Johnson Products founded 1954
Johnson Products, makers of Afro Sheen and Ultra Sheen, was founded in 1954 and became one of Soul Train's earliest and longest-running sponsors.
Where this was said
Going National: Chicago to LA and the Dual-Show Era
At 23:10 · chapter starts 23:02
The Chicago success was undeniable, but Don Cornelius had bigger ambitions. In 1971, he relocated to Los Angeles to produce Soul Train as a nationally syndicated, full-color show — one that would reach every city in America that chose to air it. But here's what's remarkable: he didn't shut down the original Chicago version. For approximately five years, both ran simultaneously — the local black-and-white weekday version and the national color weekend show. Cornelius's routine was extraordinary: fly to LA on Fridays, shoot two episodes Saturday and two on Sunday, fly back to Chicago for the Monday afternoon broadcast. Josh notes that TV syndication itself was a revolutionary model — selling directly to local stations rather than through a major network — and that Soul Train's embrace of it gave Cornelius total creative control in addition to total ownership.
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