Overview

• Doors open Oct. 24, 2025, following an Oct. 23 benefit on Carson’s 100th birthday that supports the museum’s educational and archival work.
• “The Johnny Carson Centennial” showcases rare artifacts, loans from Nebraska’s Johnny Carson Gallery, exclusive video from Carson Entertainment Group and Shout! Factory, and photo-ready set pieces including a replica stage entrance and portions of his original curtain.
• A parallel retrospective charts 75 years of late-night television from Steve Allen and Jack Paar to contemporary hosts and examines how the format migrated to streaming, podcasts and viral clips as networks reassess lineups, including CBS’s recent decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
• The pop-up at 440 W. Randolph keeps Wednesday–Sunday hours, with admission set at $19 for adults, $17 for seniors and military, $16 for students, and free for children 6 and under.
• The reestablished space follows the museum’s 2023 departure from River North and will operate near the Ogilvie Metra station through January 2027.