Johnny Carson Trivia

1. Where was Johnny Carson born?

From Quiz Johnny Carson: The King Of Late Night Television

Answer: Corning, Iowa

Johnny Carson was born on October 23, 1925, in Corning, which is a city in the Iowa. His parents were Homer Lloyd Carson and Ruth Elizabeth Carson. He spent the early years of his life there in the towns of Avoca, Clarinda, and Red Oak. He moved along with his parents and two siblings to Nebraska in the early 1930s.

From Quiz Johnny Carson

Answer: Nebraska

Johnny Carson was born in 1925 in Iowa, but his family moved to Nebraska when Carson was a boy. Carson graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in radio / speech. Purdue University, located in Indiana, is known as the Boilermakers. Kansas University's nickname is the Jayhawks, and the University of Iowa is known as the Hawkeyes.

From Quiz Heeere's Johnny

Answer: William

Johnny's birth name is John William Carson.

From Quiz Johnny Carson: The King Of Late Night Television

Answer: During his childhood years

Johnny Carson was very fond of entertaining people at a young age; before he became an entertainer and television host, he performed magic for his family members. He started his career as a performer after receiving a magic kit at the age of 8. By the age of 14, he developed his entertainment talents further by performing professionally as a magician at local clubs and fairs, where he was paid for his performances. He continued to perform professionally as a magician even when he was a university student.

From Quiz Johnny Carson

Answer: ABC

"Who Do You Trust?" was shown on the American Broadcasting Company between 1957 and 1963. Johnny Carson served as emcee of this game show for five years before he signed a contract to join NBC's "Tonight Show." After Carson left "Who Do You Trust?" in 1962, Woody Woodbury emceed the final year of the show. Ed McMahon replaced Bill Nimmo as the announcer of "Who Do You Trust?" in 1958, and the "dynamic duo" of Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon was born. By the way, Fox Network didn't begin broadasting until about 1986.

From Quiz Heeere's Johnny

Answer: 1925

He was born on October 23rd, 1925 in Corning, Iowa.

From Quiz Johnny Carson: The King Of Late Night Television

Answer: United States Navy

Johnny Carson served in the United States Navy during the Second World War. He was trained and given the rank of an ensign, serving on a ship called the USS Pennsylvania. He performed as a magician even while he was in the U.S. Navy and entertained the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, James W. Forrestal. He also worked as a communications officer during this time.

From Quiz Johnny Carson

Answer: Jack Paar

Johnny Carson took over as the host of the "Tonight Show" in October 1962, when Jack Paar decided to quit. Paar served as the host of the "Tonight Show" from 1957 to 1962; he revolutionized late night television with his witty monologues and interesting stories about the current events of the time. Many TV critics felt that Carson would have "mighty big shoes to follow" after Paar left the "Tonight Show"- and Carson did a magnificent job of filling those shoes, as Paar's successor to the late night TV throne. Steve Allen hosted the "Tonight Show" from 1954 to 1957. Hugh Downs served as Jack Paar's announcer from 1957 to 1962.

From Quiz Heeere's Johnny

Answer: Joanne

Joanne Copeland was his 2nd wife. Joan Morrill Wolcott was Johnny's first wife. They were married on October 1, 1949 and divorced in 1963. His second marriage was to Joanne Copeland. They were married on August 17, 1963 and were divorced in 1972. His third marriage was to Joanna Holland. They were married on September 30, 1972 and divorced in 1985. His fourth marriage was to Alexis Mass. They were married on June 20, 1987.

From Quiz Johnny Carson

Answer: Tea for Two

Johnny Carson was a master of the five-minute monologue. He poked fun at politicians and celebrities in his speeches, and he had self-deprecating charm when his jokes were not funny. When a monologue "bombed", the orchestra would begin to play "Tea for Two" and Carson would start doing a soft shoe dance routine. The song "Tea for Two", written by Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar, came from the 1925 musical "No, No, Nanette."

From Quiz Heeere's Johnny

Answer: Navy

Johnny served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946.

From Quiz Johnny Carson: The King Of Late Night Television

Answer: Radio

Johnny Carson began working professionally in 1950 as a radio performer for the radio station KXSP, which is still based in Omaha, Nebraska. He was also given his own radio show called "The Johnny Carson Show", which was aired in a morning time slot for 45 minutes. His style of hosting and lively conversational style made him a popular and well known figure in the area.

From Quiz Johnny Carson

Answer: Carnac the Magnificent

"Carnac the Magnificent" was perhaps Johnny Carson's most popular character on the "Tonight Show". Carnac wore a huge turban and forecast the future; Ed McMahon played the role of straight man and introduced Carnac as the "great mystic from the East". McMahon would hand Carnac a sealed envelope and Carnac would magically reveal the message- example: "To the cleaners." Carnac would then reveal the answer to the question: "Where are Johnny Carson's wives taking him?" When the studio audience didn't laugh, Carnac would glare and then utter a curse such as, "May a diseased rhinoceros visit your family weekly!" Carnac the Magnificent made many appearances on the "Tonight Show".

From Quiz Heeere's Johnny

Answer: 1987

Other prestigious honors and awards Johnny received were a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, (1751 Vine Street), an Emmy in 1992, (for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program), an Emmy in 1979, (for Outstanding Program Achievement - Special Class), an Emmy in 1978, 1977 and 1976, (for Special Classification of Outstanding Program Achievement).

From Quiz Johnny Carson: The King Of Late Night Television

Answer: He was recommended by an influential person for a break in the television industry.

Shortly after Johnny Carson began his career as a radio performer, he began hosting a local TV program called "The Squirrel's Nest". After producing a parody on a local politician from Omaha, Nebraska, it turned out that the man's wife owned stock in a radio station in California; she brought Carson to the attention of someone she knew in the television industry there. In 1951 he joined a TV station called KNXT. It was based in Los Angeles and was owned and run by CBS. After this, Johnny Carson also worked as a writer for "The Red Skelton Show", which ran from 1951-1971.

From Quiz Johnny Carson

Answer: Art Fern

Art Fern was a popular guest on the "Tonight Show". He spoke at rapid speed and tried to sell bogus products. His co-host was the lovely Carol Wayne, the Matinee Lady, who "assisted" Fern while the "Tea Time Movie" was playing. Fern would usually talk about a "fork in the road" and the "Slausen cutoff" while giving directions to a fake store as he was bantering about some "miracle cure". The character Floyd R. Turbo was a moronic-looking hunter, Aunt Blabby was an elderly lady, and El Mouldo was a psychic character.

From Quiz Johnny Carson: The King Of Late Night Television

Answer: The Tonight Show

Johnny Carson became the host of "The Tonight Show" in 1962, after Jack Paar left the show. He remained the host of the show for 30 years, until he stepped down as the host in 1992. He is regarded as the "King of Late Night Television", and is considered by some to have been the most popular host of the show. Today his show is known as "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson".

From Quiz Johnny Carson

Answer: the drums

Johnny Carson was supposedly a talented amateur drummer who genuinely loved jazz music. Legendary big band drummer, Buddy Rich, was a close friend to Carson, and Rich appeared several times as a guest on the "Tonight Show". Carson sometimes shone the spotlight on "Tonight Show" drummer Ed Shaughnessy in order to give the percussionist credit. Carson privately supported many other jazz musicians during his "Tonight Show" years.

From Quiz Johnny Carson

Answer: Bette Midler

By 1992, Johnny Carson had grown tired of his "Tonight Show" work, and he decided to retire while he was still at the peak of his skills. Carson's last "Tonight Show" emcee appearance was on May 22, 1992. On that evening, he reminisced for the entire show, along with his close friends Ed McMahon and Doc Severinsen. The night before, Carson had invited special guests Robin Williams and Bette Midler to appear on the program. In order to say good-bye to Johnny, Midler sang a slow and sweet version of the classic song, "One for My Baby and One More for the Road". It was an extremely emotional farewell, and both Carson and Midler were in tears.

From Quiz Johnny Carson: The King Of Late Night Television

Answer: He was involved in business and humanitarian activities.

Johnny Carson was very career conscious and ambitious right from the beginning of his career, giving top priority to his job as a television host. He was also, however, interested in business and invested in a number of humanitarian activities. He bought and ran two TV stations, but sold both the stations during the 1980s. He also started his own production company called "Carson Productions". Johnny Carson was also involved in humanitarian activities. He established a charity foundation by his name, which supports charitable causes related to children, education and health. He also made huge donations to his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, which resulted in the establishment of a film and drama school called the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, as well as to several organizations, such as the Carson Cancer Center, Elkhorn Valley Museum and the Johnny Carson Theater.

From Quiz Johnny Carson

Answer: Alexis

Johnny Carson didn't have much luck in marriage: he was married to Joan Wolcott from 1949 to 1963, to Joanne Copeland from 1963 to 1972, and to Joanna Holland from 1972 to 1983. Carson sometimes joked that he didn't have to discard the bathroom towels- they would always read "JC." Carson finally got lucky with his fourth spouse, Alexis Maas. Carson and Alexis got married in 1987, and they stayed together until Carson's death on January 23, 2005.

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