After a brief stint managing the nightclub acts
Kay Thompson and the
Williams Brothers, Harbach got an entry-level job in 1948 as editor at the NBC New York Studio. Three years later he was offered the position of producer for a new show, the "
Knickerbocker Beer Show". The show starred
Steve Allen, who did not like the producer that had been assigned to the show. Harbach replaced him and the two became an award-winning team and followed their work on
The Tonight Show with
The Steve Allen Show, a variety series. During this time, he developed a partnership with
Nick Vanoff, with whom he continued a personal and professional relationship and friendship until Vanoff's death in 1991. Harbach and Vanoff produced the acclaimed variety show
The Hollywood Palace from 1964 to 1970, as well as multiple specials. Harbach's other producing credits include: •
Milton Berle Special (1962) with
Lena Horne,
Jack Benny,
Laurence Harvey,
Charlton Heston, and
Kirk Douglas • Two
Bing Crosby Special productions (produced and directed) • Last
Steve Allen Laugh-Back Series •
1978 Multiple Sclerosis Telethon (Los Angeles) •
Bob Hope Two-Hour Special (for President Gerald Ford at the opening of the Presidential Library and Museum) in 1981 • ''Bob Hope's Pink Panther Thanksgiving Gala'' (1982) • Shirley MacLaine Special
Gypsy in My Soul (1976) Working with Vanoff, Harbach also served as co-executive producer for: •
Bing Crosby and Carol Burnett: Together Again for the First Time (December, 1969) • Two Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Specials, including
The Brass are Comin' (October 1969) • John Wayne Special,
Sing Out Sweet Land (1970) • Bing Crosby and Bob Hope Special,
Making Movies •
The Don Adams Special: Hooray for Hollywood (1970) with
Don Rickles •
The Milton Berle Show •
The Don Knotts Show (1970–1971) Harbach also served as co-producer with Vanoff on: •
The Big Show (1980) - first of a series • Democratic Fund Raising Telethon •
The Julie Andrews Hour (1972–1973) ==Post-career==