RJ’s Appearance on 1210 The Big Talker July 11, 2010

Call for Philip-Morris! The first commercial that RJ remembers seeing on television as a child. Click on picture to see video	Lucy and Desi were sponsored by Philip-Morris. John Facenda also did commercials for Philip-Morris. Click on picture to see video

Johnny Roventini (also known as John Louis Roventini and popularly as Johnny Philip Morris) (August 15, 1910–November 30, 1998) was an American dwarf actor of Italian-American heritage.

Less than 4 feet tall as a fully-developed adult, Johnny Roventini was working as a 22-year old hotel bellboy in New York City in 1933 when he was "discovered" by an advertising mogul, who had him perform a page, issuing a "Call for Phillip Morris". He reportedly could always vocalize a perfect B-flat tone as he repeated those words, literally over a million times during his career, according to his own estimate.

He soon became famous as a product spokesman for Philip Morris brand cigarettes in radio, television and print advertising media. He was described by Philip Morris personnel as a "living trademark", and represented the company for over 40 years. He also played roles in the growth of broadcast media, most notably helping Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz with the initial success of their innovative I Love Lucy comedy series beginning in 1951.

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RJs Days in Hollywood	Eddie Nixon on RJ & Company

Armie Hammer, star of the motion picture The Social Network, with Jimmy Kimmel	RJ Presents James Franco, new host of the Academy Awards, with Jimmy Kimmel

RJ and Pat Delsi	The wedding of RJ and Robin

RJ &Company 1974	Beach Party USA

RJ Presents Garrett Hedlund, star of the motion picture Tron, with Jimmy Kimmel	RJ’s friend Ian Somerhalder from the TV series The Vampire Diaries interviewed on Jimmy Kimmel’s Show on ABC

RJ and Frank Rizzo in 1973 picture
during the Mummers Parade on 2^nd Street (left)
and in 1990 outside RJ’s club at 2^nd & South Streets

Frank Rizzo visited the Lou Gordon talk show

RJ celebrates Christmas in 1973 on RJ & Company	The RJ & Company New Years Eve special, 1973-1974

Below: Ron Joseph and Dick Clark at a 1960 reunion
hold pictures of themselves in their younger days.



Philly’s Best and Most Unusual Radio Shows

Philly’s Best and Most Unusual Radio Personalities

Read RJ Ron Joseph’s Broadcast Pioneers Page and Biography

Click here to see the Doris Olson picture

RJ Remembers Gary Geers and Charlie O’Donnell

Nick Bryant: Hunk of the Month

WVLT’s Tower of Power

RJ Salutes Justin Bieber on the Late Show
with David Letterman on CBS January 31, 2011

Click here to see Justin Bieber on the Late Show with David Letterman

Justin Bieber’s girlfriend Selena Gomez from the Disney Channel	Kristen Stewart from  the movie Twilight

WZAZ: Where Disco Lives Forever

Clip from the movie Airplane courtesy of Paramount Pictures

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Photographs courtesy Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
WVLT Cruisin 92.1 FM and Ron Joseph

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