Carson, Johnny, 1925-2005

Television personality. Full name: John William Carson.

From the description of Johnny Carson papers, 1970-1992. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70983824

Biographical Note

• 1925, Oct. 23: Born, Corning, Iowa
• 1942 - 1945 : Served in the U.S. Navy aboard the Pennsylvania in the Pacific
• 1948: Married Jody Wolcott (divorced 1963) Wrote radio scripts for radio station KFAB, Lincoln, Nebr.
• 1949: B.A., University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebr.
• 1949: Worked for radio station WOW and television station WOW-TV, Omaha, Nebr.
• 1951: Station announcer, KNXT-TV, Los Angeles, Calif.
• 1951 - 1952 : Star, Sunday afternoon comedy show, KNXT-TV, Los Angeles, Calif.
• 1952 - 1954 : Writer, Red Skelton television show on CBS Television Network, Los Angeles, Calif.
• 1954: Starred in "Johnny Carson Show," CBS Television Network, Los Angeles, Calif.
• 1956: Moved from California to New York, N.Y.
• 1957: Master of ceremonies, "Who Do You Trust," ABC Television Network, New York, N.Y.
• 1958: Guest host, "Tonight Show," substituting for Jack Paar
• 1960s: Night club performer, primarily in Las Vegas, Nev.
• 1962 - 1992 : Host, "Tonight Show," NBC Television Network
• 1963: Married Joanne Copeland (divorced 1972)
• 1965: Published Happiness Is...a Dry Martini (New York: Doubleday. unpaged) Entertainer of the Year, Friars Club, New York, N.Y.
• 1967: Published Misery Is...A Blind Date (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. unpaged)
• 1969: Negotiated contract with Hart, Schaffner & Marx to model a line of "Johnny Carson" clothing
• 1972: Married Joanna Holland Host, Emmy Awards ceremony, New York, N.Y. "Tonight Show" moved from New York, N.Y., to Hollywood, Calif.
• 1992, May 29: Final telecast of the "Tonight Show" with Carson as host

From the guide to the Johnny Carson Papers, 1970-1992, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)