Jack Harold Paar (May 1, 1918 â€" January 27, 2004) was an American
author, movie actor, radio and television comedian, and talk show
host. He is best known for his stint as the second host of The Tonight
Show from 1957 to 1962. Time magazine's obituary of him notes, "His
fans would remember him as the fellow who split talk show history into
two eras: Before Paar and Below Paar."Paar was born in 1918 in Canton,
Ohio, the son of Lillian M. (Hein) and Howard Paar. He moved with his
family to Jackson, Michigan, about 40 miles (64 km) south of Lansing,
as a child. As a child he developed a stutter which he learned to
manage. He contracted tuberculosis when he was 14, and left school at
16.He first worked near home as a radio announcer at WIBM in Jackson,
Michigan, and later as a humorous disc jockey at Midwest stations,
including WJR in Detroit, WIRE in Indianapolis, WGAR in Cleveland, and
WBEN in Buffalo. In his book P.S. Jack Paar, he recalled doing utility
duty at WGAR in 1938 when Orson Welles broadcast his famous simulated
alien invasion, The War of the Worlds, over the CBS network (and its
WGAR affiliate). Attempting to calm possibly panicked listeners, Paar
announced, "The world is not coming to an end. Trust me. When have I
ever lied to you?"Paar was drafted into the military in 1943 during
World War II, interrupting his tenure as host of WBEN's morning show
The Sun Greeter's Club (he opted not to return to the station at war's
end, instead seeking opportunities in network radio and film). He was
assigned to the U.S.O. in the South Pacific to entertain the troops.
He was a clever, wisecracking master of ceremonies whose
impersonations of officers nearly got him into trouble.
author, movie actor, radio and television comedian, and talk show
host. He is best known for his stint as the second host of The Tonight
Show from 1957 to 1962. Time magazine's obituary of him notes, "His
fans would remember him as the fellow who split talk show history into
two eras: Before Paar and Below Paar."Paar was born in 1918 in Canton,
Ohio, the son of Lillian M. (Hein) and Howard Paar. He moved with his
family to Jackson, Michigan, about 40 miles (64 km) south of Lansing,
as a child. As a child he developed a stutter which he learned to
manage. He contracted tuberculosis when he was 14, and left school at
16.He first worked near home as a radio announcer at WIBM in Jackson,
Michigan, and later as a humorous disc jockey at Midwest stations,
including WJR in Detroit, WIRE in Indianapolis, WGAR in Cleveland, and
WBEN in Buffalo. In his book P.S. Jack Paar, he recalled doing utility
duty at WGAR in 1938 when Orson Welles broadcast his famous simulated
alien invasion, The War of the Worlds, over the CBS network (and its
WGAR affiliate). Attempting to calm possibly panicked listeners, Paar
announced, "The world is not coming to an end. Trust me. When have I
ever lied to you?"Paar was drafted into the military in 1943 during
World War II, interrupting his tenure as host of WBEN's morning show
The Sun Greeter's Club (he opted not to return to the station at war's
end, instead seeking opportunities in network radio and film). He was
assigned to the U.S.O. in the South Pacific to entertain the troops.
He was a clever, wisecracking master of ceremonies whose
impersonations of officers nearly got him into trouble.
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