Editing Johnny Carson (section)

== Early life and career ==
[[File:JohnnyCarsonbirthplaceCorningIA.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Johnny Carson birthplace in Corning, Iowa]]
John William Carson was born on October 23, 1925, in [[Corning, Iowa]], to Ruth Elizabeth Carson ([[given name|née]] Hook; 1901–1985) and Homer Lloyd "Kit" Carson (1899–1983), a power company manager.<ref name=tynan19780220 /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Zehme|first1=Bill|title=Johnny Carson|url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/biographical-essay-about-johnny-carson-by-author-bill-zehme/2054/|website=PBS.org|publisher=PBS|access-date=May 7, 2012|date=May 7, 2012}}</ref> Carson was the second of three children; he had an older sister,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=World-Herald News|title=Oldest Carson sibling, known for razor-sharp wit, dies at age 90|url=https://omaha.com/entertainment/oldest-carson-sibling-known-for-razor-sharp-wit-dies-at-age-90/article_6daefd91-d343-5275-a865-431b013487fb.html|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=Omaha World-Herald|date=December 2, 2014 |language=en}}</ref> and a younger brother, [[Dick Carson|Richard "Dick" Carson]] (1929–2021).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Murphy|first=J. Kim|date=January 9, 2022|title=Dick Carson, Director on 'The Tonight Show' and 'Wheel of Fortune,' Dies at 92|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/dick-carson-dead-johnny-carson-brother-the-tonight-show-1235149811/|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=Variety}}</ref>

Growing up in Iowa, Carson lived in the towns of [[Avoca, Iowa|Avoca]], [[Clarinda, Iowa|Clarinda]], and [[Red Oak, Iowa|Red Oak]] before moving to [[Norfolk, Nebraska|Norfolk]], [[Nebraska]], at age 8. There, Carson grew up and began developing his talent for entertaining. At age 12 he found a book on [[magic (illusion)|magic]] at a friend's house and then purchased a mail-order magician's kit. After purchasing the kit, Carson practiced his entertainment skills on family members with card tricks. During this period, he would follow his family members around saying, "Pick a card, any card."<ref name="Johnny Carson">{{cite web|last1=Baughman|first1=Judith|title=Johnny Carson|url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3468302157&v=2.1&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=de447effdf175c377fdecf3b257456dd|website=Gale Research Group|publisher=American Decades|access-date=December 2, 2014}}</ref> Carson's mother made him a cape, and his first performance was in front of the local [[Kiwanis Club]]. He debuted as "The Great Carsoni" at age 14 and was paid $3 a show.<ref name="Johnny Carson" />

After graduating from high school, Carson hitchhiked to [[Hollywood, Los Angeles]]. There he was arrested and fined $50 for impersonating a [[midshipman]], a story often regarded as [[apocryphal]].<ref name="Johnny Carson" />