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Hall of Fame 1987Johnny CarsonVideo |
(Editors note: This biography is a reprint from the 1987 NBA Hall of Fame Program from 1987)
Johnny Carson-who considers Norfolk, NE, home- was born in Corning, Iowa, October 23, 1925. At age 14, he gave his first public performance as "The Great Carsoni" (a magician) in Norfolk, where he grew up.
Following high school, Carson became a Navy ensign, and entertained enlisted men aboard the USS Pennsylvania. After Navy duty, he attended the University of Omaha where he went to class late when he was writing comedy and announcing commercials for a 15-minute program on WOW radio.
In 1950 Johnny decided his future was in Calilfronia; he got a job as a staff announcer wtihe KNXT (now KCBS TV) in Los Angeles. He was soon hosting "Carson's Cellar" which ran until mid-1953 when he began writing for the Red Skelton TV show. as luck would have it, Skelton ran into a breakaway door and suffered a concussion before airtime one night; JOhnny went on with a monolgue put together on the way to the studio. Jack Benny's verdit: "The kid is great!:
Johnny went on to host "Earn Your Vacation", and substitute-host Jack Paar's CBS "Morning Show".
In 1957 Johnny moved to ABC to host a new daytime game show, "Who Do You Trust?", with Ed McMahon (Johnny must have trusted Ed because he was hired as the "Tonight Show" announcer and has kept the job for 23 year). In 1958 Johnny began filling in for Paar on NBC's "The Tonight Show".
"The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" wil celberate its 25th anniversary in October this year. It is viewed by more people than any late-night program in network TV history. "The Tonight Show" won Emmy Awards in 1975-76, 76-77, 78-79 and 79-80.
Johnny's personal awards include Variety Club Man of the Year, 1986; Iris Award (National Associatioin of TV Program Executives), 1985; Harvard U's Hasy Pudding Award, 1977; Entertainer of the Year Award (American Guild of Variety Artists), 1978; and the Friar Club Man of the Year Award, 1979. Johnny has also hosted five academy award telecasts.
Popular Carson characters include Carnac the Magnificient who divines questions to the answers; testy old Aunt Blabby; sleazy Tea-Time-Movie host Art Fern; bombastic consumer advocate David Howitzer; Ed Moldo, a demonstrative vampire; crusty government employee G. Walter Schneeer; and Floyd Turbo, a country editorial rebutter. Carson's comic impesonations include President Reagn, former President Carter, sex therapist Dr. Ruth, news commentator Walter Cronkite and children's TV host Mr. Rogers.