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Into The Magic of Doc Johnson
In the days before the automobile, radio or television, traveling medicine shows brought entertainment to small towns and communities that often had no other form of professional theater available to them. While we think of the old time traveling medicine shows as being part of the Wild West, they were actually prevalent over every part of the United States.
The type of show "Doc" Johnson presents is a typical one-man show. While it's impossible to present everything 100 percent accurate to the time period, "Doc" does his best to keep in the spirit of the entertainment presented in the late nineteenth century. The jokes are corny, the magic is simple and the music questionable -- but the elixir "Doc" sells is of the finest quality available to mankind that science could create in the 1800s. The show is family-friendly and a great addition to any folk festival or history-oriented event. "Doc" is also known to give college-level lectures on the history of the medicine show, and can be persuaded to act as master of ceremonies for public and corporate events.
Henry Johnson began his professional theater experience at the Highlands Playhouse in Highlands, North Carolina, where for several years he served as stage and lighting designer and most recently as general manager. Other credits include similar work with The Caldwell Playhouse in Miami, Florida and The Williamstown Theater Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He was associated with ABC, CBS and NBC in the production of several television specials and made-for-television films, as well as the feature films Deliverance and The Long Riders.
He is a licensed pyrotechnician, a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and holds a master of fine arts degree in theatrical design from the University of Georgia. He splits his time between teaching technical theater at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia, blowing things up and performing as "Doc". He is owned by several cats and also married to a very patient woman.
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