Subject: Voc. Ed.: Business/Career/Communications

The Biographies Series: Communications

Joe Franklin: "Regular Joe" to Broadcasting Legend

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Joe Franklin is not only television's first talk show host, but also he had the longest running TV show featuring one host, The Joe Franklin Show. Mr. Franklin estimates he has interviewed at least a half million guests over his 50-plus-year career; in fact he is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running talk show host in show business history. His guests have ranged from a variety of unknown newcomers to some of the most famous people in the world, including Muhammad Ali, Cary Grant, John Lennon, Ronald Reagan, Bruce Springsteen and John Wayne - just to name a few! Now this broadcasting legend has decided to tell his incredible life story in an up-close and intimate biography. Introduced by Bill Humphreys and hosted by Esther Mills, it features highlights of interviews of Joe with Billy Crystal, Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, Dick Clark, Bing Crosby and Peter Wolf, the lead vocalist with the J. Geils Band. But honestly folks, "you ain't seen nothin' yet!" This is the story of the man, famous for his long-running Memory Lane radio program, who is known as the "King of Nostalgia"; whose best childhood friend was Tony Curtis; who can reminisce about the stars of Vaudeville, such as Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor; who fondly remembers Paul Newman, Elvis Presley, Shirley Temple, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Jayne Mansfield, Veronica Lake, Ann Margaret and Joe Louis; who's written 23 books, including Up Late With Joe Franklin, and one with Marilyn Monroe; who can - and does - tell anecdotal stories of Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Bette Midler and Barry Manilow. Despite all his celebrity and all his closeness with celebrities, he has always remained a "regular Joe." This biography of biographies offers something for everyone. Sharp and quick-witted, Joe Franklin never misses a beat, and the only thing you'll be begging for at the program's end is "more, more, more!" Produced by Ethan Lefkowitz Productions. 2009 JSCA 52 min.
Also see: The Hollywood Lens of Murray Garrett: In Focus
Also with Esther Mills: Talk to Me Series; Being Single Series