[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'224276\' date=\'Aug 27 2009, 12:45 PM\'][quote name=\'BillCullen1\' post=\'224257\' date=\'Aug 27 2009, 08:58 AM\']Speaking of game show books, how's that book on Johnny O coming along, Randy?[/quote]
Thanks for asking!
Johnny left such a legacy of goodwill. His former friends, co-workers, distant relatives and even former contestants from shows he hosted in the 1950s have been so generous in helping to sketch out as many details as possible. From folks you'd expect (Roger Dobkowitz, Barbara Hunter, Jonathan Goodson, etc.) to people nobody knew still had warm memories and stories of their time with Johnny (DuMont crew members, a Broadway producer from John's experience in a Broadway musical, a former limo driver, a neighbor in West Virginia, etc.) I've been putting the pieces together to tell what I think is really an interesting, compelling story.
Thanks to the personal notes that Johnny left and the help of the archivists at the historical societies where some pieces of his life will safely remain, the book is rich in insight into the man and his journey - imagine being the youngest of 10 kids who all live in a small farmhouse with only ONE bedroom? It's also full of the details about the shows, studios and behind-the-scenes history of broadcasting - when David Sarnoff expelled ABC (the former NBC Blue network) out of the RCA building on short notice, and into a TV studio that was a converted stable, with birds still flying into camera range. And that studio is STILL in use... it was on ABC-TV all last week!
And there's Johnny's own personal recollections: "...when they were taking medium close-ups of me doing a commercial, I’ve even had one crew man crawl on the floor, roll up my pants leg, light a match and move it against the hairy calf of my leg, just to try to throw me off equilibrium."
See how Johnny marked his scripts for that magical delivery we all enjoyed, and read his serious reflections on making merry in his warm-up shtick.
And I've included all the nonsense that us geeks will love: Did you know the original 1972 TPiR was to have THREE showcases in each episode? Did you know that Mark Goodson played the drums? Wanna know the address of Johnny's apartment when he lived in L.A.? Anitra remembering the day her bikini bottom slipped off, and she was nude from the waist down, right in front of Johnny?
It's 58 years of broadcasting as seen from one guy who was a constant as the industry changed. Stars, shows, producers and even entire networks came and went while Johnny kept working, and kept his mouth shut during the scandals. From a radio vocalist in a farmhouse studio at age 14, to his tiny dressing room at CBS studio 33, I'm loving the work of compiling Johnny's story.
It's 125,000 words with 90 photos, and it's all with the publisher. Last night I spoke to the typesetter who will now start laying it out. I'll see the proofs and make any final changes asap. I'm promised a November 1st release. I can't wait for folks to know more about the guy that left such an impression on me when we first met when I was a teenager, and then gave me the encouragement to live my dream!
Thanks for asking!! I haven't been so passionate about anything in a long time ;-)
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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I've said it before and now again: I can't wait for this to come out! Thanks, Randy for your hard work on this. I will buy it as soon as I possibly can!!