Posted on 01/09/2008 10:07:10 PM PST by hole_n_one
Edited on 01/09/2008 10:13:53 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
Sad. He called Hollywood his mistress
I put up my headline well before I came across this internet source.......how weird!
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you must be pre-incognitive or something.. lol
a sad day in Hollywood.
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RIP Johnny and Thanks!
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Born in Goldsboro, N.C. in 1923, Grant began his career in 1939 as a newscaster on WGBR there, receiving national acclaim for broadcasting periodic live reports on a notorious murder trial, in what was believed to be the first time a microphone was allowed in a courtroom.
Grant served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, the start of a longtime relationship with the military. Grant was a major general in the California State Military Reserve, the all-volunteer backup and support force of the California National Guard.
Grant is believed to have made the most overseas tours to entertain U.S. troops, 60, with the final one coming last month to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
“The USO and military has been a big part of my life, ever since WWII, when as a GI, I emceed a show and introduced Bob Hope,” Grant said before leaving for Cuba. “He encouraged me to come to Hollywood when the war was over. Hope gave me the combination to the joke file lock and sent me to March Field to stand in for him 55 years ago, and I haven’t stopped since.”
Grant made 15 trips to Korea and 14 to Vietnam.
ping
SoCal ping list
Tard ping list
A good friend of mine, Tom Shelley, invited my wife and I to the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star dedication for the Watson brothers, long time entertainment and photographic production people whose family had been in that line of work since the early 1900s.
My parents had been neighbors of Harry Watson. Tom didn’t know this, but Harry and family were glad to see my folks.
After the star dedication, I approached Johnny Grant and he agreed to have his picture taken with my parents.
I’m sorry to see the guy go. He was an institution. He will be missed.
A great loss for show biz and our military.
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