Johnny Carson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Johnny Carson |
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Carson in October 1970
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| Birth name | John William Carson |
| Born | October 23, 1925 Corning, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | January 23, 2005 (aged 79) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Medium | Television |
| Alma mater | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Years active | 1950–1994 |
| Genres | Observational comedy, surreal humor, satire, deadpan, sketch comedy |
| Subject(s) | American culture, American politics, everyday life, pop culture, current events, human behavior, social awkwardness, gender differences |
| Spouse |
Jody Morrill Wolcott
(m. 1949; div. 1963)Joanne Copeland
(m. 1963; div. 1972)Joanna Holland
(m. 1972; div. 1985)Alexis Maas
(m. 1987) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relative(s) | Dick Carson (brother) |
| Signature |  |
Johnny Carson (born John William Carson; October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was a famous American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He hosted the show for 30 years, from 1962 to 1992.
Carson won many awards for his work. These include six Primetime Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award. He was also added to the Television Academy Hall of Fame. In 1992, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can get in the U.S.
Before his TV career, Carson served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he started in radio. He then moved to television. He became the host of The Tonight Show in 1962. He was known for his relaxed style and quick wit. Many other late-night hosts, like David Letterman, looked up to him. Johnny Carson is still seen as a legend in late-night television.
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Early Life and First Steps in Entertainment
John William Carson was born on October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa. His parents were Ruth Elizabeth and Homer Lloyd Carson. He was the second of three children. He had an older sister, Catherine, and a younger brother, Richard.
When he was eight, his family moved to Norfolk, Nebraska. This is where he started to show his talent for entertaining. At 12, he found a magic book. He quickly bought a magic kit by mail. Carson practiced card tricks on his family. He would often ask, "Pick a card, any card."
His mother even made him a cape. His first paid show was for the local Kiwanis Club. He was 14 and called himself "The Great Carsoni." He earned $3 per show. Soon, he performed at many local picnics and county fairs.
Military Service During World War II
Carson joined the United States Navy on June 8, 1943. He trained to become an officer. He was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania in the Pacific.
While in the Navy, Carson had a perfect 10–0 record in amateur boxing. Most of his boxing matches were on the Pennsylvania. The war ended while he was on a troop ship heading to the combat zone.
Carson worked as a communications officer. He was in charge of decoding secret messages. He once performed a magic trick for the Secretary of the Navy, James V. Forrestal. Carson said this was a highlight of his military career.
College and a New Path
After the war, Carson used Navy benefits to go to college. He attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He joined a fraternity and kept performing magic. He earned $25 for each appearance.
He first studied journalism, hoping to write comedy. But a few months later, he changed his major to speech and drama. He wanted to perform on the radio. Carson's college project was called "How to Write Comedy for Radio." It was a collection of jokes and skits from radio shows. Carson explained the comedy techniques in a voice-over. He graduated in three years. In 1949, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in radio and speech. He also had a minor in physics.
Early Radio and TV Shows
Carson began his broadcasting career in 1950. He worked at WOW radio and television in Omaha. He soon hosted a morning TV show called The Squirrel's Nest. He even interviewed pigeons on a courthouse roof for a routine. The pigeons would "report" on local politics.
In 1951, Carson moved to Los Angeles. He joined the CBS TV station KNXT. From 1951 to 1953, he had a low-budget sketch comedy show called Carson's Cellar. In 1953, comedian Red Skelton asked Carson to write for his show.
In 1954, Skelton accidentally knocked himself out before a live show. Carson stepped in and hosted the show successfully. In 1955, Jack Benny invited Carson to appear on his program. Carson imitated Benny, and Benny predicted Carson would have a great career.
Carson hosted other shows too. These included the game show Earn Your Vacation (1954). He also hosted The Johnny Carson Show (1955–1956). From 1961 to 1962, he was a regular on the game show To Tell the Truth.
After his primetime show ended, he moved to New York City. He hosted ABC-TV's Who Do You Trust? (1957–1962). On this show, he met his future sidekick, Ed McMahon. Even though he thought daytime TV might hurt his career, Who Do You Trust? was a big hit. It was his first show where he could talk freely and interview guests. Carson's quick wit made the show very popular.
Becoming the King of Late-Night: The Tonight Show
NBC's Tonight show started in 1954 with host Steve Allen. It was a new idea for late-night TV. When Allen left in 1957, Jack Paar took over. Paar left the show in 1962.
Carson's success on Who Do You Trust? led NBC to offer him the Tonight show. Carson was hesitant at first. He worried about interviewing celebrities for so long every day. Other comedians like Bob Newhart and Groucho Marx also turned down the offer. But NBC finally convinced Carson to sign on in early 1962.
Carson began hosting Tonight on October 1, 1962. The show was later renamed The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. After a tough first year, he became very comfortable. His version of Tonight became incredibly popular in the ratings.
Ed McMahon joined Carson from Who Do You Trust? as his announcer. McMahon's famous introduction was "Heeeeere's Johnny!!!" This was followed by Carson's short opening monologue. The show then featured comedy sketches, interviews, and music. Carson's signature move was a phantom golf swing at the end of his monologues. He aimed it towards the studio orchestra.
Paul Anka wrote the show's theme song, "Johnny's Theme." Carson even wrote lyrics for the song, though they were never used on air. The theme played at the start of every show. It was used from his first broadcast until his last on May 22, 1992.
The show was first made in New York City. It sometimes taped in California. Carson was great at quick jokes to handle any problems. If his monologue didn't go well, the band would play "Tea for Two." Carson would then do a softshoe dance, making the audience laugh.
Moving to Burbank
On May 1, 1972, The Tonight Show moved to Burbank, California. This was because many celebrities lived closer to Burbank.
Over time, Carson hosted fewer shows per week. Guest hosts would fill in on Mondays. In 1980, the show was shortened from 90 minutes to 60 minutes. Joan Rivers became the "permanent" guest host from 1983 to 1986. After her, different guest hosts were used. Jay Leno became the main guest host in 1987.
Carson's work schedule became shorter, but his pay from NBC kept growing. By the mid-1970s, he was the highest-paid person on television. He earned about $4 million a year. He turned down many movie roles. He also said no to director Martin Scorsese for a film role.
In 1985, Carson received a special Peabody Award. The award recognized him as "an American institution." They praised his contributions to television, humor, and America.
The Uri Geller Incident
In 1973, a self-proclaimed psychic named Uri Geller appeared on The Tonight Show. Johnny Carson had been a magician himself. He was doubtful of Geller's claimed powers. So, before the show, Carson asked magician James Randi for help. Randi advised the show to prepare their own props. They did not let Geller or his team touch them.
When Geller came on stage, he seemed surprised. He was expected to show his abilities using the provided items. Geller said he didn't feel strong. He also said he felt pressured to perform. He was unable to show any special abilities.
However, this appearance actually made Geller more famous. Even though Carson and Randi tried to show he wasn't real, many people still believed in him after the show.
Funny Characters
Carson played several funny characters in sketches on the show:
- Art Fern was the "Tea Time Movie" announcer. He had a nasal, high-pitched voice. He wore a fancy wig and loud jackets. He would give confusing directions to shoppers in Los Angeles. He also made fun of the "Slauson Cutoff" freeway.
- Carnac the Magnificent was a psychic wearing a turban. He would answer questions before seeing them. Ed McMahon would give him sealed envelopes. Carson would hold an envelope to his forehead and say the answer. Then he would read the question. For example, the answer might be "Gatorade." The question would be: "What does an alligator get on welfare?" If the joke was bad, McMahon would tease Carson. Carnac would then put a funny "curse" on the audience. A famous one was: "May the bird of paradise fly up your nose!"
- Floyd R. Turbo American was a common working man. He wore a plaid hunting coat and cap. He would give funny "editorial responses" to news events. He often shouted his opinions.
- Aunt Blabby was a grumpy old lady. Ed McMahon would interview her about older people's issues. She would get upset if McMahon used common phrases like "check out." She would warn him: "Don't say 'check out' to an old person!"
- El Mouldo was a mentalist. He tried to read minds and move things with his mind. All his tricks failed. He would often try to get money from Ed McMahon. He sometimes begged the audience for a dollar.
- The Maharishi was a holy man with frizzy hair. He spoke in a calm, high-pitched voice. He would give Ed McMahon a flower. He answered philosophical questions. This character was a funny take on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Business Ventures
Carson invested money in the DeLorean Motor Company. He also led a group of investors who bought and ran two TV stations. These were KVVU-TV in Henderson, Nevada, and KNAT-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He sold both stations in the mid-1980s.
Carson also had other successful businesses. One was Johnny Carson Apparel, Inc. His turtlenecks even became a fashion trend. He also tried a restaurant franchise, but it did not succeed.
Retirement
Johnny Carson retired from show business on May 22, 1992. He stepped down as host of The Tonight Show at age 66. His farewell was a huge event in the media. It was very emotional for Carson, his co-workers, and the audience. Other late-night shows even stopped broadcasting for the hour of his last show.
NBC gave the hosting job to Jay Leno, who was the show's guest host. Leno and David Letterman soon competed on different networks.
After Retirement
After his last Tonight Show episode, Carson said he might return with a new project. But he chose to fully retire. He rarely gave interviews. He also did not take part in NBC's 75th-anniversary celebrations.
He made a few special appearances. He voiced himself on The Simpsons in 1993. He also called David Letterman on his show in November 1993. He appeared in a 1993 NBC special for Bob Hope.
On May 13, 1994, Carson appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman had been having other people deliver his "Top Ten Lists." For the last show of the week, Letterman hinted that Carson would deliver the list. Instead, another comedian came out. Then, the real Carson appeared from behind the curtain. The audience gave him a 90-second standing ovation. Carson sat behind Letterman's desk for a moment. He then left without speaking. He later said he had severe laryngitis. This was Carson's last television appearance.
Before he passed away, Carson sometimes sent jokes to David Letterman. Letterman would use these jokes in his show's monologue. Carson enjoyed this very much. Carson always believed Letterman, not Leno, should have taken over The Tonight Show. After Carson's death, Letterman's first show featured a monologue made entirely of jokes Carson had sent him.
Influences
Johnny Carson was influenced by many comedians. These included Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Fred Allen, Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, and Jack Paar.
Legacy and Impact
Carson's show helped start the careers of many performers. This was especially true for comedians and musicians. For a comedian, getting Carson to laugh and inviting them to sit in the guest chair was a huge honor. Famous people whose careers were boosted by Carson include David Letterman, Robin Williams, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, and Rodney Dangerfield.
In 1966, Carson made Milton Bradley's game Twister very popular. He played it with actress Eva Gabor on the show. The game's popularity grew hugely after that broadcast.
Many comedians say Carson influenced them. These include David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Jerry Seinfeld, and Steve Martin.
Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys was a big fan. In 1977, he wrote a song called "Johnny Carson" as a tribute. It was on The Beach Boys album Love You.
Personal Life
Despite his funny on-camera personality, Carson was a private person off-camera. He was known for avoiding large parties. Some called him "the most private public man who ever lived."
He usually did not talk about politics or his private life in interviews. He even had a list of written answers for journalists. These included "Yes, I did," "No, I didn't," and "No. Kumquats."
Politics
Carson generally did not share his political views on The Tonight Show. He felt it would hurt his role as an entertainer. He also rarely invited politicians on the show. He did not want the show to become a political discussion.
His former lawyer said Carson was a Republican by instinct. He was against big government and big bullies. Carson was the MC for Ronald Reagan's inaugural gala in 1981.
Marriages and Family
Carson was married four times. His first marriage was to Jody Wolcott in 1949. It ended in divorce in 1963. He then married Joanne Copeland in 1963. This marriage also ended in divorce in 1972.
On September 30, 1972, Carson secretly married Joanna Holland. He announced it at his show's 10th-anniversary party. They divorced in 1985. His final marriage was to Alexis Maas on June 20, 1987. This marriage lasted until his death in 2005.
Carson had three sons with his first wife: Christopher, Cory, and Richard. His son Richard died in a car accident in 1991. He was taking photographs when it happened. On the first Tonight Show after Richard's death, Carson showed his son's nature slides.
Giving Back
In 1981, Carson created the John W. Carson Foundation. This foundation supports children, education, and health services. After his death in 2005, his foundation received $156 million from his personal trust. It became one of the largest Hollywood charities. The foundation continues to support good causes.
Carson also gave large donations to the University of Nebraska. These gifts helped create the Johnny Carson School of Theater and Film. He also supported causes in his hometown of Norfolk, Nebraska. These included a cancer center, a museum, and a theater at the high school. He also donated to a college in honor of his favorite teacher, Miss Faye Gordon.
Other Hobbies
Carson was an amateur astronomer. He was good friends with astronomer Carl Sagan. Sagan often appeared on The Tonight Show. Carson would playfully tease Sagan about his way of saying "billions." Carson owned several telescopes. In 1981, a minor planet was named in his honor: 3252 Johnny.
Carson also played the drum set. His close friend, jazz musician Buddy Rich, gave him a drum set. Carson was also a keen tennis player.
Death and Tributes
Johnny Carson had been a heavy smoker for many years. On March 19, 1999, he had a severe heart attack. He had quadruple-bypass surgery.
Carson died on January 23, 2005, in Los Angeles. He was 79 years old. He died from breathing problems caused by emphysema. He had told the public about his illness in 2002. His body was cremated, and his ashes were given to his wife, Alexis Maas. His family did not hold a public memorial service.
Many people paid tribute to Carson after his death. Then-President George W. Bush made a statement. Everyone recognized the great affection people had for him.
On January 31, The Late Show with David Letterman honored Carson. Letterman said that for 30 years, people wanted to end their day being "tucked in by Johnny." He also revealed that his monologue that night was made entirely of jokes Carson had sent him.
On his final Tonight Show appearance, Carson said that he and Ed McMahon were true friends. He said their friendship could not be faked. Their friendship lasted for 46 years.
The 2005 film The Aristocrats was dedicated to Carson. The Simpsons episode "Mommie Beerest" was also dedicated to his memory.
A park in Burbank, California, is named in his honor. It is across from the former NBC Studios.
See also
In Spanish: Johnny Carson para niños
