Today is the last day of Week 6 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge and I finally had time to write the story. The prompt for this week was Social Media. So I decided to go back a few years before social media took off on the internet and talk about a relative who had an influential part in social media beginning in the 1950s.
John "Jack" Norwood Walker was my wife's father's brother, or in simple terms, her uncle. He was born 2 August 1934 in Jacksonville, Florida to Estill "Doc" Bowen Walker and Alita Wilhelmina Lexow Walker. In 1935, the family, consisting of his parents Estill B (age 26), Alita (age 26), his brother Estill H (age 8), John N (age 0) and his grandmother Mary Lexow (age 53), is living in apartment 1, 1930 Wamboldt Avenue, in Jacksonville. Also living nearby at 1938 Wamboldt Avenue is Clyde Howell Andrews and Dorothy Louise Walker Andrews, his uncle and aunt.
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| John N Walker - audition photo |
John began his life in the spotlight as a 3-year old child when he signed his first contract with Sleznick-International Studio in Los Angeles, California in 1937. The family was living at 5555 Hollywood Boulevard at the time. It appears that part of his career didn't last very long since we find the family back in Jacksonville, Florida by 1940.
In 1940, the family was living at 1830 Wamboldt Avenue where they rented their apartment for $16/month. The family concisted of Estill B (age 30), Alita M (age 33), Estill H (age 13) and John N (age 5).
He worked on developing his skills while taking classes at the Hinson School of Dancing in Jacksonville. By 1941 we begin to see him named in the dance recital programs.
During high school, he got his first experience in the communications trade working for a Jacksonville radio station doing whatever they needed him to do. The 1950 census lists the family living at 811 Phillips Street in Jacksonville. The family consisted of Estill B (age 40), Elita M (age 37), John N (age 15), his brother Estill H (age 23) and Estill's wife Lilly D (age 18). John was listed as being employed as a radio announcer. This shows his dedication to the vocation that by the age of 15 he was already working in media.
We have recorded auditions on records which John produced as a child but we haven't been able to play them because of their format.
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| John Walker - WFGA Channel 12 |
Then he joined the Marine Corps during the Korean War and completed basic training on 31 July 1952, a few days before he turned 18. He was trained at the Navy School of Journalism and served as a combat correspondent. During his time in the Marine Corps, he wrote and produced training films and promotional films for the Marines.
After leaving the Marine Corps he served as a police officer in Miami, Florida and also became a captain for Eastern Airlines. But that didn't stop him from pursuing his dream of show business. He moved back to Jacksonville and started working for WFGA TV Channel 12. During that time he worked in various capacities including weather forecaster and as the host of Popeye Playhouse. He also worked on producing commercials for businesses in Jacksonville and was a judge for the Jacksonville area Miss America Pageant.
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| Capt. Jack - Popeye Playhouse |
In 1985, he founded Jack Walker Television Productions Inc., in Largo, Florida. His company made commercials, training films and promotional videos.
John was a member of various organizations including the Airline Pilots Association, the International Television Association, the National Association of Broadcasters, and the Florida Motion Pictures and Television Association.
He died of cancer on 23 March 1990 at the age of 65.
As you can see, John lived his life in the limelight and participated in the media of his time in various ways.
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