Carson the Magnificent [Large Print]

By Bill Zehme

Book Overview

Twenty years in the making, Zemhe and Thomas's book examines "one of the most inscrutable figures in entertainment history: a man who brought so much joy and laughter to so many millions but was himself exceedingly shy and private. Zehme traces Carson's rise from a magic-obsessed Nebraska boy to a Navy ensign in World War II to a burgeoning radio and TV personality to, eventually, host of The Tonight Show--which he transformed, along with the entirety of American popular culture, over the next three decades--

• Format: Library Binding
• Large Print: Yes
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1420519131
• ISBN13: 9781420519136
• Release Date: November 2024
• Publisher: Thorndike Press Large Print
• Length: 8 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

An intimate portrait of what drove Johnny Carson to become the King of Late Night TV.

Baby Boomers and older adults will enjoy this intimate biography of Johnny Carson. Johnny Carson hosted the Tonight Show from 1962 until 1992. For many of us who watched his unique brand of humor and witty dialogue, he was the person who made us laugh, relaxed us at the end of the day, and tucked us into bed. We looked forward to his show after watching the 10 pm news. Who would his guests be? Would his monologue make us laugh or would he flop? Would Aunt Blabby or Carnac the Magnificent make a surprise appearance? We never knew what hilarity was in store night by night. Johnny Carson was more, much more than his show. What was he like as a kid at home and at school? What shaped and prepared him to become a tv entertainer? (Answer: a book) Why did he marry four times? What broke up his marriages? What sort of father was he to his three boys? What was he like off-stage? What did he enjoy after he retired? What was his greatest regret? All these topics and more are explained in this book. Some of the answers might surprise you. I found the book to be enjoyable from cover to cover. The author writes elaborately and with a broad command of vocabulary. I encountered words I’d never seen before. I gave it four stars (instead of five) because of the sophisticated vocabulary. It is one of the better biography books Ive read. If you remember Johnny Carson, you’ll enjoy this story of his remarkable life.