# 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:** 46
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/901 "2014-05-14T17:50:04Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Waaaait a minute. That page shows another picture, with Traina and Johnny Carson but – _[who’s that person on the left](http://s29.postimg.org/h942rmu13/20091202_174632_e_orig.jpg)_? Could it be Paul Michael Glaser (who was 27 at the time, and had just finished filming his movie break-out role in _Fiddler on the Roof_): [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Paul_Michael_Glaser_at_F.I.S.T_premier_1978_cropped_and_airbrushed.jpg/220px-Paul_Michael_Glaser_at_F.I.S.T_premier_1978_cropped_and_airbrushed.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Paul_Michael_Glaser_at_F.I.S.T_premier_1978_cropped_and_airbrushed.jpg/220px-Paul_Michael_Glaser_at_F.I.S.T_premier_1978_cropped_and_airbrushed.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/902 "2014-05-14T17:50:31Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Believe it or not, I just got a reply a few minutes ago! Here is what he said: > > > [@](#): > > > > THANK YOU, [BUMBERSHOOT] FOR THE EXPLANATION AND FOTOS. FINALLY! > > BEST WISHES, > > PETER MARK RICHMAN Excellent! Thanks for letting us know. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/903 "2014-05-14T17:52:12Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Believe it or not, I just got a reply a few minutes ago! Here is what he said: [the email] Oh, that’s great (and thanks for posting it)! 🙂 After all this, it would have felt awful to have him be annoyed by the revelation. ---
**Author:** ![rucciface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@rucciface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rucciface)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/904 "2014-05-14T18:05:14Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Maybe they were separated at birth? :dubious: As per initial research, Traina was born 14 days after and 100 miles away from Richman’s time and place of birth. But facts will not deter further investigation! > [@Vashbul](#): > > Waaaait a minute. That page shows another picture, with Traina and Johnny Carson but – _[who’s that person on the left](http://s29.postimg.org/h942rmu13/20091202_174632_e_orig.jpg)_? Most assuredly and without a doubt, that is Itzhak Perlman. ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/905 "2014-05-14T18:31:01Z")
Billie Jean King. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/906 "2014-05-14T18:33:08Z")
rucciface: I concur; Damn.Good.Eyes. 🆒 Carson’s holding some kind of plaque (maybe Traina’s giving it to Perlman?). ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/907 "2014-05-14T18:38:51Z")
> [@rucciface](#): > > As per initial research, Traina was born 14 days after and 100 miles away from Richman’s time and place of birth. Nobody said it was an easy delivery. ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/908 "2014-05-14T18:38:54Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **Vashbul** - I’m serious about paying for a membership for you, if you want one. I think it’s the least I could do - this thread’s given me more than $15.00 worth enjoyment/aggravation. > > StG Thanks for the offer. Does membership have its privileges? Really, I’d rather someone contact the Traina family and let them know that Dad is not forgotten. ---
**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 14, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/909 "2014-05-14T18:40:29Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Waaaait a minute. That page shows another picture, with Traina and Johnny Carson but – _[who’s that person on the left](http://s29.postimg.org/h942rmu13/20091202_174632_e_orig.jpg)_? It’s Al Franken. No, I’m not serious. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/910 "2014-05-14T18:42:44Z")
Consecutive posts from \*\*burpo the wonder mutt \*\*and **Biffy the Elephant Shrew**! Nice. ---
**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 14, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/911 "2014-05-14T19:19:25Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Thanks for the offer. Does membership have its privileges? > > Really, I’d rather someone contact the Traina family and let them know that Dad is not forgotten. No ads. That’s about it, but that’s a biggie for me. StG ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/912 "2014-05-14T19:23:02Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > No ads. That’s about it, but that’s a biggie for me. What with the current kerfuffle in ATMB over malware from ads, that really is a biggie. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/913 "2014-05-14T19:27:02Z")
Just use Adblock. It don’t cost nuthin’. ---
**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 14, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/914 "2014-05-14T20:51:43Z")
Actually, although I don’t get ads, yesterday I was getting the malware block on FF. I was afraid to open the Dope at work this morning because I didn’t want to set off alarm bells and get the site blocked at work. Fortunately I didn’t get any such messages today. StG ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/915 "2014-05-14T21:07:38Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Thanks for doing this. (I thought about posting something on his Facebook page, but when I looked at it didn’t see anything about this; I didn’t remember who in the thread had been in touch with him.) > > Well, yes. He might be pleased to have the information (to give to anyone else who comes across The Photo online in the future), or he might want the whole thing to go away. But at least you made the effort to give him some closure! 🙂 If anyone ever looks online for that photo they’ll get sent to this thread. It got to the point for me that every search I did concerning anything to do with Photoplay, Awards ,1970, etc. brought me back here.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/916 "2014-05-14T21:12:43Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > If anyone ever looks online for that photo they’ll get sent to this thread. > It got to the point for me that every search I did concerning anything to do with Photoplay, Awards ,1970, etc. brought me back here.😃 True enough (and I had the same experience). By the power of Cecil, our obsessive posting, and the lack of mention of those topics elsewhere, we have succeeded in bending the Internet into a new shape of our own making. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![cococ173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@cococ173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cococ173)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/917 "2014-05-14T21:51:10Z")
People pay professionals top $$ for SEO and this thread made it to the first page of Google for that photo and Photoplay Awards searches. Amazing. The same mentions that are in this thread are in at least three Facebook threads that I know about and do not show up in the same searches. Re: the 2nd mm that Vashbul posted, the set is the same as our 1st mm picture–I’m thinking it was 1971, I have forgotten when the desk and rug got replaced, but the picture might be captioned in a Photoplay microfilm that Vashbul already has. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/918 "2014-05-14T22:30:13Z")
> [@Ceejaytee](#): > > Oh come on **TruCelt**. You can’t leave that hanging there. What’s the scoop? > > Well done, \*\* Vashbul\*\*. There’s not a whole lot to tell. I was just a kid, but he was just a very disapproving sort. You know, the rules at the lake were generally pretty relaxed for kids, but he was always “Mr. Enforcer guy” who never lifted a finger but was always correcting other people’s kids for not following rules we never had in place. Any time his kids actually did do something wrong it was always the fault of some other kid standing near by, who was then chastised for “letting” his kid misbehave. Like I was the babysitter or something? Also, I remember that he and I had the same birthday, and being a kid I thought that was really cool and special, and he was just an arse about it. Not nasty, but just dismissive. He had that really dry New England humour, so he was always saying mean things and then calling you a “bad sport” if you didn’t laugh at them. Strangely, we used to comment a lot about how much he looked like Ricardo Mantalban. Did he even come up in the thread? ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/919 "2014-05-14T22:33:27Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Waaaait a minute. That page shows another picture, with Traina and Johnny Carson but – _[who’s that person on the left](http://s29.postimg.org/h942rmu13/20091202_174632_e_orig.jpg)_? Oooooo…are we playing again? It’s Gary Cole. And thanks Vashbul!! ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/920 "2014-05-14T22:41:38Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > There’s not a whole lot to tell. I was just a kid, but he was just a very disapproving sort. You know, the rules at the lake were generally pretty relaxed for kids, but he was always “Mr. Enforcer guy” who never lifted a finger but was always correcting other people’s kids for not following rules we never had in place. > > Any time his kids actually did do something wrong it was always the fault of some other kid standing near by, who was then chastised for “letting” his kid misbehave. Like I was the babysitter or something? > > Also, I remember that he and I had the same birthday, and being a kid I thought that was really cool and special, and he was just an arse about it. Not nasty, but just dismissive. > > He had that really dry New England humour, so he was always saying mean things and then calling you a “bad sport” if you didn’t laugh at them. > > Strangely, we used to comment a lot about how much he looked like Ricardo Mantalban. Did he even come up in the thread? Yes Ricardo was mentioned with the others. What amazes me is that you actually knew the man IRL, thought he looked like Ricardo, and didn’t recognize him. That tells me that without the actual issue Vashbul found, we never would have figured this out. Ever! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=47)