Series: Film and Video

Subseries: Viewing Prints
Note: All film is 16 mm unless otherwise noted

Fun for the Money, 1949

Digital access copy
Note: Film reformatted for preservation, funded with a grant from the NFPF.

Hollywood Gag Reel
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 

Kids and Company (labeled Kiddie Special)
Physical Description: Sound, black and white; each episode runs approximately 24 minutes 
Note: DuMont Television Network; sponsored by Red Goose Shoes.

“Showtime at the Zoo,” 1951 or 1952

Reel 1
Note: Order of the reels is unclear, but they all seem to be part of “Showtime at the Zoo”; Olson at the Saint Louis Zoo, elephant performance.

Reel 2
Note: George Frazier talks about big cats, lions.

Reel 3
Note: Chimpanzees play baseball, Gorilla drinks soda; tail leader labeled “Kiddie Spectacular, part 2.”

Reel 4
Note: Director of zoo speaks about job, Chimpanzee show.

The Kid of the Year program (Kid of the Week Mildred Boxer)
Note: Talent show format, including appearances by Patty McCormick and Cab Calloway.

Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 
Note: DuMont Television Network.

Racket Squad, “Romance Unlimited,” 1953 August
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 
Note: A woman victimizes men in overseas military service by marrying them for their allotments.

Name That Tune

1958
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 
Note: With Leslie Uggams, at 14 years old, as a contestant. Reel starts in the middle of the show.

Johnny Olson substituting for George DeWitt, circa 1958
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 

Hosted by George DeWitt, with contestant Marty Engels, circa 1958
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 

Kellogg's television commercials, circa 1958

Johnny Olson for Gro-Pup Dog Food, Gro-Pup T-bone Dry Biscuits; followed by Special-K promotion
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 

Cereal commercials, circa 1950s
Note: Two commercials, Johnny Olson does voice-overs

Cereal commercials with Johnny Olson, Penny Olson during Name That Tune
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 
Note: Products include Cornflakes, Special-K, variety cereal packs.

Play Your Hunch

Opening segment
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 
Note: Merv Griffin and Johnny Olson singing, “We Aren't Goin' Nowhere.”

Television show clips
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 
Note: Merv Griffin and Johnny Olson singing four songs; part of the game show.

Episode with commercials
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 
Note: Robert Q. Lewis hosts; later on Olson sings a few songs.

Episode, partial
Physical Description: Sound, black and white 
Note: Johnny Olson substituting for Merv Griffin; Mickey Thompson is a guest; end of show is missing.

Home movies

Television stage with Merv Griffin
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Poodles, signs on lawn read “Johnny Olson” and “Sunny Slope Farm”; shots of barn, silo, house. Next scenes of TV stage, with people including a young Griffin (perhaps during Play Your Hunch). Next scenes of the Olsons at Nassau, 1960.

Ranch house
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Fall colors, family outside, residential house, log cabin (perhaps Illinois), house and snow, on a ferry boat.

Roses here and Plymouth Rock
Physical Description: Silent, color and black and white 
Note: Fall colors, house, sledding, roses, dogs, family in snow; city near water.

Parade, Olsons appearance, circa 1960
Physical Description: Silent, color and black and white 
Note: Crowd watches parade, poster on car reads “Johnny Olson 'Ladies be seated' Field House North Dakota Agricultural College,” crowd in stands, stage show with Indian in costume, Olsons with dogs.

Parade and Santa Claus
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Parade with kids in costumes, Santa Claus handing out presents in park, beach scene with palm trees; house with donkeys in yard; Pan Am jet and aerial footage.

Yale Farms Gibbs visit, circa 1960
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Small donkey, country house, Penny Olson, snow; flowers, yard, backyard cookout.

Paris and Sunny Slope farm, circa 1960
Physical Description: Silent, color; spliced 50 foot reels 
Note: Street scenes and landscapes, shots of Penny Olson, “Gleason show” France with Bobby Darin, Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason, Connie Francis?; also Sunny Slope farm.

Olsons, Sunny Slope farm, Nassau, circa 1960
Physical Description: Silent, color and black and white; spliced reels 
Note: Farm scenes, Olsons working on farm; airport terminal, Nassau street scenes; Johnny Olson announcing on television stage.

Travel, Bowman Drive, Christmas in New York, circa 1960s
Physical Description: Silent, color and black and white; spliced 50 foot reels 
Note: Mexico scenes; Bowman Drive house and poodles; New York ice skaters Christmas decorations; London scenes; Penny and Johnny Olson near a church; golfing scenes; Johnny Olson on television stage and Merv Griffin.

House scenes, travel, Christmas, circa 1960
Physical Description: Silent, color; spliced 50 foot reels 
Note: Penny Olson, yard scenes; San Tropez; Christmas in New York, Sunny Slope farm; Paris; World Series 1960; yard snow scenes and Penny Olson.

Travel United States and France, circa 1962
Physical Description: Silent, color; spliced 50 foot reels 
Note: Airport in Switzerland?; Palisades Amusement Park, New York scenes; Gulfstream Park Race Course, Daytona Beach scenes; “Junkanoo parade” Nassau; Canada street scenes.

New York, London, circa 1955
Physical Description: Silent, color; spliced 50 foot reels 
Note: Broadway theaters; Edinburgh castle; Alabama elderly ladies, Johnny at park; London scenes; dogs.

Europe, New York, Olson reunion, circa 1960s
Physical Description: Silent, color; spliced 50 foot reels. 
Note: Ireland Waterford Glass, street scenes, Johnny and Penny Olson with nuns; Christmas Rockefeller Center; “The Cottage” 1968; green countryside, Penny walking; “Brussels” plane, train, city scenes; French town; “Olson reunion” family at a house and lake; city streets.

Europe, Bob's wedding, the Pope in New York, circa 1960
Physical Description: Silent, color and black and white; spliced 50 foot reels 
Note: Edinburgh scenes; World Series 1960; snow in New York; Penny Olson in park; Gulfstream-Gleason (fast pans of trees, beach, buildings); audience show with Johnny Olson in aisle; palace (perhaps in Paris); soldiers in street; the Pope's motorcade in New York.

Travel and commercials
Physical Description: Silent, color, black and white; spliced 50 foot reels 
Note:

• Airport, runway, plane, aerial scenes from helicopter; palm trees, “Miami Beach Auditorium,” sign: “Home of the Jackie Gleason Show”
• On leader: “Vt. - Cows - Lake George”; wooded mountains; sign on building: “TAMPAX Incorporated, Rutland Plant,” farmland; low mountains
• On leader: “1959 Times Square”: signs at night: “WABL Channel 7,” “Admiral Television,” etc.
• On leader: “Dublin”; street scenes; monument to Charles Steward Parnell. Airport scene; dignitaries walk toward terminal. Christmas; woman narrating “Twas the night before Christmasà” child in bed; toy sleigh
• Santa Clause (30 second spot)
• “Dishonest Woman”; Wells Rich Greene; Ralston Purina Bran Chex, RPAX; man and woman at breakfast table
• 30-second spot: “N.W. Ayer Inc., Chicken of the Sea”; woman holding tuna can; family at breakfast table
• 30-second spot: “Dishonest Woman”

Trees, flowers, dogs
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: On leader: “Dogwood - Peach Trees and Gretel and Lena”; trees in blossom; two dogs playing; flowers; little boy; greenhouse; house with stone walls; boy and young woman; four dogs in yard; written on reel: “Flowers in bloom-Jamie”.

Travel home movies

Oslo
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Hotel; street scenes; harbor; Johnny on the sailboat “Fram”; on a train; farmland; town of Levanger street scenes; on a ferry boat; aerial shots (from plane); downtown of big city; narrow streets; Tivoli in Copenhagen; downtown; on town square.

Russia, circa 1970
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: On tour bus; street scenes; interior of palace or museum; mural of Lenin; exterior of palace.

Tower Isle
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Beach scenes; woman; palm trees; British flag; Penny Olsen and Johnny; on beach; prop airline plane; mountains; flowers; street scenes; city.

Rome and Florence
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Soldiers or guards marching in street; tourists; statues; Coliseum; United States Embassy; a large fountain; some very dark interiors on trains through the countryside; probably Florence; statues.

#2 Paris, circa 1950-1960s
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Street scenes; store signs; posters; scenes from airplane window; coastline; street names; Paris; underexposed interior shots; Penny Olsen; street person; heavily dressed poor woman; river town boats; Moulin Rouge; street musician.

#3 Paris, London, circa 1960s
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Paris street scenes; night scenes; “Lido” and other signs and posters; “Hotel Powers”; airport; Air France jet; aerial shots; at a coastal city; sign: “Nice-Cote d'azur”; aerial shots of beach and city; low-flying views of harbors; helicopter; street scene of London; guards at Buckingham Palace; “Three Nuns Hotel”; Tower of London; lighted signs at night; jet plane.

Annapolis, Green Briar, and Washington, circa 1950s-1960s
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: People riding horses; building with sign: “Baywood Art Gallery”; Penny Olsen walks out; Greenbriar College buildings; stained glass; interior botanical gardens; mall buildings; boats on lake; Annapolis.

Verdal, Norway
Physical Description: 8 mm reel, silent, color 

Windom-Odin Class of 1928, circa 1950s-1960s
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Railroad station; sign: “Odin”; elderly woman emerges from automobile; 15-20 family members; modern church or school; small white house; small town scenes; “Windom Bakery”; downtown main street businesses; Penny Olson (red-haired); backyard garden; family members; pitching horseshoes; sign: “Palisades Park”; sign shows Johnny Olson will perform; swimming pool; amusement park rides; woman tap-dancing.

Nassau home movies, circa 1950-1960s
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Horse race; propeller passenger plane; Penny Olson; island scenes; hotels; Johnny; beaches; Nassau airport; prop planes; market place; harbor; street scenes; hotels.

Mrs. America contest, 1955
Physical Description: Silent, color 
Note: Older women; small houses; beach scenes; palm trees; women in beauty contest; wearing sashes (“Mrs. Wyoming,” etc.) in bathing suits; walk to microphone; crowd in stands; sign: “Mrs. America at Florida's Ellinor Village”; airport; propeller passenger plane (triple-tailed Super Constellation).

Outtake from The Sin of Mona Kent (, 1961)
Physical Description: 35 mm reel, silent, color but faded to red 
Note: Director: Charles Hundt; Cameraman: William Lillis”; Young woman walks into view, takes off top, rubs her breast and shoulder, throws object at camera (mirror), breaking through glass.

Zhivago: Behind the Camera with David Lean (, 1966)
Physical Description: 35 mm reel, sound, color; 10 minutes 30 seconds 
Note: Promotional film for Doctor Zhivago, Robert Boldt shown as screenwriter; Lean speaks on camera; screen test of Geraldine Chaplin; locations in Spain; black and white, silent piece at the end shows various New York City locations (theaters) where the movie opened “starting Wednesday, February 8”.

Subseries: Videorecordings
Note: Video is 1/2-inch VHS unless otherwise noted

The Price Is Right segments and showcases with Johnny Olson

Including “Home for Christmas” promotion, 1984 February 9

Various segments
Note:

• “Dear Joan”
• “Man on Street”
• “College Kid”

Oleo skit

Johnny Olson hamming it up

Undated

“Hollywood Close Up,” Johnny Olson warm-up, 1983 July 22

“Jackie Gleason Special,” 1985 June 6

Showcases #5492D and 5502D

Johnny Olson warm-up with Gene and Johnny

Johnny Olson as Romeo, news anchor

“Embarrassing Moments” air check, 1983 November 10

“God-Mother” air check, 1983 November

Warm-up

Showcase, 1984 May

“Frank Fontaine,” two-minute spot, 1981 November 4

Undated
Physical Description: 3 hours 43 minutes 

Various segments
Note:

• “Bad Johnny”
• “Convict”
• “Romance on Job”
• “Celebrity Auction”
• “The Wedding”
• “Fast Johnny”
• “Read of Will,”
• “Fast Johnny”
• Helen Forrest on KCET

Various segments
Note: Including: full hour, 1979 August 29
“Tin Man”

Air check and showcases, 1983 April 14, 20, 22

Showcases, KNXT, 1983 May 11, 18

Various segments
Note:

• “Tax Consultant”
• “Fan Clubs,” 1985 March 18
• “Reggie Van Olson,” 1985 April 16
• “Birthday”
• “Don Juan,” 1985 May 28
• “Steamboat Johnny”

Various segments
Note:

• “Dutch Boy”
• “Steelworkers”
• “London”
• “Man on Street”

Undated

Various segments
Note:

• “Star Wars”
• “Pour Soul”
• “Farmer John”
• “Humming”
• “Guiding Light”
• Johnny Olson tuxedo

Various segments
Note:

• “Demetrius and The Radiators”
• “Satyr”
• “Bicycle Boy”
• “D.J. Flipidie”
• “Swomee Olson”
• “Disco”
• “D.J. Flipidie Fleishman”
• “Charlie Cheeck”
• “Johnny's Schoolhouse”
• “Twilight Zone”
• “Dr. Junkle and Mr. Hyde”
• “Captain Jon”
• “Johnny's school”

Various segments
Note:

• “Alfred Hickups CooCoo”
• “Nellie Nebish”
• “Casa Planta”
• “Janice - This is Your Life”
• “Paws”
• “Cold Finger”
• “Kinky Kong”
• “Crawltons”
• “Phoney Girl”
• “Star Wreck”
• “Sea Gawk”
• “West Side Story”
• “Pin Uppio”

“Reggie Van Olson,” 1984 June 4

Showcases

Various segments
Note:

• “Plotsopoly”
• “Capt. Jon, Johnnie's School House”
• “Wrinkle Stiltskin”
• “National Velveeta”
• “Johnny's School House”
• “Rich Kids”
• “Capt. Jon”
• “Capt. Jon-Light House”
• “Salute to Fruit”
• “Planet of the Drapes”
• “Salute to Fruit”
• “Old Prospector”
• “Cinder Holly”
• “Capt. Jon's New Parents”
• “Halloween”
• “Jon's Biography”
• “Tex Olson”
• “Back Room Card Game”
• “Student of the Weird”
• “Questions to Diane”
• “Dr. John, Christmas Toys”
• “Shopping Spree”
• “Holy's Life”
• “Olson of the Mounties”
• “Circus Performers”
• “Fast Johnnie”
• “Thrill Showcases”
• “Gypsy Fortune Teller”
• “P.I.R. Circus”
• “Paul Bunyan, Cartoon Characters”
• “Fishing Trip”
• “Dr. John”
• “Olson of the Mounties”
• “Newly Weds (Rivate Italy)”
• “Johnny of the Jungle”
• “Country Girls”

Various segments
Note:

• “Master Chef”
• “Big John Camper”
• “Capt. Jon, Sir John”
• “Flibbidy Fleischman”
• “PIR auction”
• “Holly's Big Date”
• “Fairy Princess”

Various segments
Note:

• “Cookie Sellers”
• “Fast Johnnie”
• “Santa Clause”
• “Great Marvellow”
• “Priceless Olson”
• “Kids Price Is Right”
• “Country Western Awards”
• “First Segment”
• “Fast Johnnie”
• “Reggie Van Olson”
• “Incredible Bulk”
• “Price Is Right Fishing Trip”
• “Exchange Machine”
• “Flibbidy Fleischman”
• “Fortune Teller”
• “Private Holly”
• “Fast Johnnie”
• “Prof. Olson”
• “Johnnie's School house”
• “Great Marvellow”
• “Olson of the Mounties”

Production number 8092, 1991 July 24

Various segments
Note:

• “Plotsopoly”
• “Capt. Jon”
• “Johnny's School”
• “Wrinkle Stiltskin”
• “National Velveeta”
• “Johnny's Schoolhouse”
• “Rich Kids Picnic”
• “Captain Jon”
• “Captain Jon-Light House”
• “Salute to Fruit”
• “Planet of the Drapes”
• “Salute to Fruit”
• “Old Prospector”
• “Cinder Holly”
• “Capt. Jan New Parents”
• “Halloween”
• “Biography-Jon”
• “Tex Olson”
• “Back Room Card Game”
• “Student of the Weird”
• “Wife Boat”
• “Little Old Lady”
• “Plotsopoly”
• “Lost Dial”
• “Turn of the Century”
• “Pounce de Leon”
• “Mick and Mack store”
• CM with Johnny Olson
• Johnny Olson roast
• Beaonda Bowely

Various segments
Note:

• “April Fools”
• “Robin Hood”
• “Sinderella”
• “Awards”
• “Erroll Flynn” (Johnny Olson writes “not me”)
• “Eggs-O-Cist”
• “Citizen Pain”
• “Ben Hur, Shame”
• “Captain Klutz”
• “Odd Father”
• “Swan Swamp” (ballet)
• “Flush Gordon”
• “Schlepping Beauty”
• “Odd Father”
• “Madam Butterball”
• “The Last Dial”
• “Movie Mogel”
• “Great Statesmen”
• “Sorority Girls-Old Lady”
• “School House-Unnatural”
• “School House-Communication”
• “Citizen Pain”
• “Johnny's Nightmare”
• “Creature from the Hot Tub”
• “TV Car Salesman”
• “Compete with Neighbors,” 1979 February 6

Undated

Various segments
Note:

• “St. Peter O”
• “Body Language”
• “Norw. Chef”
• “Mad Scientist”
• “Reggie”

Various segments, 1980-1981
Note:

• “Old-Fashioned Christmas,” 1981
• “Showcase of the Future,” 1980
• “Jan's House”
• “Witch Doctor”
• “News”
• “Fast Johnnie”

Various segments
Physical Description: 3/4-inch U-Matic videocassette 
Note:

• “Questions to Diane”
• “Dr. John, Christmas Toys”
• “Shopping Spree”
• “This is Your Life-Holly”
• “Olson of the Mounties”
• “Circus Performance”
• “Fast Johnnie”
• “Thrill Showcases”
• “Gypsy Fortune Teller”
• “PIR Circus”
• “Paul Bunyan”
• “Cartoon Characters”
• “Fishing Trip”
• “Dr. John”
• “Olson of the Mounties”
• “Newly Weds” (Private Holy)
• “Johnny of the Jungle”
• “Country Girls”

Various segments
Physical Description: 3/4-inch U-Matic videocassette 
Note:

• “April Fools”
• “Robin Hood”
• “Sinderella”
• “Awards”
• “Erroll Flynn”
• “Eggs-O-Cist”
• “Citizen Pain”
• “Ben Hur”
• “Shame”
• “Captain Klutz”
• “Odd Father”
• “Swan Swamp” (ballet)
• “Flush Gordon”
• “Schlepping Beauty”

Opening segment, 1977 June 27
Physical Description: 3/4-inch U-Matic videocassette 

Johnny Olson roast, 1977 June 28

Johnny Olson on “Punk” Airlines/television's funniest game show moments

Ford commercials from Florida and Michigan, 1983 May 3

Home movies

“With You” show, Mona Bernal show, with Bob Barker

Bob Barker interviewed on local television show

“A Tribute to Johnny Olson-1985 Daytime Emmy Awards,” 1985 August 1

What's My Line portions, Johnny Olson announces

What's My Line, Johnny Olson mystery guest, 1965 April 4