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Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is a federally recognized, state chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving the Philadelphia Broadcast Community since January of 1962. |
April Luncheon |
Meet & Greet at 12 noon! Lunch at 12:30 pm Ratecard: $28 per person! |
PLEASE RESERVE NOW! |
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:
FULL MEMBERS:
Rich Zeoli is heard daily from 6 to 9 pm on WPHT Radio. He grew up in NJ and spent his career advising candidates in our area running for all levels of political office including governor, US Senate, and Congress. He was the youngest chair of a political party in New Jersey history. Rich is the founder of RZC Impact, which specializes in media training, public speaking, and strategy. Rich is also the author of a book on public speaking.
Bill Shull has been in the business since 1982. He has worked for CNN in Atlanta and WTXF-TV, Fox 29 here in Philadelphia. He's also been at WCAU-TV, NBC 10 and worked for the "The McLaughlin Group" TV Show on Public Television based out of Washington, DC. Bill's current project is writing a book (with a lot of photos) about Philadelphia television and the people who worked in our industry.
Tom Cloyd has been working in our industry for almost a half-century. He is the proprietor of Barboza Associates, a firm specializing in professional logos, print identity and digital identity branding packages in concert with marketing objectives. He worked at KYW-TV from 1965 to 2008 and a broadcast designer and then a studio technician. In the early sixties, he was a supervisor of the US Army Security Agency, European Headquarters.
We are thrilled to have these new members. 507 Members. More than ever. We hope to see as many of our members as possible at our April Luncheon.
DIGITAL ARCHIVAL PROJECT NEWS:
VIDEO:
Anchor Dave Stanley |
Dick Sheeran |
In September of 1984, legendary broadcaster and long-time member of the Broadcast Pioneers John Facenda died. He was this organization's "Person of the Year" in 1971 and was inducted into our Hall of Fame during its first year of existence, 1992. For decades, John Facenda anchored the WCAU-TV, Channel 10 news. In fact, he was an anchor long before that position was ever called "anchor man."
The video we have here from from a KYW-TV, Channel 3 newscast. Facenda was such an important figure that even competitors covered the story. Anchor Dave Stanley starts the piece with Broadcast Pioneers member Dick Sheeran outside the Drexel Hill church where the funeral was held.
AUDIO:
Back in the fifties and early sixties, oil companies were big sponsors of newscasts and weather reports. You had your Atlantic Weatherman (Broadcast Pioneers member Herb Clarke on WCAU-TV) and your ESSO Reporter on WRCV-TV (now KYW-TV). The newsman who was Channel 3's Esso Reporter was none other than Broadcast Pioneers member Vince Leonard. The newscast was 10 minutes in length followed by 5 minutes of weather. While this is a television broadcast, we only have audio.
This audio was recorded on an 8 and 3/4 inch green flexible transcription disc. It wasn't meant for broadcast so the quality is not the greatest. The date is Monday, September 15, 1958. This is the 11 pm news telecast.
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This cut is from Tuesday, September 16, 1958. It's Ken Meyer on WCAU Radio. It's the day after the Vince Leonard newscast above. The train wreck reported by Vince is also talked about by Ken. Also in the program, there's an interview with well-known Philadelphian Marian Anderson. She was just appointed to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Again, this audio is from one of those 8 and 3/4 inch green flexible discs.
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Also from September 1958 (we don't have the exact date), we present audio of a WFIL-TV weathercast done by Broadcast Pioneers member Dr. Francis Davis. It's from the late evening weathercast. Again, this is from one of those green discs.
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A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
Back of a WIBBAGE List
WIBG Survey # 149, Week of July 31st to August 6, 1961
(Originally donated by Broadcast Pioneers member Michael Muderick)
IN TOUCH WITH OUR MEMBERS:
Broadcast Pioneers Board Member and Temple University Alumnus, Kal Rudman is the recipient of the 74th annual Alumni Distinguished Service Award, the Temple University Alumni Association’s highest award to an alumnus. He was chosen by a committee of Temple alumni.
The Alumni Distinguished Service Award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated extraordinary loyalty and commitment to Temple University through their volunteer and philanthropic contributions and who have through such commitments, proven an inspiration to others in their interest and support of Temple University. The award will be conferred at the TUAA’s Impact Awards Celebration on Sunday, April 27th.
Broadcast Pioneers member John DeBella has a fine sense of humor. When he's on vacation, his e-mail says something like this: " I am on vacation, out of the office, and off the air for the next 10 days. At least, that's what they told me when I left. I "should" return on (gives date), but I've been lied to before."
John's cell phone message is a little unusual too. It says something like: "Hi, this is John. Thanks for vibrating the phone in my pocket. You have everyone around me wondering why I'm smiling."
Broadcast Pioneers member Dom Giordano broadcast live from Israel for a week while he was hosting a WPHT tour of listeners to the country. This took place in mid-March. On his blog, Dom says:
The cab drivers in Jerusalem are as wild as any I’ve had anywhere. The guy who drove me to the BBC for my first broadcast stopped to change my money, tried to pick up a woman and almost caused an accident. He got a flat and brandished a tire iron when the price was too high to fix it at the back alley tire place. He learned his English through films and constantly said to me “Is everything ok, my dear?”
EDITOR'S NOTE: Maybe the taxi driver was a fan of Broadcast Pioneers member John Zacherle's "Shock Theater" on Channel 10. For those too young to remember that show, Roland (John's character) was constantly talking to an unseen female character called "My Dear."
Member Harvey Sheldon, who now lives on the left side of the country, has a new book coming out later this month (on April 25th). It's called The Miraculous Culture. We asked Harvey to tell us about his book (which is about the Jewish people) and he said:
For 350 years, the Jews made important contributions to American science, education, labor, arts, entertainment, sports, politics, law, medicine, the military and the economy. Jews helped shape popular culture and championed the causes of equal rights, separation of church and state, the preservation of capitalism, and freedom of religion. This is what the book is about.
Our member Ed Cunningham was honored a few weeks ago by the Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ASB). He received the Louis Braille Award at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Center City. Recipients are recognized for the outstanding contributions on behalf of the blind and visually impaired community.
Broadcast Pioneers Vice-President Bill Wright, Sr. celebrates his 70 plus years in Broadcasting, which Bill is calling, "The Language of the Heart," by speaking at the Easttown Tredyffrin Library in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. It all takes place on Wednesday, April 23rd at 7 pm. "Uncle Bill" said that he'll speak about his career which started in 1943. It is a free event but reservattions are required. You can do it online right here!
Did you know... these pieces of information about David Brenner, who was our 1984 "Person of the Year?"
(Left to right) Broadcast Pioneers member Joaquin Bowman and
Broadcast Pioneers member Al Primo was News Director for KYW-TV for several years in the 60s. He recalls for us a slightly different memory of David Brenner.
Nine years ago, David Brenner told us this by e-mail:
While at Temple University, David Brenner like most communications students was involved in local campus productions including WRTI-FM. Some were done for WFIL-FM (WFIL Studio Schoolhouse) in association with the School District of Philadelphia and were produced by former Broadcast Pioneers President Marguerite Farley. David said by e-mail:
In 2005, David's website said:
David told us by telephone late in 2012 about his first shot at comedy. He said that he was working at Channel 3 when Westinghouse came back to Philadelphia. "The Mike Douglas Show" came to Philly and management thought that the program should be live in Philadelphia. The telecast was syndicated across the country via video tape but live here in the Quaker City. Why? Because management thought it would create excitement. Well, one day well-known comedian Shelley Berman was delayed on the train from NYC because of snow. Douglas was live and someone needed to fill the time. Brenner was well known around the station as a wit and making people laugh. Brenner continued by saying that Berman was allotted 10 minutes. They filled half the time with Douglas singing a song and the remaining 5 minutes was given to Brenner. From there, he started appearing in clubs as a sideline. While he was working in the Big Apple doing documentaries, the large city opened up doors and next thing he knew he was on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. David Brenner had written and produced 115 documentaries, that earned him a total of nearly thirty awards and citations including an Emmy for his program, “On Call: Dr. Amato.” Brenner was the author of five top selling books. One of David's best friends was Mark Drucker who worked at KYW Newsradio. In 1993, Drucker co-hosted and produced the syndicated radio vehicle (1993 to 1996) for Philadelphian David Brenner, who was our “Person of the Year” in 1984 and is a member of our “Hall of Fame.” Mark and David would still, from time to time, get together for a round of golf. Brenner called Mark Drucker “brilliant!” Drucker passed away in 2005. This regular monthly column is written and researched by Gerry Wilkinson |
MORE DIGITAL ARCHIVAL PROJECT NEWS:
VIDEO:
Hank Sperka |
Hank Sperka with Anna Taggart |
The Bellevue Stratford Hotel on South Broad Street was built in 1902. It closed its doors on November 18, 1976. Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Famer Hank Sperka was there to cover the story for Action News and WPVI-TV. He spoke with Anna Taggart, who was the hotel's main elevator operator for decades. He also spoke with the bellhops who would be out of work later that day.
Sperka said in the report that many believed that there should be an historic marker in front of the hotel. A year after the report, it became listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Every US President from Teddy Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan had been guests at the hotel. It was often called "The Great Dame of Broad Street."
While this recording was recovered from an original 1976 station tape, the decades have taken its toll on the original tape. We did the best we could to correct the situation. Whether in the best condition or not, it's still a wonderful and historic recording from our Digital Archival Project.
AUDIO:
In January of 1978, local radio personality and member of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Joan Stack (Shafran), who had a daily interview program over WBUX Radio in Doylestown, spoke with member Vince Leonard. The program was broadcast live from a local restaurant.
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Earlier in this newsletter, we presented audio of a WFIL-TV weathercast featuring member Francis Davis. Well, here's equal time to WRCV-TV (now KYW-TV). Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Famer Jack Pyle. Here's an excerpt from one of those Pyle weathercasts entitled, "Jack's Almanac." It dates about 1956 and was his last program. While this was on television, we only have the audio.
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The next audio comes from a WFIL Radio newscast. It's 6:55 am, and here's the news complete with commercials. The date is Wednesday, September 29, 1948. The news reporter has not yet been identified. If you recognize the voice, please let us know who it is.
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A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
Performers on "The Children's Hour"
(left to right) Ronnie Hall, Trish Dwelley, Carol Ingber, Ann Merlin and unidentified male
WCAU-TV Studios, Philadelphia
1955
(Program hosted by this organization's first President Stan Lee Broza)
IN TOUCH WITH THE INDUSTRY:
Last month, Jan Carabeo joined CBS 3 and The CW Philly’s Eyewitness News team as a general assignment reporter. Carabeo was most recently was a reporter/anchor at WTIC-TV, the FOX station in Hartford, Connecticut, where she served as the morning reporter. Prior to WTIC, she worked in New York State as a reporter at WSYR-TV in Syracuse, at WICZ-TV and at WIVT-TV/WBGH-TV both in Binghamton. Carabeo’s reporting earned her a New York Associated Press award in 2011 for Best News Series, “Gold Star Mom,” about a mother’s fight against the Department of Motor Vehicles to keep a commemorate license plate for her son who died in Vietnam.
Greater Media in Philadelphia has been named of one the Top Workplaces in the Delaware Valley for the third consecutive year. The survey was conducted by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News, and Philly.com. They were listed in the small company section (having 132 employees). Under large companies, Comcast (with 9485 employees) and QVC (with 2700 employees) were listed as a Top Workplace.
Over the course of the 2014 regular season, fans will be able to view and hear all 162 Phillies games from the comfort of their homes, cars and workplaces.
Comcast SportsNet will carry 140 games on their network, which included the 2:05 p.m. season opener against the Texas Rangers yesterday. The Comcast Network will also air nine games in April.
NBC 10 will air the Phillies 12 times during the season beginning with the 3:05 p.m. home opener on next Monday, April 7th against the Milwaukee Brewers. FOX will broadcast the Saturday, July 12 game against the Washington Nationals.
Radio calls will once again be handled by Larry Andersen, Scott Franzke and Jim Jackson for the 2014 season. All Phillies games can be heard on the Phillies’ Flagship stations: Talk Radio 1210 WPHT and SportsRadio 94WIP. Talk Radio 1210 WPHT airs without delay (third year now) in Citizens Bank Park, allowing fans the option to listen to the broadcast right from their seat. Games will air in Spanish on WTTM 1680 AM, Monday through Friday throughout the season.
The newest voice to join the Phillies broadcast team is Baseball's Hall of Fame third baseman and Phillies legend Mike Schmidt. The 10-time consecutive Gold Glove winner will be on the air for all thirteen Sunday home games for special Sunday’s with Schmidt broadcasts.
Schmidt joins fellow former Phillies Jamie Moyer and Matt Stairs as new analysts for the 2014 season, working alongside play-by-play man Tom McCarthy and field reporter Gregg Murphy for games on Comcast SportsNet, The Comcast Network and NBC10.
SportsRadio 94WIP and CBS Sports Radio 610 has promoted Spike Eskin to the position of Program Director. Eskin has been filling the role on an interim basis since Jeff Sottolano was named Director of Programming for CBS RADIO earlier this year. Previously, Eskin served as Sports Editor for CBSPhilly.com and did part time airshifts on 94WIP as well as on-air work on KYW Newsradio and CBS 3.
Broadcast Pioneers member Marc Rayfield, Senior Vice President/Market Manager for CBS RADIO Philadelphia, said “Spike is his own person. He is tenacious, strategic and a proven winner. We interviewed an extremely talented pool of national and local candidates. Spike was clearly our best choice.” Spike is the son of Broadcast Pioneers member Howard Eskin.
Pennsylvania Ballet was pleased to welcome CBS 3 anchor Jessica Dean as its first ever Honorary Ambassador for its school and outreach programming.
Dean, who studied ballet for nine years beginning at age three, is excited to go back to the studio to introduce dance to children. “Whether they are in a class or in the audience, this opportunity can deeply impact their lives and open their minds to creativity and possibility,” she says. “I’m looking forward to bringing that magic to young audiences who, without Pennsylvania Ballet’s initiative, might never have that experience.”
CBS 3 and The CW Philly’s 5th annual fundraiser for one of the Delaware Valley’s most beloved charities raised more than $1 million last month. The Ronald McDonald House Charities Phone Bank brought in $1,010,538, bringing the total raised for the charity since the first phone bank in 2010 to more than $4 million.
Anchors Chris May, Jessica Dean, Kathy Orr, Beasley Reece, Ukee Washington, Erika von Tiehl and Kate Bilo hosted the event with special appearances by on-air personalities from the CBS RADIO stations in Philadelphia, including Ross Brittain, Valerie Knight and Frank Lewis of 98.1 WOGL’s Breakfast Club, Rich Zeoli from Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, Ike Reese of SportsRadio 94 WIP and KYW Newsradio 1060’s Cherri Gregg.
All funds raised through the phone bank will directly benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region, a non-profit organization that creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children in our community. Broadcast Pioneers member Jim Murray is a member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Local Operations Advisory Council and past president of the International Advisory Board for the Ronald McDonald Houses.
WE REMEMBER:
Special thanks goes to Sam Wood of Philly.com (Inquirer - Daily News) for sending us the sad news that Richard Hayes died last month in Los Angeles after a long illness. He was a pop singer in the early fifties and a TV game show host in the sixties. In the late seventies, Hayes started a new career as a radio talk show host. First, he was at WMCA in New York City. Then he came to WWDB and to WCAU (AM). He was 84 years old.
We just found out that Broadcast Pioneers member Don DeCinque passed away from a heart attack at age 67. He was the owner and CEO of Sponsor It Media, LLC. Before that he was, for 13 years, VP of TelVue Corporation in Mount Laurel. He had been president of the American Thoroughbred Racing Fans Association. In the 80s, Don was sales manager for "The Disney Cable TV Channel." During the 70s, he worked for the New York Times.
VISIT OUR YouTube CHANNEL:
"Big Al" Meltzer
at the Broadcast Pioneers Luncheon
Bala Golf Club, Philadelphia
Wednesday, April 11, 2001
On Wednesday, April 11, 2001, "Big Al" Meltzer, a Philadelphia sports legend, was the speaker at our monthly luncheon held at the Bala Golf Club, in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia. "Big Al" spoke about his career and the wonderful people that he's worked with. The entire address is available for the first time on our YouTube Channel. You can watch the video here on our YouTube Channel! To see all our video on YouTube, simply visit us at our YouTube Channel found at http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/youtube.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES:
Philadelphia TV in 1949!
We thought you might enjoy a little flashback to what Philadelphia television was like 65 years ago. We looked around in some old industry magazines that aren't around anymore and found these memories.
The TV Bar Ten Ranch
Live studio program for kids built around Lucky Steele, a Montana Cowboy who plays the guitar, sings and recites cowboy poetry. Youngsters celebrating birthdays are invited by Steele to the TV Bar Ten Ranch where he brands them with the TV 10 brand and presents them with souvenir cowboy hats. Movie serial, with an episode each day, rounds out program.
Availability: Live talent, film
Running Time: 30 minutes
Client Suitability: Breakfast cereals, milk, candy, etc.
Cost: On request
Submitted by: WCAU-TV, 1622 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 3, PA.
Western Balladeer
Program stars Jesse Rogers, the singing cowboy hero. (Jesse was married to member Sally Starr and also did a country-western DJ program on radio). Such lovable characters as Pete, the cook, Foreman Bob and Gerald, the Mechanical Man. This daily serial, in which the gang at the Silver Saddle get into and out of one situation after another, has been capturing the "kid" audience for the past several months. Sustaining on the NBC (TV) Network preceding "Howdy Doody."
Availability: Live talent
Running time: 15 minutes
Client Suitability: Any product, sale of which is influenced by children
Cost: On request
Number of Episodes Available: Unlimited
Audition facilities: Live talent
Date created and/or produced or filmed, December 3, 1948
Submitted by: Philco Television Station WPTZ, 1800 Architects Building, Philadelphia, 3, PA.
Cinderella Weekend
An audience participation program, selects each week a woman from its audience to be "Cinderella." She wins a luxurious weekend in New York, complete with hotel suite, tours, shows and nightclubs. There are five daily prize winners who compete for this grand prize by answering questions on Friday's broadcast.
Availability: Live Talent
Running time: 30 minutes
Client Suitability: Food, soap, beauty products, household products, etc.
Cost: Five programs per week, 30 minutes - $648. Participations - $50 each
Submitted by: WCAU-TV, 1622 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 3, PA.
Flashscope
A continuous news tape backed up by records. Fresh edition of the news and weather every two hours with bulletins inserted immediately. Time every minute on drop clock arrangement. Sponsor's trade mark can be made a part of the overall background design. Commercials can be telecast either by film insert or thirty word announcement on the tape every fifteen minutes.
Availability: Film
Client Suitability: Automobiles, Cab Services, Clocks, Jewelers, etc.
Running Time: 60 minutes
Cost: $60 per hour, minimum contract, 13 times. 26 times, $57. 52 times, $54. Cost includes time, news service and music
Submitted by: WCAU-TV, 1622 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 3, PA.
Florence Hanford & Television Kitchen (Recipes)!
At the end of each Television Kitchen broadcast, Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Famer Florence Hanford would tell viewers that they could send in for free recipes. They usually were the ones she cooked on that particular show. We have 14 of these weekly sheets (each was two-sided) in our archives, courtesy of Barbara Farley-Stone, Broadcast Pioneers member Frank Stone's wife. We thought you might enjoy a couple of them.
MAIN COURSE - Apple Stuffed Veal Rolls (from July 26, 1967)
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons of butter or margarine
a half cup of finely chopped onion
1 cup of chopped pared apple
one and a half cups of tiny, soft bread cubes
a half teaspoon of salt
one-eighth of a teaspoon of pepper
one-quarter teaspoon of poultry seasoning
one and a half pounds of veal steak (Cut a quarter of an inch thick)
2 tablespoons of flour
2 additional tablespoons of butter or margarine
a quarter cup of apple juice
Flour-water paste (amount needed not given)
Directions:
In a large skillet, melt four tablespoons of butter or margarine; saute onion until lightly brown. Add apple and saute for four minutes. Add bread cubes, salt, pepper and poultry seasoning; cook, stirring, over a medium flame for about 4 minutes. Cut veal into 4 pieces. Spoon stuffing onto each veal piece; roll up. Secure with toothpicks or skewer. Roll in flour. Heat the 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine in large skillet; brown rolls well on all sides. Add apple juice; simmer, covered, for 40 to 45 minutes, or until tender. Remove veal rolls and thicken gray with flour-water paste. Makes 4 servings.
Broadcast Pioneers' Hall of Famer Florence Hanford
on the set of "Television Kitchen"
WPTZ, Channel 3, Philadelphia
about 1952
POTATOES OR STARCH - Potato Molds (from September 4, 1963)
Ingredients:
2 cups of stiff mashed potatoes
1 cup grated sharp cheese
1 egg, slightly beaten
a half teaspoon of salt
a third cup of dried bread crumbs
1 egg (another one), slightly beaten
2 tablespoons of water
plus melted butter or margarine (amount not specified)
Tart jelly (amount not specified)
Directions:
Mix together potatoes, cheese, slightly beaten egg and salt. Cover and chill in electric refrigerator (her sponsor was the Philadelphia Electric Company - now called PECO) for several hours. Shape potatoes in four balls. Roll in bread crumbs. Combine the other egg and water; dip balls into this mixture. Roll again in bread crumbs. Indent the tops of the balls. Place potato molds on broiler rack (indented side down). Brush with melted butter or margarine and broil for three minutes. Turn; brush again with melted butter or margarine. Broil for 2 minutes more. Fill indentation with tart jelly and serve. Makes 4 servings.
If you try either of these recipes, please let us know what you thought of them.
"The best part of working on a cooking show is that you get to eat the food," says Gerry Wilkinson, our chairman of the board. Gerry produced several live onto tape segments of "Great Chefs of Philadelphia." They were shot on location. One was at Treetops where TV Chef Jim Coleman was Executive chef. "He cooked a whole dinner for the TV audience," said Wilkinson. Broadcast Pioneers member Ed Cunningham co-hosted this show and after Coleman gave Ed the plate of dessert, Cunningham took a bite. Yummy. He then had to finish the program (only a couple minutes left) and handed the plate off to someone at frame right. That person was Brian Lang, the production xssistant for the program. Gerry, Brian and the three-person crew ate the dessert before the show ended. "Some things you just can't put into dollars," Gerry said.
This wasn't unusual. Crews almost always eat the food. Well... sometimes they don't. Florence Hanford told Gerry Wilkinson and Broadcast Pioneers member Ed Sciaky in 2000 (they were getting ready to interview her for the Broadcast Pioneers' Oral History project called "Pioneers in Broadcasting) that in the early days, the lights were so hot (and in black and white) that they had to substitute one thing for another. She said that a scoop of ice cream would actually be stiff mashed potatoes. "When they poured cherry sauce on the potatoes (pretending that it was ice cream) and then added some whipped cream and a slice of banana, no one on the crew was willing to eat it," Hanford said. She thought for a second and then said, "Well, actually I do believe someone did eat it." Goes back to what we all remember from the beginning of our careers: the crew will eat almost anything!
A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
Broadcast Pioneers Member Jack Hyland
WFIL Newsroom
City Avenue, Philadelphia
Action in the Afternoon Press Releases!
We thought you might enjoy a wording of a CBS-TV press release about the "upcoming" new show, "Action in the Afternoon." It's dated January 23, 1953. Written by Anna Coleman of CBS Television.
"ACTION IN THE AFTERNOON," NEW CBS-TV WESTERN DRAMAS, TO BE TELEVISED "LIVE" FIVE TIMES WEEKLY STARTING FEBRUARY 2nd.
"Action in the Afternoon," television's first "live" Western dramatic series staged in an outdoor locale, will have its premiere as a five-times-weekly feature of the CBS Television Network, Monday, February 2nd it was announced today by Hubbell Robinson, Jr., CBS-TV Vice-President in Charge of Network Programs. (CBS-TV, 3:30-4:00 pm, EST, Monday through Friday, via WCAU-TV, Philadelphia.
For "Action in the Afternoon," an entire Western town has been built in the beautiful hill country outside Philadelphia, where the program will originate. Its "Main Street" is traditional to the last detail. There is the general store, the newspaper office, the bank, the blacksmith's shop, the Copper Cup Bar and - perhaps the most utilitarian of all - the jail.
The story which concerns the citizens of Huberle, Montana, and the visitors - good and bad - who ride through its streets, has its setting in the 1890's, when men of the Old West "wore tall hats, high heels and six-shooters on both hips." All the things that might have happened in a frontier town will be dramatized "live" on "Action in the Afternoon."
The series is produced by Charles Vanda. Leslie Urbach is the Executive Director. William Bode and John Ullrich will alternate as directors of each weekly unit. The town of Huberle was created and designed by Jan Ozog. Don Pringle, Paul Pierce and Hugh Best are among the free-lance writers contributing scripts.
In March of 1953, we have another document from CBS-TV in our archives that give production credits and other data. It's dated March 1953.
Herewith, credits and production data for CBS-TV's "Action in the Afternoon."
ON AIR: Monday through Friday, 3:30 - 4:00 pm, est
ORIGINATION: WCAU-TV, Philadelphia
FORMAT: Western Melodrama
PRODUCER: Charles Vanda
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Leslie Urbach
DIRECTORS: William Bode and John Ullrich, alternate weeks
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS: Don Lennox, James Hirschfeld and Don Markley
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Frank Fisher
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Ed Harper
MUSIC DIRECTOR: Dick Lester
STARS: Jack Valentine and Blake Ritter
CAST: Mary Elaine Watts, Harrise Forrest, Barry Cassell, Chris Keegan, Jean Corbett, Samuel Kressen, Chreighton Stewart, extras
WRITERS: Don Pringle, Dick Strome, Don Lenox
SCENIC DESIGNER: Jan Ozog
ART DIRECTOR: John Ferlaine
LIGHTING: Dan Jones
COSTUMES: Levi Strauss
Harry Harris!
Here's another excerpt from Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Famer Harry Harris' unpublished work entitled, "TV Star Secrets." The manuscript is part of our Digital Archival Project, DAP. In it, he says:
Mike Douglas brought his Group W syndicated variety show to Philadelphia via Cleveland. (The show originated from the studios of KYW-TV). During those earlier days, guest Jerry Van Dyke sang "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" while Douglas kept bringing onstage each barnyard animal mentioned. "The cow's four legs shot out on the slippery tile floor," he recalled, "and it landed flat on its belly. For 22 minutes, while the show kept going on around it, we tried to get that cow up. My closing line was: "'It's going to take a midget to milk this thing!'"
TV sight gag innovator Ernie Kovacs (who did early TV on WPTZ, Channel 3) shied away from the notion of doing "a stock variety show." "It's no fun if you play it safe all the time. I don't want to get to the point where I'm satisfied to do a 'nice' show, any more than I want to eat boiled meat or look at ugly girls. You only have one short life. There's nothing worse than lousy television comedians making philosophic remarks, but I had a long stretch in the hospital with guys dying all around me, and I'm grateful for a second chance. I don't want to come down the aisle kissing the oldest lady in the audience. I haven't the slightest interest in old ladies, unless they're relatives, or unless despite her age, she says something that indicates she's hip and digs things that are interesting."
Brashness was the stock in trade of talk show host Tom Snyder, who went from a gig in Philadelphia...to Lons Angeles.... During his five-year Philadelphia (KYW-TV) tenure, he reputedly was so imperious that he was given a whip as a gift and nicknamed, "Snidely Whiplash." He declined to confirm the rumor. "I know of no recent nickname," he said, "aside from His Eminence."
A LITTLE BIT OF BROADCAST HISTORY!
Elevator Doors
WCAU Building
1622 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
circa 1940
THANK YOU:
As we do every month, we want to thank Broadcast Pioneers member Johnny B. Hall for his monthly donation to our DAP, Digital Archival Project. Johnny donates $250 every month. The amount totals $3,000 yearly and really helps us to underwrite this much needed but expensive project.
We have great underwriting for the scholarships that we'll be awarding this month at our luncheon. We have funding for seventeen $1,000 scholarships. We received $1,000 for a scholarship in the memory of Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Famer Mac McGuire. The contribution came from member R. Alan Campbell. Also, the final $1,000 scholarship (part of a five year package) from Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Famer Sylvia Kauders. We also have pledges for seven $1,000 scholarships from member Johnny B. Hall and his wife, Ginny. Also, a scholarship from the Adelman family for a $1,000 scholarship and also one from Robin Adelman's dad, member Leon Love. Member Harry Hurley gave us a $1,000 scholarship from the proceeds of last June's "Hurley in the Morning" Golf Tournament.
Broadcast Pioneers Board Member Kal Rudman started underwriting scholarships for our organization several years ago. He was the person that underwrote our first scholarship way back when. Now, there are many following in his footsteps. Kal has said that he is underwriting two more scholarships for the 2014 year. Thanks, Kal. Another contribution came from Esther Kurtz. Included in her membership renewal was a $1,000 for a scholarship in memory of David Kurtz (founder of WBEB, More FM).She has been doing this now for 8 years.
Plus, we have added two more $1,000 scholarships for April 2014. One is from Bette Lavine of Center City and the other is from Len Stevens, long-time member of the Broadcast Pioneers.
And again, we wish to thank member Jerry Del Colliano for his $1,000 contribution to our DAP fund. This is the second year in a row that Jerry has done this. We thank him so much for his gift to this most important project.
Recently, Robin Adelman (on behalf of the entire Adelman family and Leon Love) presented us with a $600 contribution to be split between of our DAP project and our general fund. We welcome other gifts for these and other projects in the form of money and/or donated items like video tapes, audio transcriptions and photos.
We also received a $1,000 check from member R. Alan Campbell. It is for a scholarship to be given in April of 2015 in the memory of Fred Ruggieri, who used the air name Fred Randall. Thanks, Alan. We also have a pledge for 2015 from member Harry Hurley with a $1,000 scholarship (limited to students either residing in or attending college in South Jersey). The proceeds for this scholarship will come from Harry's Charity Golf Tournament next year. Also, a pledge from Harry for a $1,000 gift to our DAP project. Thanks, Harry. We also just received checks for two scholarships for April of 2015. They come from the Adelman Family and Robin's dad, Leon Love.
We would like to thank those of you who included an extra contribution when you paid for your meal at our March luncheon. Those include: Diane Berilotti, Mike Bove, Don Hurley, Frank Jordan, Marilyn Kauffman, Bill Kelley, Mel Klawansky, Jerry Klein and Gerry Wilkinson. Special Thanks to member Dave Skalish and WOGL Radio for the use of their high speed scanner for processing items for our archival project.
Member Ruth Leon Weiman sent us a contribution in memory of Roger Krone who passed away recently. Roger was the grandson of founding Broadcast Pioneers member Max E. Solomon. Ruth is the daughter of Max M. Leon (former owner of WDAS AM & FM). Max was also a founding member. Weiman lives next door to Mr. & Mrs. Bill Krone, Roger's parents. We'll put the money to good use in our DAP, Digital Archival Project, something that both Solomon and Krone thought was worthwhile.
Joaquin Bowman made a generous contribution to our DAP, Digital Archival Project last month. Bowman and his two sisters, Melanie Capoferri and Vibiana Cvetkovic, are all members of the Broadcast Pioneers. This is the first time to our knowledge that three siblings are members of our organization.
Don't be left out. You too can make a pledge. You can earmark it for scholarships, our DAP, Digital Archival Project or our General Fund. Thanks so much for your support.
Our special thanks go to TUTV and The Kal & Lucille Rudman Media Production Center.
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If you forgot to make an extra contribution (cash or memorabilia) and would like to do so now, it's never too late. We would be thrilled to hear from you at: PO Box 2886, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 or call us at (856) 365-5600.
A FINAL THOUGHT....
"I wrote, produced and directed documentaries for KYW (television), heading up the department for Westinghouse, before moving to NYC to the same job for Metromedia Broadcasting, then to Public Broadcasting where I made the decision that nothing I had done on TV changed one damn thing... So, I quit trying to solve the problems and decided to make people laugh about them."
David Brenner
Broadcast Pioneers' "Person of the Year" for 1984
Quote came from an e-mail from David to Broadcast Pioneers
2005
Please contact us by e-mail at newsletter@broadcastpioneers.com or by mail to: Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, PO Box 2886, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. Your stories are important, to you, to us, and your colleagues. Contact us today and we’ll include your story in the next newsletter! |
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The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com
For luncheon reservations call (856) 365-5600 or e-mail us at: rsvp@broadcastpioneers.com
