The Pittsburgh Press- Jul 19, 1942
Inner Sanctum Host Isn’t a Bad Guy If You Look at Him Out of
Character
He’s been a caddy, a soda jerk, a
bus boy, an insurance salesman, a bank teller and a tennis pro. His favorite
composer is Sibelius, he is a profound a thinker as a college professor but he
usually dresses in casual tweeds and sport jackets. His friends sum him up
simply as “a heck of a swell guy.” That’s Raymond Edward Johnson, much-heard
NBC actor.
Currently Ray is heard in “The
Story of Bess Johnson” as Clyde. Bess’ outspoken but sincere’ friend. That’s
pretty close to real life, too. The real Bess Johnson (no relation) gave Ray
his first radio job some years back. He also is “The Host” on the Blue Network’s
“Inner Sanctum” and his fan mail brings carloads of oil cans for the famous
squeaking door that opens the program
* * *
The first radio job Ray landed was
in “Today’s Children,” which ran for more than five years. He then played a
lead role in “Henry Mathews,” and now appears regularly on too many other
programs to name. His stage experience includes “everything from Greek tragedy
to modern high comedy.” Among the stars Ray has worked with are Paul Lukas,
Boris Karloff, Nazimova, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Alfred Lunt and many
others. And all this at the age of 31.
Ray sees his wartime work as “an
actor’s duty to give his listeners some faith, some hope, and a few laughs.” As
to his ambitions, he says “I want to do as fine a job as I can in whatever
medium I find myself.”
At his upstate New York home Ray’s
greatest joy—for some inexplicable reason—is lugging rocks, huge rocks. Seems
the lanky thespian s building a badminton court, and the topography requires a
big rock wall to keep a hill from sliding onto the court. Ray regrets he has no
room for tennis, his favorite sport.
* * *
He is married
to Betty Caine, a radio actress currently heard on “Mary Marlin.” They have one
child. Ray met the future Mrs. Johnson in Chicago, where they both were acting
in “Young Hickory.”
Ray hails from
a little Midwestern town that bids fair to become known as the nursery of
America’s acting talent, Kenosha, Wis. Don Ameche and Orson Welles were born
in Kenosha, and Frederic March comes from nearby Racine.
Johnson enjoys
his country home tremendously and commutes daily. “The country is the end of
all living,” says Ray. Eventually he hopes to own a farm. But acting is in his
blood. He enjoys radio work. Says he: “To be able to earn money at something I
like is a blessing.”
Air Billing
Two actors
frequently heard on “Mr. District Attorney” received “air billing in last week’s
script, when Ed Byron, author-producer of the series, used the names of Arthur
Vinton and Jack Smart as name of characters in the story. And neither actor
played the role which bore his name!
Take It Away
Now that the Stage Door Canteen is
going to be a sponsored radio series starting Thursday, July 30, 9:30 to 10:00
p.m. over WJS, rafts of anecdotes are beginning to pass across this desk.
We like this one about Alfred Lunt
and the “at liberty” actor who approached Lunt while he was making sandwiches
for U. S. servicemen at the Canteen. “How are you.” Lunt shouted joyously. What
are you doing these days?”
The actor hurried up. “I’m fine,
Mr. Lunt. Just fine, and I’d sure like to be in a play with you this fall.”
Lunt cut a deft slice of roast beef then looked up. “But what are you doing
right now?” he insisted. “I could go into immediate rehearsals, sir,” the boy
said, “because I’m not doing anything right now.” “Well then,” Lunt shouted. “Why
don’t you just run and empty this garbage pail.”
MURDER TONIGHT!
Inner Sanctum Mysteries
Featuring Famous Stars of
Broadway, Hollywood and Radio
Tonight’s Star
* * *
SUNDAY
JULY 13th
WFIL
8:30
E.D.T.
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