Remembering Vere Johns Pt.2
Vere Johns got married in 1926 when he took the hand of a very beautiful assistant post mistress working at the Linstead Post Office, Miss Lucas. Despite wearing many hats he was still able to find time to frequently write to the editors of various newspapers, on issues of various matters. This prepared Vere for his sojourn into journalism when he migrated to the United States in 1929. Never the type to be satisfied with little, he also took an active part in radio and stage dramatics, both producing and acting. Vere worked with several newspapers, the likes of New York World, New York Herald Tribune, New York Age, The Boston Chronicle and the Savannah Journal. In 1934, Vere's marriage ended in divorce.
It was in 1935 that Vere walked in the stage door of a Harlem theatre to start production on a new play when he was introduced to a budding actress by the name of Lillian Margaret May. A few months later they were married. Lillian, known in acting circles as `Lady Luck`, was a Brooklyn born beauty and she went on to play a tremendous role in Vere's life, as wife, mother and business associate. The Johns eventually moved to Savannah, Georgia where Vere became the editor of the Savannah Tribune Newspaper. He quickly became a central figure in the Savannah area and gained a lot of respect from many. One such person was the owner of the Savannah Star Cinema, a Mr. Thomas, who asked Vere to give him an idea in order to boost the attendance at the cinema. Vere took the matter to his wife and she suggested the implementation of the `Opportunity Hour` talent show. Wasting no time, Lillian organized the very first `Opportunity Hour` in 1937, in which she auditioned the contestants, emceed and performed.
The contest ran until 1939 when the family relocated to Jamaica and where the then manager of the Palace Amusement Company, Audley Morais, asked the Johns to continue the contest at the Palace Theatre. Hence, the first Jamaican `Opportunity Hour` took place at the Palace Theatre in 1939 with the first winner being Denzil Laing.
