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Old-time radio actor

Johnny McGovern

Little Beaver on radio's Red Ryder (1947-50).

We have him in 34 episodes of 14 series, 1946 to 1954, and 12 of our live channels play them around the clock, free.

Listen live free: Lux Radio TheatrePlaying now, 24/7, freePause Lux Radio TheatreLive now in the player below

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About Johnny McGovern

Hear all 34 Johnny McGovern episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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Johnny McGovern was born John Keith McGovern in Tacoma, Washington, on May 28, 1936. Source: Wikipedia

He started performing as a tap dancer at about age four; his family moved to Los Angeles in 1943, and that year he made his stage debut in a production of Watch on the Rhine. Source: Wikipedia

He played Little Beaver, Red Ryder's young sidekick, on the Red Ryder radio series from 1947 to 1950, following Tommy Cook, Frank Bresee and Henry Blair in the part. Source: Wikipedia (Red Ryder radio series)

As a child actor he took part in more than 2,500 radio broadcasts during the 1940s and early 1950s. Source: Wikipedia

He served as the kid announcer on The Abbott and Costello Kids Show, including the January 31, 1948 broadcast. Source: RadioGOLDINdex

In 1958 he legally adopted the name John Wilder, which he had been using as an actor. Source: Wikipedia

On screen he appeared as a boy in films such as Singin' in the Rain (1952) and voiced the Raccoon Twins in Disney's Peter Pan (1953), and as John Wilder he later wrote and produced television, creating Spenser: For Hire. Source: Wikipedia

Listen live: the channels that play Johnny McGovern

Free 24/7 stations. These play the episodes below, in rotation with the rest of their shows.

Illustrated cover for Lux Radio Theatre: a 1930s Hollywood theatre stage before a closed gold curtain, a single ribbon microphone in a spotlight

The series' own channel

Lux Radio Theatre

5 of his episodes: Lux Radio Theatre (5)

Now Tuning in…

William Conrad, the voice of Marshal Matt Dillon on CBS Radio's Gunsmoke, in a 1952 publicity photo

The series' own channel

Gunsmoke

2 of his episodes: Gunsmoke (2)

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Larry Thor on a rain-slick Broadway at night

The series' own channel

Broadway Is My Beat

1 of his episodes: Broadway Is My Beat (1)

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Illustrated cover for Suspense: a single desk lamp in a dark room, a revolver and a telephone off the hook on the desk, long shadows across the floor

The series' own channel

Suspense

1 of his episodes: Suspense (1)

Now Tuning in…

Buster Pratt, the host of Laugh Track

Mixed channel

Laugh Track

11 of his episodes: The Adventures of Maisie (5), The Harold Peary Show (2), The Jack Benny Program (1), Abbott and Costello (1), The Great Gildersleeve (1), Father Knows Best (1)

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Illustrated cover for Opening Night: the front of a 1930s art-deco movie palace on premiere night, crossed searchlight beams in the sky

Mixed channel

Opening Night

11 of his episodes: Lux Radio Theatre (5), Family Theater (5), On Stage (1)

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Marshal Ramrod, the host of Dry Gulch

Mixed channel

Dry Gulch

10 of his episodes: Wild Bill Hickok (7), Gunsmoke (2), The Roy Rogers Show (1)

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Sal Vitale, the host of Gumshoe

Mixed channel

Gumshoe

1 of his episodes: Broadway Is My Beat (1)

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Johnny McGovern’s shows on Stupid Potato

SeriesYearsEpisodes
Wild Bill Hickok1951 to 19537
Family Theater1948 to 19495
Lux Radio Theatre1946 to 19495
The Adventures of Maisie1950 to 19515
Gunsmoke1952 to 19532
The Harold Peary Show1950 to 19512
Abbott and Costello19481
Broadway Is My Beat19511
Father Knows Best19511
On Stage19531
Suspense19531
The Great Gildersleeve19541
The Jack Benny Program19471
The Roy Rogers Show19531

Johnny McGovern episodes: 5 free to hear

Each one names Johnny McGovern on the air, in its cast list or in the show itself. Each title opens the episode’s page: what happens, the transcript from the moment he is named, and listens from any line.

  1. JaliscoeGunsmoke · May 10, 1952 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  2. Press for JusticeWild Bill Hickok · June 17, 1951 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  3. The Secret of Arroyo DiabloWild Bill Hickok · July 1, 1951 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  4. Bad Medicine at Dry GulchWild Bill Hickok · October 28, 1951 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  5. The Mark Of A KillerWild Bill Hickok · January 25, 1952 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line

Hear all 34 Johnny McGovern episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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All 34 Johnny McGovern episodes, by show

The 29 marked Potato Plus are for members: join to hear every one of them, whole, from any moment.

Wild Bill Hickok 7 episodes, 1951 to 1953
  1. Press for JusticeJune 17, 1951 · Episode guide · Free
  2. The Secret of Arroyo DiabloJuly 1, 1951 · Episode guide · Free
  3. Bad Medicine at Dry GulchOctober 28, 1951 · Episode guide · Free
  4. The Mark Of A KillerJanuary 25, 1952 · Episode guide · Free
  5. The Mark Of The ClawOctober 22, 1952 · Potato Plus
  6. Dannys Big RideJanuary 16, 1953 · Potato Plus
  7. Cry Of A KillerMarch 25, 1953 · Potato Plus
Family Theater 5 episodes, 1948 to 1949
  1. Mr. BirthdayAugust 5, 1948 · Potato Plus
  2. The Empty RoomApril 20, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. The LegacyMay 18, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. Man With a PlowMay 25, 1949 · Potato Plus
  5. The Cobbler's WindowDecember 28, 1949 · Potato Plus
Lux Radio Theatre 5 episodes, 1946 to 1949
  1. Our Vines Have Tender GrapesSeptember 2, 1946 · Potato Plus
  2. Meet Me in St LouisDecember 2, 1946 · Potato Plus
  3. Anchors AweighDecember 29, 1947 · Potato Plus
  4. Sitting PrettyFebruary 14, 1949 · Potato Plus
  5. The Treasure of the Sierra MadreApril 18, 1949 · Potato Plus
The Adventures of Maisie 5 episodes, 1950 to 1951
  1. Safe CrackingApril 20, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The OrphanageAugust 24, 1950 · Potato Plus
  3. The OrphanageDecember 14, 1950 · Potato Plus
  4. QuackenbushMay 10, 1951 · Potato Plus
  5. CouncelorMay 17, 1951 · Potato Plus
Gunsmoke 2 episodes, 1952 to 1953
  1. JaliscoeMay 10, 1952 · Episode guide · Free
  2. Quarter HorseMarch 28, 1953 · Potato Plus
The Harold Peary Show 2 episodes, 1950 to 1951
  1. The Runaway BoyOctober 18, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. Circus DayApril 25, 1951 · Potato Plus
Abbott and Costello 1 episode, 1948
  1. Guest-Red RyderSeptember 11, 1948 · Potato Plus
Broadway Is My Beat 1 episode, 1951
  1. The Harry Foster Murder CaseMay 5, 1951 · Potato Plus
Father Knows Best 1 episode, 1951
  1. Planning a Christmas PartyDecember 13, 1951 · Potato Plus
On Stage 1 episode, 1953
  1. The Hanging at Four OaksMay 28, 1953 · Potato Plus
Suspense 1 episode, 1953
  1. Twas The Night Before ChristmasDecember 21, 1953 · Potato Plus
The Great Gildersleeve 1 episode, 1954
  1. Trying to End Aunt Hattie's StayJune 2, 1954 · Potato Plus
The Jack Benny Program 1 episode, 1947
  1. Goodbye 1947 Hello 1948 with Alice FayeDecember 28, 1947 · Potato Plus
The Roy Rogers Show 1 episode, 1953
  1. Checkered NeckerchiefFebruary 26, 1953 · Potato Plus

Who Johnny McGovern worked with most

Named in the same cast lists, counted across the episodes above.

The supporting cast of old-time radio: every actor · Every series, A to Z

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