“Johnny Green and Green Men Entertaining men in Viet Nam” and “Paper features Green Men” from the December 19, 1968 and August 28, 1969 Door County Advocate
ENTERTAINING TROOPS in Viet Nam are Johnny Green and the Green Men. They were in the Sturgeon Bay area and northeastern Wisconsin last Christmas time. From left are John Frost, Richie Duwayne, Marilyn Winters, Rick Shaw and Johnny Green. —U.S. Army photograph
Johnny Green and Green Men Entertaining men in Viet Nam
By FRANCES BADTKE
Johnny Green and his Green Men have been on a tour of Viet Nam where they have been entertaining the servicemen there. According to a letter received this week from Johnny himself, “We've had some close calls but I'm not allowed to write of them in this letter. I’ll tell you of our experiences when we get home.”
The Green Men have been touring Viet Nam under the sponsorship of the USO and troup members include, Johnny, who hails from Sturgeon Bay, and who plays bass, guitar, drums and accordion. He also has a sensational fire-eating routine.
Marilyn Winters is from Los Angeles and does all types of dancing and sings the latest hit numbers. John Frost is lead guitarist, pianist and bass player and his home town is Palmdale, Calif. Rick Shaw was born in Milwaukee and plays organ and saxophone. Richie Duwayne plays drums for the group and has been pounding away on the skins since he started playing at the age of 14 in night clubs in Salina, Kans., his home territory.
Johnny wrote a long four page letter bringing us all up to date on the latest activities of the verdant tressed combo, whose brilliant green hair attracts attention wherever they go.
The picture with this article was taken of the group in Saigon at the 3rd Field Hospital. Their first show was given in Viet Nam at this location Nov. 7. Since then they have been touring the various places where our boys are stationed and the letter was written from Bangkok, Thailand.
Servicemen told Johnny that they had been reading about him in the Door County Advocates they received from home.
Before the combo left California for the far East, Johnny signed a record contract with Larry Welk, head of Ranwood Records. Larry is the son of orchestra leader Lawrence Welk.
According to Johnny’s letter they are “finishing up a tour in Thailand after 30 days in Viet Nam touring all over. The balance of our tour will be right here in Bangkok.
Joey Bishop was here for ten days. We spent Thanksgiving with him and the lead guitar player of his show, who is Mel Bishop (no relation). George Jessel’s show is here now and he is doing ten days in the Saigon area.
“The people back home would not believe how rough it is here in Viet Nam.
“We have received many rewards for coming here. Many generals (2 and 3 stars) have given us medals and certificates of appreciation.
“The famous General Charles Stone (3 star) who has been getting many write-ups in the newspaper “Stars and Stripes” just retired last week and went to Virginia. He gave us a special certificate from his division, the 4th Infantry Division. He was Commanding Major, General at Camp Mark Enau in Viet Nam.
“We also received awards from Commanding General Creighton W. Abrams, a four star general of the U. S. Army in Saigon. Also from Lt. General R. E. Cushman jr. of the U. S. Marine Corps.
“We came over here for the USO people out of the Hollywood Overseas Committee. James Sheldon is the head of the office and he’s also a good friend of mine.
“Say Hi to everyone, and my mother,” signed Johnny Green.
(Ed. Note: Johnny’s mother is Mrs. Zekich. She lives on the west side and is employed by Saville Organ Co.)
News releases from Ranwood have announced that Johnny’s new record will be called “Poor Little Fat Girl” and will be released on a Ranwood label around Jan. 15. Watch for it. The song was written by one of the Green Men, John Frost, the guitar player.
So, while the rest of us keep the home fires burning and enjoy a White Christmas, Johnny and his group will be “keeping things Green” in the far East.
Paper features Green Men
The May 4 issue of the Dallas Times-Herald Sunday magazine has a cover picture of a woman with green hair talking to a little girl in Viet Nam.
You guessed it—if you've been following the adventures of Johnny Green and the Green Men in the Advocate. The cover girl is John’s vocalist Marilyn Winters. She and the Green Men made quite a hit on their 35 day tour of the war area last fall.
Johnny, the former John Pavlik of Sturgeon Bay, has made it big since the days when he was bounced from Sturgeon Bay High for wearing his hair long. He was one of the original longhairs and turned to the green dye gimmick when everyone else went the barber-less route.
The Green Men have been with some big names. The Advocate noted their appearance on the Batman show. In Viet Nam they were part of Georgie Jessel’s show for seven days of their stay and also played with Joey Bishop.
Since returning to the States they have toured with Bishop’s announcer Regis Philbin and with Dean Martin’s comic-uncle, Leonard Barr.
Lawrence Welk picked a Green Men song “Poor Little Fat Girl” for recording with full Welk orchestra backing. It cost $5,000 to cut the disc. “I was used to $250 a record,” Johnny told the Advocate.
The Green Men are squeezing in an open date to appear at Buster’s Friday night and then will play in Marinette, Indianapolis, St Louis, and on Sept 21 with Johnny Carson at Lawton, Okla. Carson will get $25,000 for 20 minutes, Green said.
Green said the Viet Nam experience was rewarding and that he would go back even though there is an element of danger. The group was under fire a couple times on its tour. Three out of five in the band that preceded them in Viet Nam were killed by enemy action.
[author not stated]
Both courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
Articles by Frances Badtke
https://doorcounty.substack.com/t/frances-badtke
Vietnam or Vietnam War-related articles
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