News

Radio host 'Hollywood' Jones dies at age 74

Franklin Nathaniel 'Hollywood' Jones died on April 3, 2015.

By Bill Moss, Published: April 6, 2015

Mark Warwick played the greatest hits of co-host "Hollywood" Jones on Monday, the first show since Jones's death after a very brief illness.

Jones, a former salesman in the movie industry, B-movie actor and radio personality who brought his country-accented announcing to his gospel hymns show and radio ads, died Friday afternoon at Pardee Hospital at age 74.
Jones had gone downhill after a series of falls dating to last winter's icy snow and then had gotten an unexpected diagnosis of something more serious.
"He had fallen back when he slid on the ice," Warwick, who is station manager, said. "Ultimately, he was getting sorer and sorer. They X-rayed him and put him on pain medication but he just kept feeling worse."
On Tuesday night, Warwick and his wife, Paige Posey, and Jones's wife, Linda, took Hollywood to Pardee, where he was admitted and underwent a series of tests including a bone scan. On Thursday night, Warwick and other musicians brought their guitars and serenaded their bed-ridden friend with gospel tunes.
Paige Posey and Mark Warwick broadcast at the 2014 Apple Festival."At this time we're all hoping and praying that he's going to come out of this and go home," Warwick said. "On Friday afternoon, the doctor came in and said all the tests confirmed it was bone cancer. The doctor asked Linda if she wanted to call hospice or call an oncologist. Linda thought she was going to take him home again. She said, 'Let's call an oncologist.' And about a half hour later he was gone."
Born April 17, 1940, in Hendersonville, Franklin Nathaniel Jones served as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, an experience that inspired him later to bring his faith and love to Sunday Morning Hymn Time on WTZQ.
After his discharge from the Air Force, Jones made his way to Hollywood, where he worked as a broker for movie studios and later for Litchfield Theatres. Through happenstance, Jones in 1964 had spun the first record for WTZQ, back when it was WHVL. WHKP had flooded and the new station got permission to go on the air earlier than it planned. Only problem was the station had no records.
"He was doing that as a favor for his friend, Jim Northington," Warwick said.  "So Frank brought his records over."

When he was managing the Skyland Arts Theatre in the early 1990s, Jones would call in to WTZQ and talk about the week's movies. "That's when we started calling him 'Hollywood,'" Warwick said.

On the morning show Monday morning, Warwick played Hollywood's memorable commercials, in which he talked about his third love — food (after the good Lord and his wife, Linda) — and voiced 'The Great Wazoo' and other characters.
Besides cohosting with Warwick early mornings four days a week, Jones hosted "Radio Ranch" from 5 to 6 a.m. and the gospel music show on Sunday mornings.
"There's no way to fill Hollywood's shoes," Warwick said. "We're going to carry on like we do. Tom Brown cohosts the gospel show and he's going to stay on. We're going to continue his programs."
Easy-going with a sunny view of life, Hollywood "was the happiest person," Warwick said. "Even when he wasn't feeling well, he was always funny. He always ended his gospel program with 'Give the World a Smile' and that's what he really did. He always had a joke and always had something funny to say. He made everybody smile and everybody laugh."
Warwick and Posey chuckled at memories of Hollywood, talked about his warmth and generosity and played records that he loved, including "How Great Thou Art" and the BeeGees' "Words," Linda's favorite.
Jones was preceded in death by his daughter, Debbie Jones. He is survived by his loving wife, Linda Breyare Jones; daughters, Cindi Hipp and Aleshia Beaver; sons, Chris Jones, Kevin Breyare and their families; sister, Doris Nichols and family; nephew and #1 buddy, Bryan Nichols; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many wonderful cousins whom all loved him dearly. He is also survived by his friends Mark Warwick, Ron Crane, Jim Northington, Frank Barnhill and Tom Brown, who were like brothers to him.
A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Balfour Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made through First Citizens Bank to an account in the name of Linda Breyare Jones. Arrangements are being handled by Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park.