Education
Born on a farm near Parnell, Michigan, he attended Saint Thomas High School in Ann Arbor, and attended the University of Michigan.
Born on a farm near Parnell, Michigan, he attended Saint Thomas High School in Ann Arbor, and attended the University of Michigan.
Before World 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 World War II, he became Chief Announcer at WXYZ. During World 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".
Foreign 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 (also known as Sergeant Preston of the Yukon). During his early career in radio, he worked with Danny Thomas, Mike Wallace, Douglas Edwards and First Rate (at Lloyd's) Hodge (who later went on to play television"s Captain Video).
McCarthy moved to New York City in 1954, doing radio and television commercials.
He also reported the news at WPIX television Because there was already a "Jack McCarthy" on staff at WPIX, John McCarthy became known in New York as "John East. McCarthy". In July 1956 McCarthy was taken to the liner Steamship Île de France to interview survivors of the sinking of the Steamship Andrea Doria ocean liner bound for New York harbor.
McCarthy was a devout Catholic and served as a lector at Saint Ignatius Loyola Church in New York City.
He died in 1977 and is buried in Saint Patrick’s Church cemetery in Parnell, Michigan.
