BOUNTIFUL — KSL-TV's Carole Mikita introduced fellow broadcast journalist Larry King when he spoke to a small crowd in the South Branch of the Davis County Library Friday as "one of those great American success stories" and "the miracle worker himself."
As King spoke, the crowd of fewer than 250 people were able to see his lighter side as he joked about his career and his life as a Jew with a Latter-day Saint wife. However, when they were allowed to ask questions of the star of CNN's top-rated program, many of the audience searched for his advice and views on life.
King spoke at the library after hosting the Stadium of Fire in Provo on Thursday night and filming a spot about the Elizabeth Smart case Friday morning.
"I'm 69, she's 42. We have two children," King said. "And it was done without Viagra.
"When I do a lot of speaking I never speak seriously. I like to have fun with the audience," he said leading into the story of his quintuple bypass surgery, which was performed by a nine-fingered surgeon.
Mikita called King's life a success story because of how far he's come since growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y. After the death of his father when he was 9 years old and "faking" his way through high school, King has gone on to build a 45-year broadcast radio and television career and has written 11 books. King went from working for the United Parcel Service to hosting CNN's most popular show, "Larry King Live."
"I still pinch myself everyday," he said.
Before taking the microphone, King seemed to be nervous as he paced back and forth on the side of the room. But that all went away when he got up front; and he explained why when one man asked about the biggest break of his career.
King used to dream of a career in broadcasting, standing in front of radios and mimicking the announcers. He eventually got his foot in the door at a Florida radio station and began hanging out there as much as possible, watching and learning everything that went on. When an announcer left to find a better job, King finally got his chance. He began the first segment of his own radio show at 9 a.m. on May 1, 1957.
After playing a portion of what he picked to be his theme song he turned the music down and the microphone on, but nothing came out of his mouth. He turned the music back up and tried again. This happened several times until the radio station's general manager burst into the studio and demanded, "This is a communications business. Communicate."
It was then, he said, that he learned to "go for the moment" and just say whatever was on his mind. Learning that lesson was his biggest break and he's never been nervous since.
King spoke about his relationship with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his three experiences of interviewing church President Gordon B. Hinckley. Though joking about things like tuna casserole and Jell-O, he also spoke highly of his LDS in-laws.
"If I was king of the Mormons I'd make (my father-in-law) pope," he said.
More than his estimated 152 pairs of suspenders and 800-plus neck-ties, the audience was interested in what advice he would give to his children or to young people wanting to succeed in their work
"Go to your heart. The brain can do some interesting things, but go to your heart," he said. King said he would tell his children to study the views of various religions and read and learn all they can.
"I learn by asking questions," he said. "I've never learned anything while I was talking."
To one 18-year-old who said he wanted to become a lawyer and politician he counseled, "You're the key to your own success. You can read all the self-help books, but you're the key to your own success. Have faith in yourself."
And when another person asked about a career in journalism he said, "It beats work. We never work. The last time I did work was when I was at the United Parcel Service."
E-mail: jrowley@desnews.com