John Edward McCarthy

Who was John Edward McCarthy?

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.

During his early career in radio, he worked with Danny Thomas, Mike Wallace, Douglas Edwards and Al Hodge.