigger lower lip than I thought. At this point I’m fully in the Jean Paul Belmondo camp (well, to the point I’m in any camp). MM’s hair has a really distinctly-articulated part, and a swoop across the forehead, a lot like this [![](https://0larte.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/5122696418_7066f6ed4a.jpg) ](https://0larte.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/5122696418_7066f6ed4a.jpg) I also like the fact that he’s sitting apart from the rest of them & not part of their gang. Yeah, I know…it’s probably some other guy, but this is the story I’m sticking with. ---
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/807 "2014-05-13T00:24:57Z")
What’s wrong with you guys? It’s Ed McMahon ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/808 "2014-05-13T02:19:16Z")
Photoplay president [Al Traina](http://s24.postimg.org/l4c7cmio5/johnnys_couch.jpg). (Source: _Photoplay_ Feb. 1971) I leave it to others to decide what it all means. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/809 "2014-05-13T02:32:25Z")
We have an answer! Thank you **Vashbul**! (What to decide? The photo in question with MM identified as Al Traina. Done.) ---
**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 13, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/810 "2014-05-13T02:35:17Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Photoplay president [Al Traina](http://s24.postimg.org/l4c7cmio5/johnnys_couch.jpg). > > (Source: _Photoplay_ Feb. 1971) > > I leave it to others to decide what it all means. Fantastic! How did you find this? ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/811 "2014-05-13T02:36:20Z")
Well Hell. Jean Paul Belmondo is more interesting, but there he is an empty suit. Good Job Vasbul ---
**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 13, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/812 "2014-05-13T02:37:09Z")
I was beginning to think we’d never get an answer. Thanks, **Vashbul!** ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/813 "2014-05-13T02:42:22Z")
**Vashbul** gets Doper of the Month. We should all pitch in and get him a mug or something. ---
**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 13, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/814 "2014-05-13T02:43:52Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > **Vashbul** gets Doper of the Month. We should all pitch in and get him a mug or something. Amen! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/815 "2014-05-13T02:50:31Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Photoplay president [Al Traina](http://s24.postimg.org/l4c7cmio5/johnnys_couch.jpg). > > (Source: _Photoplay_ Feb. 1971) > > I leave it to others to decide what it all means. Clearly, it’s faked! ---
**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 13, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/816 "2014-05-13T02:54:28Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > **Vashbul** gets Doper of the Month. We should all pitch in and get him a mug or something. Hell, we should buy him a fucking **CAR**! Or an airplane. Something big. I’m in awe. I bow to your superior superiority. ---
**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 13, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/817 "2014-05-13T02:55:29Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Clearly, it’s faked! Just shut up. \<_said wearily_\> ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/818 "2014-05-13T02:57:27Z")
As I mentioned before, I got it from Harvard’s library, microfilm collection. If anyone cares, I have posted the [complete issue](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02qyukZ6WQwY3gwWmtnNHBvTG8/edit?usp=sharing). (Sorry, it’s a rather big file; I don’t know how to make it any smaller.) Patty Duke Pregnant By Man She Won’t Name! John Wayne’s Screaming Battles with his Wife! ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/819 "2014-05-13T02:58:46Z")
[Obit](http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=traina&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=64070041&df=all&) ---
**Author:** ![cococ173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@cococ173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cococ173)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/820 "2014-05-13T03:04:21Z")
Thank you, Vashbul. What is funny is that I could never guess from the other pics of him in the article that he is the MM. They don’t match either. He does look exactly like his obit pic, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=40) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=42)