Johnney Carson and Claude Akins

[Barbasiewiczfan]

Johnney Carson and Claude Akins​

In the late eighties a few of us went to the Burbank Studios and stood in line to see a live performance of the Tonight show.

A man came out and directed the audience on how they should behave and spoke of the guests that would be on the show. He spoke of the possibility of seeing the guests after the show for pictures and autographs.

I turned out that Joey Bishop was the guest host but it was worth seeing and we all had a good time.

A few months later I again stood in line to see the show with the assurance that Johnney would be the host.

Before the show a man came out and instructed the audience on how we should behave. He also spoke of a meet-and-greet after the show where we could get pictures and autographs from the guests. The man now had an annoyed tone to his voice when he said, "Except Claude Akins". He said Mr. Akins would not be available so don't ask.

After Mr. Akins was on the show they went to a commercial break and he went back-stage. During the commercial break Johnney told the audience that Mr. Akins would be coming back out to entertain us with stories and maybe a joke or two.

During the last commercial break Mr. Akins was directed to stand on a spot on the front of the stage center. When they came back from the break, Johnney introduced Claude to the audience again and said that Claud would now entertain us.

All the lights in the studio went off and a spot-light was focused on Claude's face. His face showed fear and a bit of anger. He turned his back to the audience and walked off-stage to a round of boos' and hisses.

Johnney then ended the show and said good night.

It sure looked like pay-back to me. I have never looked at Claude Akins quite the same ever since.