Johnnie Johnston

For other people with similar names, see Johnny Johnston (disambiguation).
Johnnie Johnston
Johnston in 1945
Born
John Clifford Johnston

December 1, 1915
St. Louis, Missouri, US
DiedJanuary 6, 1996 (aged 80)
Cape Coral, Florida, US
Occupation(s)Actor
Singer
Spouses
  • Dorothy Marubio
​
​
(m. 1947; div. 1951)​
Shirley Carmel
​
​
(m. 1952, divorced)​
Jacquelyn Sheresky Unger
​
​
(m. 1961; sep. 1965)​
Beverley Markley
​
(m. 1975)​
Children5

Johnny Johnston (December 1, 1915 – January 6, 1996)[1] was an American actor and singer who was popular in the 1940s.

Early years

He was born John Clifford Johnston in St. Louis, Missouri.[citation needed]

Radio

In the late 1930s, Johnston had his own program on NBC-Blue.[2]

Recordings

Johnston had several hits on the Capitol label.

Personal life and death

Johnston was married five times, and had five children. One of his marriages was to actress Kathryn Grayson[3] at an August 22, 1947 ceremony in Carmel, California.[4] Grayson was his second wife.[5] On October 7, 1948, the couple's only child, daughter, Patricia Kathryn "Patty Kate" Johnston, was born. Grayson and Johnston separated on November 15, 1950. On October 3, 1951, Grayson was given a divorce from Johnston on the grounds of mental cruelty.[6]

Johnston's This Time for Keeps co-star, Esther Williams, claimed in her 1999 autobiography that while making the film, Johnston would read Grayson's intimate letters aloud to the girls in his fan club, including the "all-too-graphic details concerning what she liked about his love-making."[7] Later, he operated a nightclub in New York City.[3]

On July 31, 1952, Johnston married Shirley I. Carmel in Greenwich, Connecticut.[5] He died in 1996, aged 80.

Hit recordings

Year Single US Chart position label catalog #
1945 "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings" 7[8] Capitol 186 [9]
"Laura" 5[8] Capitol 196[9]
"There Must Be a Way" 9[8] Capitol 196[9]
1946 "One More Dream (and She's Mine)" 13[8] Capitol 228[9]

Filmography

References

  1. ^ Wagner, Laura (Winter 2015). "Johnnie Johnston: Bobbysoxer Heartthrob". Films of the Golden Age (83): 71–72.
  2. ^ "(radio listing)". The Emporia Gazette. Kansas, Emporia. The Emporia Gazette. June 20, 1938. p. 8. Retrieved February 6, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b Vera, Billy (2000). From the Vaults Vol. 4: Love Letters (CD). Hollywood: Capitol Records. p. 7.
  4. ^ "Kathryn Grayson Sues for Divorce". Los Angeles Times. August 10, 1951. ProQuest 166256687.
  5. ^ a b "Johnnie Johnston Is Wed". The Kansas City Times. Missouri, Kansas City. The Kansas City Times. August 1, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved February 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "Kathryn Grayson Given Divorce From Johnston". Los Angeles Times. October 4, 1951. ProQuest 166274081.
  7. ^ Williams, Esther; Diehl, Digby (1999). The Million Dollar Mermaid: An Autobiography (1st ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-15-601135-8. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  8. ^ a b c d Pop Memories 1890-1954. Joel Whitburn. 1986. Record Research Inc. p. 232. ISBN 0-89820-083-0
  9. ^ a b c d Abrams, Steven and Settlemier, Tyrone Capitol 100 - 499, numerical listing discography Online Discographical Project. November 1, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  10. ^ "Columbia". The Evening Review. Ohio, East Liverpool. The Evening Review. October 2, 1942. p. 6. Retrieved February 6, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ^ "West Brings Top Tunefilm". The Terre Haute Tribune. Indiana, Terre Haute. The Terre Haute Tribune. April 24, 1949. p. 31. Retrieved February 6, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon