John Edward McCarthy
Encyclopedia
John Edward McCarthy was a radio actor and announcer. Born on a farm near Parnell, Michigan, he attended St. Thomas High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan and attended the University of Michigan
.
Before World War II, he was an announcer at radio stations WMBC and WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan. On WXYZ in the late 1930s he also played the part of Ned Jordan, secret agent, a radio drama serial. Just before World War II, he became Chief Announcer at WXYZ.
During World War II, he was a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps
and was stationed on Eniwetok
Atoll in the Marshall Islands
in the Pacific where he ran the Armed Forces Radio Station.
He played the part of the Green Hornet
on the famous radio series from 1947 until the program ended in December 1952. The program originated from WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan. At that time, he was known as “Jack McCarthy.” For several years until 1952 he was also station manager at WXYZ. During those years, two other national radio dramas originated from WXYZ radio: The Lone Ranger
and Challenge of the Yukon
(also known as Sergeant Preston of the Yukon).
During his early career in radio, he worked with Danny Thomas
, Mike Wallace
, Douglas Edwards
and Al Hodge
(who later went on to play television's Captain Video
).
In 1936 He married Virginia Hanlon (1909-1997) and had two children: J. Thomas McCarthy
(born 1937) and Maureen C. McCarthy (born 1953).
McCarthy moved to New York City
in 1954, doing radio and television commercials. He also reported the news at WPIX
television. Because there was already a “Jack McCarthy” on staff at WPIX, John McCarthy became known in New York as “John E. McCarthy.” In July 1956 McCarthy was taken to the liner SS Ile de France
to interview survivors of the sinking of the SS Andrea Doria
ocean liner bound for New York harbor.
McCarthy was a devout Catholic and served as a lector at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in New York City. He died in 1977 and is buried in St. Patrick’s Church cemetery in Parnell, Michigan.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
Before World War II, he was an announcer at radio stations WMBC and WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan. On WXYZ in the late 1930s he also played the part of Ned Jordan, secret agent, a radio drama serial. Just before World War II, he became Chief Announcer at WXYZ.
During World War II, he was a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and was stationed on Eniwetok
Enewetak
Enewetak Atoll is a large coral atoll of 40 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its land area totals less than , surrounding a deep central lagoon, in circumference...
Atoll in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
in the Pacific where he ran the Armed Forces Radio Station.
He played the part of the Green Hornet
The Green Hornet
The Green Hornet is an American radio and television masked vigilante created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell, in 1936. Since his radio debut in the 1930s, the Green Hornet has appeared in numerous serialized dramas in a wide variety of media...
on the famous radio series from 1947 until the program ended in December 1952. The program originated from WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan. At that time, he was known as “Jack McCarthy.” For several years until 1952 he was also station manager at WXYZ. During those years, two other national radio dramas originated from WXYZ radio: The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked Texas Ranger who, with his Native American companion Tonto, fights injustice in the American Old West. The character has become an enduring icon of American culture....
and Challenge of the Yukon
Challenge of the Yukon
Challenge of the Yukon was a radio series that began on Detroit's station WXYZ , and an example of a Northern genre story. The series was first heard on February 3, 1938...
(also known as Sergeant Preston of the Yukon).
During his early career in radio, he worked with Danny Thomas
Danny Thomas
Danny Thomas was an American nightclub comedian and television and film actor, best known for starring in the television sitcom Make Room for Daddy . He was also the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital...
, Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (journalist)
Myron Leon "Mike" Wallace is an American journalist, former game show host, actor and media personality. During his 60+ year career, he has interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers....
, Douglas Edwards
Douglas Edwards
Douglas Edwards was America's first network news television anchor, anchoring CBS's first nightly news broadcast from 1948–1962, which was later to be titled CBS Evening News.-Early life and career:...
and Al Hodge
Al Hodge
For "Big" Al Hodge, the Cornish rock musician, see Al Hodge Albert E. Hodge was an American actor best known for playing space adventurer Captain Video on the DuMont Television Network from December 15, 1950 to April 1, 1955...
(who later went on to play television's Captain Video
Captain Video
Captain Video and His Video Rangers is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast on the DuMont Television Network, and was the first series of its kind on American television...
).
In 1936 He married Virginia Hanlon (1909-1997) and had two children: J. Thomas McCarthy
J. Thomas McCarthy
J. Thomas McCarthy is a Senior Professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law, where he been on the faculty for over forty years. He is the Founding Director of the located at the University of San Francisco. He has practiced, written and taught in the field of trademarks and unfair...
(born 1937) and Maureen C. McCarthy (born 1953).
McCarthy moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1954, doing radio and television commercials. He also reported the news at WPIX
WPIX
WPIX, channel 11, is a television station in New York City built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WPIX also serves as the flagship station of The CW Television Network...
television. Because there was already a “Jack McCarthy” on staff at WPIX, John McCarthy became known in New York as “John E. McCarthy.” In July 1956 McCarthy was taken to the liner SS Ile de France
SS Ile de France
The SS Ile de France was a French ocean liner built in Saint-Nazaire, France for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. The ship was the first major ocean liner built after the conclusion of World War I and was the first liner ever to be decorated entirely with designs associated with the Art Deco...
to interview survivors of the sinking of the SS Andrea Doria
SS Andrea Doria
SS Andrea Doria[p] was an ocean liner for the Italian Line home ported in Genoa, Italy, most famous for its sinking in 1956, when 46 people died. Named after the 16th-century Genoese admiral Andrea Doria, the ship had a gross register tonnage of 29,100 and a capacity of about 1,200 passengers and...
ocean liner bound for New York harbor.
McCarthy was a devout Catholic and served as a lector at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in New York City. He died in 1977 and is buried in St. Patrick’s Church cemetery in Parnell, Michigan.