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Introduced and debuted himself to the world under the banner of the "New York Daily News" as a " Boon to Mothers". He is pictured sitting on a nurse's lap. He had won the New York City Milk Drinking contest. His father was from Spain and his mother was from Italy.
John's grandpa lived in upstate New York. He owned a bar and also made cigars. It was the time the time of the great stock market crash. John's ma and pa decided to take refuge and so moved in with grandpa in Albany, New York.
Early years in Little Johnny's life were spent basking in the wonderful active opportunities afforded by Albany's Boys Club where Little Johnny had a successful record in amateur boxing.
Johnny went on to working for the Boys Club as an instructor in art, theater,photography, and all around social director. The summer months of the summer camp for boys took advantage of Johnny's skills teaching art, crafts, and theater and a Red Cross life saving program. Johnny was a full- time director of the club's activities when at the age of 17, he left to find his
future in" well who knows."
John wound up as a dishwasher at a popular summer resort, " Sunnybrook Acres" in the New York Adirondack Mountains.
As it turned out John was winning the every "Tuesday Night Amateur Contest" held at this resort. The owner asked John: "why shouldn't we skip the idea of a TUesday night amateur show and pay you to do weekly summer stock show." So for the next seven years, Johnny expanded on the popularity of this show where he honed his theatrical skills and also teamed up with his forever friend, a gifted comic and musician, Stash Rossi. The owner of Sunnybrook built a theater for John out of a large barn on the property.
As a result of the fame from John's shows, theatrical agents from New York City began to tug at John's shirt sleeves to come to New York to further his career as a comedian.
John and Stash went to New York. John had left the security of his own show where he was king and got totally overwhelmed by the hard rGealities of New York Citylife and the sudden comparisons of the likes of giants of comedy Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
Well, okay; John thought he should retreat to the comfort of his own shows and he was about to do this when the U.S. Army saved him from making his own decision.
Again John's background caught up with him. he was cast into directing and starring in the 40th Army Devision Sunburst show which toured Japan. Next and suddenly John's home Army unit was activated to a very active role in the Korean war. John proved himself and was awarded the Korean Bronze Star and U.S. Medal of Distinguished Merit. John got hurt and so they sent him home. thus after singlehandedly winning the Korean War John now spent two years pursuing a career of night clubs and television appearances. when his career took a sharp right turn," Well, don't ask me how I got here?" John went on to being a loan officer manager and supervisor for Household Finance, Colonial Finance and legal director of AVCO Financial. Ah! but wait! John would still sneak off and do night club appearances in Boston, Miami, Baltimore and East Coast!
John soon met and fell in love with a girl from Worcester, Massachusetts Miss Judy O'Keefewhere they started a new family. John decided to jump ship and moved to New Orleans. he picked up his sticks and John drew upon his area of expertise and begun wearing several different hats at one time. he opened up a mortars loan company. he became a general contractor, "bought a 20-acgre ranch in Florida, opened up a theatrical production company, "Toot Sweet Theatrical Productions,"-and also " Zing Expeditions Co." The latter with the motivation and helping new aspiring authors and composers which brings us to a sum up of Johnny Francis as of today.
Stashi Rossi is still John's lifetime friend and in close