The Islands of the Fraternal Order of Moai

There are many stories about Johnny Carson at the Mai-Kai, and especially stories about Johnny and the Mystery Girls, but here's one I just heard from watching the new American Master's on PBS about him. It may be his first visit all the way back in 1962.

In 1962, right after being hired by NBC to take over the Tonight Show (from Jack Paar), Johnny, Ed McMahon, and his producer went to Ft. Lauderdale for two weeks to work on the show. Apparently one night they went to "a Polynesian restaurant" and had too many Mai Tais after which they got up on stage, put on grass skirts and got hula lessons from the performers.

The restaurant was not named, but especially with the stage mentioned, I was guessing it was the Mai-Kai. A little digging found a confirmation of it being the Mai-Kai in the book "Ft. Lauderdale: Playground of the Stars" by Jack Drury. http://bit.ly/KqoA7f



Catch the whole American Master's episode if you can. The Mai-Kai Mai Tai story is about 27 minutes into the show.

That is friggin' cool! Thanks for posting that!

I loved Johnny Carson... It was weird when he left and missing the lighthearted humor and wit he had.

This is cool knowledge! Thanks for sharing!

gosh! JOhnny and Ed loook so young in that photo. What a cool piece of history.

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If Bieber is an artist then Ronald McDonald is a master chef!Red Palms

The bottom of tiki mug, a hammock, and the arms of a mystery girl...

..."Name 3 things in which Ed and Johnny would love to find themselves spending the evening".

Those two always struck me as some really fun guys to hang out with.

Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon were the coolest! In retrospect, what I loved most about Johnny Carson is the fact that he was one cultural icon who bonded us (and younger generations) with our parents and an older generation. He was never "The Square," "The Establishment...he was that edgy, fun uncle that was always fun and always cool!

What is sis-boom-bah?











The sound of a sheep exploding.

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A belly filled with wrong.
She's a beaver killer!!!

Here's the original skit. Hard to find, 'cause Carson Enterprises makes YouTube remove them whenever they get posted.
(for the impatient, skip to 4:25 into the clip)

http://www.yourememberthat.com/media/14733/CARNAC_-_SIS_BOOM_BAH_/

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Metal Surrenders When Oak Trees Meet Fenders