King of the Night page 11 by ric gustafson
On Aug 29 1949, WOW TV went on the air. Station affliates and dignitaries were there. The crew had to quickly learn about the cameras. Sales staff had to learn advertising. Johnny was picked to host a program each weekday at noon. Johnny named the show ' Squirrel's Nest'. The show was only 15 minutes long. Sometimes Johnny had trouble filling the time. Johnny's low voltage personality was perfect for TV. Soon, he was in living rooms all over Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa.
In order to make it, Johnny knew he had to go to New York or LA. He chose LA. He moved the family there in the summer of 1951. A friend Bill Brennan got Johnny a job at KNXT-TV. It was a CBS affiliate.
research help: ' King of the Night' by Laurence Leamer
Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric