John B. Kennedy
Encyclopedia
John Bright Kennedy was an American
radio correspondent, journalist, and film narrator.
He was born in Quebec
, of a French-Canadian mother and an Irish
engineer father. His work included a commentator on the program The Magic Key which ran from 1934 to 1939. He often hosted the People’s Rally, which was an influential current affairs program that featured prominent spokespersons for both pro and con arguments of the day.
His first radio stint took place in 1924, on WJZ
, when he was 30 and associate editor of Collier's
. In 1925 Collier's installed him on The Collier Hour
that continued until 1931. After Collier's Hour went off the air, NBC
hired Kennedy as a staff commentator and host of the The Magic Key and the People’s Rally.
Kennedy has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio correspondent, journalist, and film narrator.
He was born in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, of a French-Canadian mother and an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
engineer father. His work included a commentator on the program The Magic Key which ran from 1934 to 1939. He often hosted the People’s Rally, which was an influential current affairs program that featured prominent spokespersons for both pro and con arguments of the day.
His first radio stint took place in 1924, on WJZ
WABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
, when he was 30 and associate editor of Collier's
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
. In 1925 Collier's installed him on The Collier Hour
The Collier Hour
The Collier Hour, broadcast on the NBC Blue Network from 1927 to 1932, was radio's first major dramatic anthology, aka Collier's Radio Hour. It offered adaptations of stories and serials from Collier's in a calculated move to increase subscriptions and compete with The Saturday Evening Post...
that continued until 1931. After Collier's Hour went off the air, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
hired Kennedy as a staff commentator and host of the The Magic Key and the People’s Rally.
Kennedy has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
.