Johnny Downs

John Morey Downs (October 10, 1913 – June 6, 1994) was an American child actor, singer, and dancer. He began his career as a child actor, most notably playing Johnny in the ''Our Gang'' short series from 1923 to 1926. He remained active in films, television, and theatre up through the early 1960s.

Early life

Downs was born in New York City on October 10, 1913. His father was Lt. Morey Downs, a naval aviator with the U.S. Navy. When he was 8 years old the family moved to San Diego due to his father's transfer. Johnny's mother took him to Hollywood for an audition with the Hal Roach Studios. He appeared in a silent film, then was cast as Johnny in the ''Our Gang'' series. He was a regular in the series from 1923 until 1927, appearing in 24 episodes.

Adult career

Outgrowing the ''Our Gang'' series at the age of 14, he and fellow ''Our Gang'' alumnus Mary Kornman performed on college campuses and the vaudeville circuit, where he polished his singing and dancing skills.

In 1934 he returned to Hollywood and landed a small part in the musical '' Babes in Toyland''. He found his niche in the "college musical" movies of the late 1930s, starting with ''College Scandal'' (1935) and ''College Holiday'' (1936). With his boy-next-door good looks, he was often cast as a team captain or a cheerleader. Other movie musicals followed, ending in 1944 with '' What a Man!''. He had a notable cameo in the 1945 film ''Rhapsody in Blue'' where he danced to Robert Alda's piano playing of "Swanee". For the remainder of the 1940s and early 1950s he had a few bit parts in films, including ''Cruisin' Down the River''. He spent most of his time on the stage in summer stock and Broadway, scoring a hit in ''Are You With It?''. Altogether he has almost 100 movie credits to his name.

''The Johnny Downs Show''

He settled in Coronado, California where he sold real estate and became a respected amateur tennis player. From 1953 to 1968 he hosted an after-school kids' television show, ''The Johnny Downs Show,'' on Channel 10 (call letters KFSD until 1961, subsequently KOGO). The theme started as an airport hangar with Downs playing a former World War II pilot, "Johnny Jet". Between reruns of ''The Little Rascals'', Downs entertained and informed studio audiences and viewers. Later, it was trains, and he was shown getting off or on a locomotive at the show's beginning and end. As the show changed to feature more ''Popeye

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