Norm Johnson

Norm Johnson was born in Burbank, California and grew up in Hollywood.

At 17, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He eventually became an investigator in the Air Police (now referred to as APIS), and arrived in Japan soon after the start of the Korean War. He worked on numerous cases involving narcotics, illegal trade of script (used by armed forces as money), and the printing of phony script.

On Dec. 17, 1953, he was discharged in San Francisco, and returned to live with his family in San Diego.

In 1955, Norm met James Dean while racing a Porsche for a sponsor in Palm Springs, and the two racers became good friends.

Norm met Elvis on the set of Jailhouse Rock in 1957, when he was selected to be one of the dancers in the Jailhouse scene. After filming, sometimes Elvis would discuss their mutual interest in the Martial Arts and would also ask some of the group to join him in a touch football game, along with a few other actors, including Jane Mansfield, Mickey Hargitay, Nick Adams and Terry Moore at a Beverly Hills Park. After the film was finished, Norm and Elvis remained friends.

In 1959, Norm was hired to work in the public relations department for former Heavyweight Champion of the World, Joe Louis. He remained with Louis until 1963, for the biggest event ever promoted at Dodger Stadium—three titles were on the block: Davey Moore, featherweight champion, fought Sugar Ramos and lost his title.

Norm later went to work for Copley News Service as a reporter and sports writer. In 1964, he covered a fight at the Olympic Auditorium, in downtown Los Angeles, when a riot broke out over a decision. His story was selected as the Best on the Spot News Story of the year by Copley Newspapers, Associated Press and United Press International for Southern California.

On August 11, 1965, Norm was in the press box at Dodger Stadium, covering a baseball game with a friend from the Los Angeles Police Department as a guest. When his friend got a phone call about a disturbance in Watts, Norm agreed to drive him to the area. The resulting horrific experience prompted Norm to call in his first-person account of the mayhem. The headline, the next morning read, “I Drove Through Hell Last Night…” The article won many major journalism awards and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

As assistant Sports Editor for the Las Vegas Sun, and featured columnist, Norm covered the UNLV basketball. In November 1965, Johnson was hired personally by Hank Greenspun to move to Las Vegas, where he did major stories on the Rebels’ first major star, Elburt Miller.

In early 1967, he was hired by the Mint Hotel to be director of publicity for the hotel, at which time he created the world famous Mint 400 Off-Road Race

Over the years Norm has done publicity and management duties for entertainers including: Robert Goulet, Lola Falana, Wayne Newton, Deana Martin, Freddie Bell, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Charlie Daniels, Fred Travalena, Ray Romano, Gallagher, Esteban and Jack Jones, among others.

He continues to write his weekly entertainment column, “It’s the Norm” which is in syndication and on the Internet. He is also the publicist for the Laugh Factory inside the Tropicana Hotel, working very closely with its co-owner, Harry Basil.

His proudest moments are having three great daughters, Robin, Denise and Lisa, five grandkids and at last count 11great-grandkids.