The Bob Johnston Photo Archive Page
Our member Sue Johnston shares these photos from her father's collection. Also carrying on in their father's footsteps, Sue's brother Bruce is the senior lighting technician at WDIV-TV, Channel 4, Detroit.
Our member Sue Johnston shares these photos from her father's collection. Also carrying on in their father's footsteps, Sue's brother Bruce is the senior lighting technician at WDIV-TV, Channel 4, Detroit.
My Grandfather encouraged my dad to work this trade seriously, as steady work was hard to come by for the men returning home from war.
After working for several years at various venues of the time, about 1950 he began work at Jam Handy Co. as assistant prop man to Cy Finley. He worked under Cy for about 5 years until Cy left (I don't know the circumstances of Cy's departure), at which time my dad became Head Prop man. He worked in this capacity for about 18 years, until Jam Handy went
out of business in 1968.
Not long after Handy's folded, Denny Allen brought my dad into TV Channel 4 to work with him. Within a year or two, dad was made a staff person. He worked at Channel 4 until he retired in 1985. During his time at Channel 4 he was great friends with Denny Allen and Charlie Gopigian.
Through my dad's ties to work, there are two other notable names that should be mentioned, because our families became so close. They're Mr. John MacLeod (Bill's father), and James Schulkey. These men and their families shared their lives together.
Another notable mention is the infamous "fishing camp" in Canada that many of our stagehands continue to enjoy. It was founded by my dad and uncle on a vacation.
