On the famous 1968 - 1973 comedy TV show, Gary Owens a former radio host (who coined the phrase 'Coming to you from beautiful downtown Burbank') rose to national stardom as the announcer of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh In". As the story goes, Owens got his job at 'Laugh In' after he saw and met George Schlatter who produced and directed "Laugh-In". Each man was at lunch in the place (the historic 'Smokehouse' restaurant) across from NBC's Burbank Studios when fate helped them to have a meeting of the mind.

"Laugh In" was a television show on NBC. It was hosted by Dan Rowan and Dick Martin from 1968 to 1973. The name "Laugh In" was a joke on the people who used a 'sit in' or 'love in' as a political tool to obtain peace. A 'love In' or 'sit in' was normally a peaceful demonstration against actions and policies of official (public) governmental bodies.

The show introduced many now famous comedians to television and a national audience. Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin, Ruth Buzzi, Judy Carne, Henry Gibson, Richard Dawson, Arte Johnson, Gary Owens, and Jo Anne Worley, to name a few, were regulars on the show. Slapstick and joke-telling, on large flower power decorated studio sets, were the staple, though musical guests like Sonny and Cher would stop by and perform.

"Laugh In" was the "in” thing at the time. There were love-ins, sit-ins, peace ins, tune ins, be-ins and teach ins. What the country needed was a good 'laugh in'.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org