TINY TIM WAS MARRIED 30 YEARS AGO (DEC. 17)

TINY TIM WAS MARRIED 30 YEARS AGO (DEC. 17)

NEW YORK (Wireless Flash) -- This Friday (Dec. 17) marks the 30th anniversary of the day Tiny Tim married Miss Vicki live on the "Tonight Show" in front of 58 million viewers. It was December 17, 1969, when 37-year-old Tiny Tim married 17-year-old Vicki Budinger on Johnny Carson's show. At the time, it was the second largest TV audience ever, eclipsed only by Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon. Florida-based wedding historian Deb McCoy says the wedding plans started when Carson offered to host the nuptials on his show after hearing Tiny Tim was engaged. The ceremonies were kicked off by Ed McMahon who told viewers they were "cordially invited" to the wedding, then added, "But first, a word from Pepto-Bismol." All in all, Tiny Tim's wedding lasted less than 10 minutes because of network commercial breaks. The marriage lasted eight years and produced a daughter named "Tulip." Tiny Tim died in 1996 and Miss Vicki now reportedly runs a gift store in New Jersey.