The first ten years of the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson was lost for decades, the reels and tapes stored away in a studio basement in an unmarked cardboard box waiting to be found. This fantastic clip with Jimmy Stewart was among the recently found footage.
Johnny Carson interviewed the very best in the entertainment industry. He would often ask them about their past, leading to big laughs. He took the same tactic when interviewing the legend, Jimmy Stewart, on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.’
Johnny introduces Jimmy Stewart by talking about what a truly fine actor he is and how he makes it look easy. Jimmy sits in the guest chair, and Johnny remarks about the two watching the Superbowl together.
Johnny says he didn’t realize Jimmy was such a big football fan. Jimmy says that he thinks everyone is starting to become a big football fan. Johnny says he learned something interesting during the game.
Johnny reveals that Jimmy Stewart was Princeton’s ‘Head Yell Leader.’ Jimmy thinks for a second and says, “Yes, yes, I was.” The crowd laughs at how regretful he sounds.
Jimmy recounts that it was 1932, and that year Yale beat Princeton 52-0, which was the worst beating ever. Jimmy said at the end of the game, he had to go out to the middle of the field and lead ‘Old Nassau.’ Jimmy said in this particular game, he led the ending cheer, and everyone left, including the band! They even took his megaphone, which was the end of his cheer days.
Johnny brings out Jimmy’s old Princeton megaphone and the crowd cheers for him to do the chant. He obliges and stands with the megaphone saying with absolutely no energy, “One locomotive, one locomotive, hip! Hip!” Then, he puts down the megaphone, punches his hands together, and says, “Rah! Rah! Rah!” without energy.
He repeats the punches with power and energy, “Tiger, tiger, tiger, sis, sis, sis, boom, boom, boom, Bah!” The audience applauds as he sits back down, and Johnny cracks up in his seat while clapping.
