 Encouraged by Hawaii tourist audiences, Ponce decided to try his luck in Los Angeles.Los Angeles automobile dealer Bob Yeakel broadcast an 18-hour weekly amateur talent show called "Rocket to Stardom" from his Wilshire Boulevard showroom.The broadcast was split over two local stations, KHJ-TV Channel 9 and KTTV-TV Channel 11.Ponce made a series of appearances on the local show in the late 1950s and was soon working at Ben Blue's Santa Monica night club.