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50 years ago...the famous Philip Morris bellboy traveled to Hazard, Kentucky.  Johhny Roventini, who uttered the well known phrase, "Call for Philip Morris," traveled to Perry County in March of 1950.  WKIC announcer Jerry Leighton ushered Johnny and his party all over the city.  The famous bellboy also answered the many requests to give voice to his renowned, Philip Morris saying.  Nearly three thousand people lined Main Street in Hazard to watch Johnny and Leighton drive through in Johnny's special, foreign-made automobile. "Though I was supposed to be on a good will tour for my company, Hazard more than scored with me, much more in the good-will department than I possibly could have with them," Johnny later wrote about his visit to Hazard.  Johnny also conducted an interview in the WKIC studios in the basement of People's Bank.  Although thousands witnessed Johnny's visit to town, there are no known photos of the event.  We're hopeful that someone, somewhere has pictures.  Check those attics and basements and contact us at HazardKentucky.com.  Announcer Jerry Leighton died in 1985, & Johhny Roventini died in 1998.

Do you have a story or memory of the Philip Morris bellboy's visit to Hazard?  

Viewer Comments

"Well, I remember old Johnny quite well.  He'd come by the park on his way to the station and he'd stop to hand out smokes to all us kids playing ball.  Once he gave me a whole pack and told me not to smoke'em all at once.  He was a card all right."  Bill Baumgartner, Tampa, Florida

"Johnny shot a game of pool at the Royal Bay with then Police Chief Joe Walker.  He had to stand on a box to shoot."  Eugene Kelly, Tampa, Florida 

"I remember the contest held at the station for the best sounding caller of the Phillip Morris slogan, in the late 40's, 'Call for Phillip Morris.'  Do we have a winner?"  Angelene Boyas North, Bradenton, FL

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