Another Third Wednesday Luncheon!
Wednesday, October 18, 2017!

A TRIBUTE TO JANE NORMAN
(TV's PIXANNE)

WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY!

Jane "Pixanne" Norman
at her Bala Cynwyd home
Monday morning, January 2, 2017

Jane Norman did it all! She was a singer, composer, writer and television personality. She began her musical career at age three, and at age eight one of her compositions was performed by the renowned Philadelphia Orchestra.

She went on to create and star in the nationally syndicated award-winning television show PIXANNE, which received a 12 rating and 62% share of audience when it aired on CBS, where it out-rated every other program, including soap operas and early evening news-a rare TV phenomenon.

With a handful of “pixie dust” and an ocean full of talent, Jane Norman flew into the hearts of millions of children who watched her as PIXANNE for 17 years on local and national television.

Read Her Bio

Watch Half-hour Interview with Jane Norman

(video courtesy of Broadcast Pioneers VP Brad Seecof and Metramedia Broadcasting & Studios)

Wednesday, October 18th, 2017

Hit After Hit, Smash After Smash, Blockbuster After Blockbuster... Here's another "monster" lunch where the "stars" don't wait to come out at night. They're there at lunchtime!

Our tribute to Jane Norman was a star-studded event. Our MC for the afternoon was former WCAU-TV News Personality, Bill Baldini. (Special note: If you watch the interview we did with Jane in January, you'll notice someone very familiar doing the interviewing. It's Bill Baldini, so it just made sense to bring Bill back as our MC.)

(Left to right) Liz Stadler, Paul Jost, Dean Schneider, Kevin MacConnell
Jim Craine, Gerry Wilkinson and Bill Baldini
Bala Golf Club, Philadelphia
Wednesday afternoon, October 18, 2017

Our speakers included::

Jerry Blavat who will be telling us all about the era of the host of local Philadelphia Children's programs. Jerry was doing his Discophonic Scene telecast at WCAU-TV while Jane portrayed Pixanne on the same station. Jerry was delayed. He was returning from Florida when his flight was cancelled. He was rescheduled on a later flight, but he didn't have enough time to get to Philadelphia, so we spoke with him LIVE from his airplane.

Ed Cunningham, producer, writer of the smash hit, the WHYY-TV Special from ten years ago, "Philly's Favorite TV Kids Show Hosts."

David Madden, KYW News reporter and anchor who used to watch Jane Norman's "Pixanne" show when he was a child.

Steve Ross and Jim Murray of the long running radio program, "Remember When." It was an interesting era in television in the sixties.

Jim Craine, radio host "The Jim Craine Show" at WOND, 1400 AM at the shore. Heard Saturday evenings from 8 to 10 pm.

Liz Stadler, Jane Norman's granddaughter who presented to the organization, Jane's original Pixanne costume and other memorabilia for the Broadcast Pioneers Archives.

Plus, the trio of musicians who performed on many of Jane's recordings. They are: Paul Jost, Dean Schneider and Kevin MacConnell.

This all took place at the beautiful and historic Bala Golf Club, 2200 Belmont Avenue (across the street from the state police) in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia. Only minutes away from Channels 6, 10 and 17 and the radio stations in Bala Cynwyd.

Watch the Video of the Luncheon

(video courtesy of Broadcast Pioneers VP Brad Seecof and Metramedia Broadcasting & Studios)

WE WERE GLAD TO SEE YOUR
FACE IN THAT PLACE!

From the official archives of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
© 2017, Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia
All Rights Reserved

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com