Zsa Zsa Gabor

On the evening of May 3, 1966, Johnny Carson and his guest, Zsa Zsa Gabor, dedicated an entire segment of The Tonight Show to engaging in board games. This particular episode is often recognized for its role in rejuvenating the popularity of the Milton-Bradley game, Twister. Although Twister had been introduced earlier in the year, its sales had been less than impressive.

However, the dynamic interaction between Carson and Gabor as they playfully participated in the subtly flirtatious game had an unexpected impact. The audience’s enthusiastic response to their antics sparked a surge in demand for Twister. In the subsequent months following the show, Twister’s sales soared beyond 3 million units, firmly embedding the game within the fabric of American pop culture.