WTOPTV dot NET

Kevin Rafferty Dies

2012-01-07T19:05:00.001-05:00

This is from the Washington Post, January 4, 2012

KEVIN RAFFERTY

On Saturday, December 31, 2011, of California, MD formerly of Silver Spring, MD. Beloved husband of the late Ingeborg Franz Rafferty; father of Eileen Ligday, Ingrid Rafferty and the late Kevin C. Rafferty, grandfather of Megan and Katie Ligday.

Kevin at WTOP-TV 1955

Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard, West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Friday, January 13, 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Grace Church, 15661 Norbeck Blvd, Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, January 14 at 10:30 a.m.

Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, 29449 Charlotte Hall Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622 www.charhall.org or to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 www.hospiceofstmarys.org.

Thurmont on the Air

2012-01-05T16:26:00.002-05:00

Chuck Langdon and I produced a feature out of the WTOP 25th reunion at Thurmont last October on our OUT OF THE PAST show which airs throughout much of Virginia via Fairfax Cable TV.

Also featured on the half hour show is Woody Robertson discussing his upcoming project with Tammy Gagnon, author of NO LONGER SILENT. The subject is a bit heavy...but combined with the levity of our Thurmont reunion, it's a pretty well-ballanced show.

Enjoy!

-Lee

Claire Beach Obit from 1977

2012-01-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

How Sad!
Our thanks to Bob Bell for finding this. -Lee

Thurmont 2011 Video

2011-11-20T14:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks to our friend Richard Webb here's video from our Thurmont Luncheon last October.

Enjoy!

-Lee

Don Richards on OUT OF THE PAST

2011-11-04T18:51:00.001-04:00

Chuck Langdon and I interviewed Don Richards for Fairfax Cable TV a few weeks ago and our brilliant video editor, Bob Bell has finished putting the final touches on the production.

So here is the show we did with our own incomparable, one and only
DON RICHARDS.

After you watch the show, be sure to scroll down and see more pictures from our THURMONT 2011 Luncheon.

Enjoy! -Lee

Don Richards - Out of the Past - 2011 from Chuck Langdon on Vimeo.

More Thurmont 2011 Pictures

2011-11-03T20:39:00.004-04:00

Doris Fausey

These photos I lifted from the video that our friend Richard Webb took at our Thurmont event in October of this year.

Soon I'll post some of his video on this site....Stay tuned!

-Lee

(See Tom Buckley's snapshots of the event HERE)

Paul Montebovi

Emil Franks and Stan Guttenberg

James Snyder

Tom Buckley

Dave French

Jim Miche

Steve King

Frank LaTore

Emil Franks

Gene Beale

Bill Calder

Frank McDermott

Jim Taylor

Jim Hargreaves

James O'Neal

Woody Robertson

Robert Pierpoint Passes

2011-10-26T18:47:00.004-04:00

Robert Pierpoint, who covered the Korean War, the Kennedy assassination, Watergate and six Presidents over a 40-year career at CBS News, died Saturday from complications of hip surgery. He was 86.

An Oldie, but Goodie

2011-10-23T17:51:00.002-04:00

An otherwise sane friend of mine, who was also a “teen age DJ” invited me over to his house last week to show me the project he just completed.

That's where the otherwise.......part of that sentence comes in.

He built an almost exact replica of the radio station where he once spun Patti Page and Eddie Arnold records...

complete with a working transmitter....in his basement!

This story borders on the unbelievable, especially when you realize that the original station went on the air in 1947 or '48 and almost all of the electronic equipment, which he personally restored, is from that era.

Photo from 1940's newspaper

But, he did it.

I know. I saw it.

The original station was in the midwest, and it's still there,

but my friend's brand new version is at the end of a cul de sac a few blocks from my house in a quiet Virginia neighborhood.

2011 Restored version

Restored Radio Station Clock of the '40's and 50's

Vintage 1940's phone


Studio B complete with organ


Fully restored AP news ticker

A lot of my retired friends play golf.....

.......but only one, as far as I know, plays "radio station."

I think I'll give Robert Ripley a call.

-Lee

(Note to the FCC. The transmitter works perfectly, but is attached to a "dummy load" preventing it from going out over the airwaves.)

From 1953....(thanks to our friend Bob Bell!)

2011-10-19T10:08:00.001-04:00

Thurmont 2011 a Big Success!

2011-10-11T18:23:00.062-04:00

A great time was had by all!

40 chronologically gifted ex staff members and friends of one of the great radio and TV stations, WTOP, met for the 25th annual luncheon at the COZY INN in Thurmont, MD to celebrate those exciting days of yesteryear!

Woody Robertson traveled the longest distance to be with us. He flew from his home in Detroit, MI and he brought with him Tammy Gagnon, the author of No Longer Silent whose book his production company is in the process of turning into a made for TV movie.

According to my calculations, we could all have flown to Detroit in less time than it took most of us to drive to Thurmont,,,,Another of our favorite celebrity graduates, Bill Diehl of ABC news was going to come down until he discovered that you can't get to Thurmont from New York. If the traffic gets any worse, we'll all have to do like the Presidents have been doing for years......arrive by helicopter.

Mark Shaw, Ranger Hal's youngest son was there with his wife Marie. Mark will be retiring soon and moving to Chapel Hill, NC, where Hal honed his acting skills with such classmates as Andy Griffith and others. One of Mark's many talents is automobile restoration. It also happens to be Marie's as well and they plan to continue that hobby/business in North Carolina. They became grandparents 2 months ago......!!
Chuck Langdon and I interviewed Mark on our OUT OF THE PAST show on Farfax Cable a couple of weeks ago....and when we've finished editing the program, I'll post it here on this website. We also recently did another show with Don Richards as our guest....and I'll post that one here as well.

Soon you will be seeing more and more pictures of the 2011 Thurmont event.....showing up on this site...as the attendees with cameras begin emailing their snapshots to this site. (shephard@gmail.com)

Our friend and official videographer, Richard Webb, was there shooting video of the festivities....so very soon now....I'll post video of the luncheon here on the website.

Also, a reminder a number of WTOPers have been interviewed by Chuck Langdon and me on Fairfax Cable TV. You can see these interviews and more at OUT OF THE PAST.

These photos were all taken by the amazing Tom Buckley. I'll put names with these pictures .....as time allows......

Thanks Tom.

Stay tuned everybody.......and Enjoy! -Lee

-Lee

Thurmont 2011 TODAY!

2011-10-11T08:04:00.001-04:00

Thurmont 2011 is TODAY at 12 noon.

(Tuesday October 11th)

If you haven't bought you ticket yet, come on anyway and bring your $15 bucks and we'll find a seat for you. The weather may not turn out to be the greatest, but it won't be raining inside......and I promise that the mood will be all sunshine and good cheer!

See you there!

-Lee

Allan Jefferys Passes

2011-10-04T19:42:00.000-04:00

(Thanks to Bob Bell for bringing this to our attention)

Allan Jefferys, a Broadcast House alumnus from the early 1950s passed last week. Jefferys had a half-hour live afternoon variety show on Channel 9 from 1951 to 1955, (directed by Jim Silman), as well as a presence on WTOP Radio.

See Jefferys in action in this clip from the February 10, 1954 Broadcast House Dedication kinescope.

http://vimeo.com/30033861

Click the following link for a death notice that outlines Jefferys' career after leaving DC in 1956:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2011/10/03/2011-10-03_allan_jefferys_broadcast_legend_and_theater_critic_at_abc_dead_at_88.html

He had quite a run in the Big Apple!

Bob

Woody Robertson

2011-09-29T20:47:00.002-04:00

Woody Robertson

It's good to read about our old WTOP-TV graduates who are still going full steam ahead with their successful careers.

However, as most of us are slowing down, Director/Produced extraordinaire, Woody Robertson seems to be continually speeding up!

Woody has recently founded Malibu Films. the newest and latest production company from the award-winning producer/director, His original production-firm, September Moon Production Network,Inc. was formed in 1983 and created productions for many national and international programs for ABC sports, The Olympics, NFL, ESPN,NBC, The World Cup. NASA-FAA, The US-Arab Economic Forum, Elton John Tour,
Hurricane Andrew Documentary, and hundreds of others.

Woody, who has been based in Detroit since the 80's has recently announced that he is creating a Feature Film for Television Movie based on the book "No Longer Silent" by author, Tammy Gagnon.

Learn more about the film HERE

I understand that Woody might be spending a good deal of his time shooting here in Virginia!

It will almost be like old times!

-Lee

THURMONT is Tuesday Oct 11 !

2011-09-29T10:33:00.000-04:00

Don't forget the Thurmont luncheon is 12 noon on Tuesday, October 11th!

Not much time to get your $15 per person check to

Doris Fausey
13109 Beaver Terrace
Rockville, MD 20853 -3303

See you there!

Ranger Hal

2011-09-29T10:28:00.001-04:00

Hal Shaw

Perhaps the fact that Ranger Hal had little kids of his own is one reason he related to his young audience so well.

What ever it was, all of us who worked with Hal Shaw miss him greatly. I never heard a negative word spoken about the ranger!

Those of us who remember his kids sitting in the control room from time to time watching their father perform will be surprised to learn, as I was, that Hal's middle son, Mark, is now a grandfather!

Chuck Langdon and I interviewed Mark and his lovely family on a show we do on Fairfax Cable called "Out of the Past" that I know you'll want to watch.

Our editor should have it completed in the next few weeks and I'll post it here on this site.

Meanwhile, here is a blurb I posted on the OUT OF THE PAST website:

-Lee

Ranger Hall was an icon of Washington TV's kid shows in the early days of television. He and Oswald the rabbit and a number of other puppets created by channel 9 performer Hal Shaw.

Anyone growing up from 1957 to 1969 in the Washington area is familiar with the friendly forest ranger and his pals.

But beware. If you were a young viewer back in those days, this show might be a graphic reminder of just how old you are.

Ranger Hal passed away in 1999 but his memory remains vivid in the minds of thousands of today's adults who were kids during that era.Our special guest is Ranger Hal Shaw's son, Mark, who has saved many artifacts and memorability from his father's days as a premiere Washington TV performer.

And joining us is TV historian Tom Buckley of Channel 9, who works with the Library of American Broadcasting in College Park, MD, the Library of Congress Audio Visual Center in Culpepper, VA and was recently appointed Chapter Archivist for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in Washington.

Marie Shaw Katie Shaw and Kelly Dodson with son Dayton

In addition to seeing Oswald and Mr. Beaver again, you'll meet Mark's wife Marie and their two daughters (Ranger Hal's granddaughters) as well as Hal's two month old GREAT GRANDSON, Dayton!

Dayton Andrew Dodson

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

Feeling old yet?

Stay tuned!

Buddy's 90th!

2011-09-02T10:46:00.003-04:00

Buddy Belote and young admirer

He was definitely the informal "leader" of the many engineers and announcers whose careers moved through the halls of Broadcast House....and some even referred to him as the "Mother" of the WTOP staffers, our much loved Buddy Belote celebrated his 90th birthday last Sunday at a party given by his 3 daughters.

Melissa

Barbara and Florence

Jenny (on right)

Melissa, Barbara and Jenny graciously welcomed approximately 50 guests to the event at the Springfield United Methodist Church, who braved dire warnings of Hurricane Irene damage that never materialized.


Alexandria Harmonizers

The Alexandria Harmonizers, a locally famous barbershop quartet honored their former member with tunes of the past and a rousing HAPPY BIRTHDAY rendition,

Buddy joined in for the final chorus!

Gene Beale, Chuck Langdon and yours truly represented the old WTOP gang for the day.

The celebration will continue at this years 25th Thurmont luncheon on October 11th!

Make Plans Now

2011-08-22T10:42:00.001-04:00

...for THURMONT 2011!

It will be held again at the Cozy Inn Restaurant in Thurmont, MD at 12 noon on Tuesday, Oct. 11th, 2011.

Send you check for $15 to:

Doris Fausey
13109 Beaver Terrace
Rockville, MD 20853-3303

This will be our 25th!!

Guess Who Came to Lunch

2011-07-29T08:29:00.002-04:00

Two of WTOP-TV's most successful "graduates get together in New York for lunch

Bill Diehl has that story......

Hi Lee,

After several false starts, I finally managed to hook up with Chet Curtis. Chet and I worked together at WTOP-TV in Washington in the mid 60's. I'm not sure about exact dates but Chet left 'TOP in '66 for WCBS-TV in New York.

I left for WNEW in NY in January of 1967.

Chet Curtis and Bill Diehl

Chet is largely responsible for my leaving WWDC and going to WTOP in 1964.

Chet and I both went to Ithaca College and in Chet's final year at IC, ('61 ir 62) we were roommates, sharing an apartment with another guy. We both were working at a local station, WTKO, an ABC affiliate.

After graduation, Chet got married, wound up in Rochester at WHAM, and then to WTOP.

Chet left WCBS for Channel 5 in Boston where he and soon to be his wife, Natalie Jacobsen, became one of Boston's most popular husband and wife anchor teams. A decade or so ago, their marriage broke up,
Natalie stayed for awhile, but Chet left and wound up at the cable channel NECN, where he is still there anchoring a news show.

So it was great to see Chet again. We reminisced about old times and new times...people we remembered
from the WTOP days, including Warner Wolf and management people, remember Jack Jurey? Sam Donaldson of course too.

Chet recalled his baptism under fire at WTOP. It was a slow day on Nov. 22nd 1963. Chet was
the new guy on the block and Sam told Jurey "why don't I take Chet up to Capitol Hill to give him taste
of the Washington political scene." And so they went, and there Chet found himself with Sam in the Senate
chamber watching the action, as it were.

Suddenly Chet said he remembered a staffer, Ed Rundell (my spelling might be wrong) coming over to Senator Edward Kennedy and Chet said he distinctly overheard Rundell saying "Senator, we've just received word that your brother, the President, has been shot."

Chet said he turned to Sam and said "I think I just heard that 'the president has been shot.') Well the rest is history and Chet's day in Washington as a 'newbie' turned into quite a story. Chet wound up being dispatched
all over the capitol to cover this huge story...including being at Bethesda Naval Hospital when President
Kennedy's body was brought back to Washington. "What a day," Chet said, "I'll never forget it."

Bill

....

A recent article in the Boston Globe tells of the "changing times" and the demise of "celebrity anchors."
I'm reminded of what our own Julian Barber used to say, "I may be a "has been"......but look where I HAS BEEN!" -Lee

THURMONT 2011 !

2011-07-14T08:01:00.000-04:00

Great news!

Doris Fausey has agreed to orchestrate the Thurmont 2011 event again this year...which will be the 25th anniversary of this annual reunion luncheon.

The founder of this traditional get-together, Buddy Belote will be the honored guest.

The date will be Tuesday October 11th. Mark it on your calendar now.

Doris will be sending confirming postcards with all the details soon.

Gene Klavan

2011-06-27T16:13:00.000-04:00

These images are a bit fuzzy, but interesting. They are courtesy of Bill Diehl....who got them from Cory Haber a retired NBC engineer.

After his WTOP-TV days, Klavan went on to become an institution in New York radio.

(Click on Picture to enlarge)

Here is his obituary from the NY TIMES April 10, 2004

Gene Klavan, Radio Show Host, Dies at 79

By DOUGLAS MARTIN

Gene Klavan, who first as half of the radio show "Klavan and Finch" and then as a solo performer, brought slicing wit, a knack for voices and peppery irreverence to New York morning radio audiences for 25 years, died yesterday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. He was 79 and lived in Manhattan. The cause was complications of multiple myeloma, his son Ross said.

From 1952 to 1968, Mr. Klavan was the comic half of Klavan and Finch, heard on WNEW, then one of the leading AM radio stations in New York. With Dee Finch as straight man, Mr. Klavan changed into the voices of wacky characters like Trevor Traffic, Mr. Nat, Sy Kology, Victor Verse and Emilio Percolator. The sound of a slamming door signaled a character's arrival.

Mr. Klavan's shows were an integral part of the personality of a station known for its polish and for standards by America's great songwriters. He, however, became famous for zaniness and a comic irreverence that sometimes extended even to his sponsors.

His success as a pioneer shock jock, tame by today's standards, was suggested by an article in The New York Times in 1971 that reported that a third of that 24-hour station's revenues were generated by his four-hour show. When he threatened to fire the fictional Trevor, the station was deluged with calls. "Music was secondary," he said in an interview with The Times in 1983, referring to his show. "It was all ad lib."
Eugene Kantor Klavan was born in Baltimore on May 4, 1924. He attended Johns Hopkins University, but quit to enlist in the Army. He served in the Pacific during World War II and later was an entertainer for the military.

He began his radio career in Baltimore and Washington, but came to New York on the strength of an offer from Channel 11. A friend intercepted him and told him that WNEW's highly successful radio team of Rayburn and Finch was breaking up after five good years. Gene Rayburn was going to NBC. Mr. Klavan auditioned for the job on the theory, he told The Times in 1971, that "if I died up here on TV, I was really dead; on the other hand, if I died on New York radio, nobody'd be the wiser."

Finch retired in 1968 and Mr. Klavan continued the show alone as "Klavan in the Morning." In 1977 he moved to WOR-AM and left radio in 1980. Mr. Finch died in 1983.
Mr. Klavan later worked as a host for the American Movie Classics cable television channel, as a columnist for Newsday, a comic commentator for WCBS-TV and a semiprofessional photographer. He wrote two books, one on his years with WNEW and one on the news media.

In addition to his son Ross, who lives in Manhattan, Mr. Klavan is survived by his wife of 57 years, Phyllis; his sons Scott and Laurence, of Manhattan, and Andrew of Santa Barbara; his brother, Bennett, of Chicago; and three grandchildren.

Steve King talks about the 60's and 70's at Broadcast House

2011-06-10T08:22:00.000-04:00

Steve King, who founded MOBILE VIDEO PRODUCTIONS OF BETHESDA talks about his days as an Assistant Director at WTOP-TV.

He began his career as an "on the air" radio disc jockey at a small station in Virginia before taking the job at Channel 9, and after seeing his performance on the OUT OF THE PAST show on Fairfax Cable TV, you'll probably think perhaps he should have spent his days in TV in FRONT of the camera, instead of behind it.

He's a great performer, as you will see.

Watch it here!

Steve King - Out of the Past - 2011 from Chuck Langdon on Vimeo.

Another Legend from the 50's

2011-06-06T19:11:00.000-04:00

This bit of history received from our friend the amazing Bob Bell!

Godfrey 1939?

2011-05-10T15:02:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Bob Bell

Another Great Old Time Radio Show

2011-04-20T17:52:00.000-04:00

Again this year, Don Richards and company are producing another very special evening of "Old Radio Drama".....performed just like they did it in the golden age of radio!

Join Don and company for and educational and entertaining evening that you won't soon forget!

You'll have a GREAT time .....while doing GOOD (It's for charity!)

Godfrey 1945

2011-04-02T10:32:00.000-04:00

ABC's (formally WTOP-TV's) Bill Diehl sends this gem along:

We Get Letters

2011-03-17T19:47:00.001-04:00

In case you were wondering...........

Dear all --
If you were listening to the tail-end of "Gunsmoke" on Ed Walker's March 13
show, you might have heard a teaser that would have rung a responsive chord
to people living around DC. Staff announcer Roy Rowan invited listeners to
stay tuned for "Eddie Gallaher and the Main Street Music Hall".
Do any of you know anything about this show/series?

Hank Ickes

Reply from our in house historian and all around good guy,

Bob Bell:

CBS hoped that Eddie Gallaher was another Arthur Godfrey with a nationwide star potential, so they gave him a trial run on the entire network originating from New York during the summer of 1952. "Main Street Music Hall" was just one of the CBS network shows that Eddie hosted during his network shift.

So, I looked-up the radio listings in the Washington Post for July 12th, 1952.

Eddie is shown as the host of his usual Moondial program starting at 11:30pm, but there is no sign of "Main Street Music Hall" in Saturday July 12th's listings.

However, I looked at the following day's listings; Sunday July 13th, 1952 and found Eddie as host of "Main Street Music" on that day.

CBS even tried Eddie as a substitute host for a prime time TV quiz show:

Click on pic to enlarge

Regardless, as we all know, Eddie stayed "local" to DC (and occasionally Baltimore) for his entire career.

Best,
Bob

WJSV

2010-12-31T09:50:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Bob Bell......here are a couple of photos of the WJSV days (BEFORE it became WTOP)

More Jimmy Dean at Broadcast House

2010-12-26T18:58:00.000-05:00

Jamie Bragg's Wife Anne Dies

2010-12-19T18:05:00.000-05:00

This is from the Washington Post

ANNE H. APP (Age 78)

Died in Hickory, NC on December 14, 2010. Originally from Bluefield, WV, she lived in Bethesda, MD for 40 years and was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy App, who was known professionally as Jamie Bragg. A memorial service will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Bethesda, on Tuesday, December 21 at 11 a.m.

Anne graduated from Beaver (Bluefield) High and attended Randolph-Macon College in Lynchburg, VA. She was an active member of St. Luke's for 35 years, serving on the vestry and in adult education. Anne earned a Certificate in Theology from Sewannee College of The South in 1981. She also worked as a consultant/writer for the Federal Department of Education. She retired to Atlantic Beach, FL in 1997.

Anne's extensive literary knowledge inspired many people. She was an amateur musicologist, with an encyclopedic knowledge of American jazz and popular song. She was also an avid gardener, amateur ornithologist and wildflower collector, and devoted cat lover.

Published in The Washington Post on December 18, 2010
Share this obituary via e-mailEmail
Share this obituary on FacebookFacebook
Bookmark this obituaryBookmark
ShareShare
PrintPrint

Jack Waldron Passes

2010-12-15T18:26:00.000-05:00

By Matt Hill-Byrne

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Jack Waldron. I beleive there are still a few members of the 9 news team that may recall his time at the station.

Jack retired as a Channel 9 News Technical Supervisor 20 years ago. He had been an employee of the station for 42 years. Jack started with, then WOIC, in 1949. He interviewed for the position from a phone booth at the construction site of the Channel 9 building. He was one of the original dozen or so employees.

Jack worked in the infancy of television news with the likes of Walter Cronkite. As a camera man, he met and filmed many interesting people, including many pool side events with Aurthur Godfrey. He also used his camera skills on the roof of Griffith Stadium during Redskin games.

Jack was very proud of his work and the people he worked with. It was always a treat to have him invite us down to meet the talent. I remember in particular meeting my favorite sportscaster, Glenn Brenner, in the late 1980's.

Before Jack retired, he was honored with the Silver Circle Award for 40 years in broadcast television. After retirement, he was active with the alumni association. Over the last decade, Jack had lost touch with most alumni due to health concerns. He often mentioned Buddy Belote. Please forward this email to him and anyone else who may be interested.

Jack was born and raised in Washington, DC. He worked at his father's print shop until entering WWII in 1943. Jack was a decorated member of a B17 crew as a radio operator and a gunner. He flew 35 bombing missions aboard "Lucky Penny I, II, and III". He was shot down and MIA in LPI and crash landed in LP2, and yet like most of his generation, he fought until the mission was accomplished.

After the war, Jack worked briefly for RCA before interviewing for his job at Channel 9. He married his wife, Betsy, in 1947 and they raised 2 beautiful daughters, Diana and Pam.

Jack was an avid golfer. He practiced hard and, at a 2 handicap, had a room full of trophies. Among the trophies are ones from the WTOP Golf Classic.

Jack and Betsy moved to Hilton Head, South Carolina in 1991. He lost Betsy, the love of his life, in 2000 after 53 years of marriage.

Jack passed at exactly 11PM On December 8TH. Just in time for the news and with his family by his side.

If anyone from 9 News would like to share any thoughts or stories about Jack. Please contact his daughter, my wife,

Pamela Hill-Byrne

9447 Emory Grove Rd

Gaithersburg, MD 20877

pwstudio1@yahoo.com

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 11:06 AMTo: WUSA, 9news
Subject: Remebering Jack Waldron 1926-2010

Matt Hill-Byrne

Roger Mudd gives 4 Million Dollars to W and L

2010-12-14T18:13:00.000-05:00

(This article is from the Richmond Times Dispatch 12/14/10)

Christmas arrived a few weeks early this year at Washington and Lee University.

Roger Mudd

University alumnus Roger Mudd, an award-winning journalist, has given his alma mater $4 million to establish a center for the study of ethics.

Mudd, who graduated from Washington and Lee in 1950, had a long career in journalism that began at The Richmond News Leader in the mid-1950s.

He later transitioned to television and between 1961 and 1992 served as a Washington correspondent for CBS News, NBC News and the "MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour" on PBS.

"In our society now, there are so many temptations, so many people falling from grace, I thought this would be an attempt to make some small contribution to raise the level of ethical conduct in America," Mudd said Monday by phone.

"My experience at Washington and Lee left a major imprint on my life," he added. "To live as a young man in an honor code culture made all the difference to me. I took that with me and always found that as best you could live an ethical life in this complicated society, it was a much better life to live."

The Roger Mudd Center for the Study of Professional Ethics will enhance existing ethics programs at the university and expand on them, said Washington and Lee President Kenneth P. Ruscio.

The university already offers courses on ethics in journalism, law, business and medicine.

"What we want to do is extend that further, developing different aspects in different fields," said Ruscio. He said additional courses might focus on politics and use literature as a means of understanding ethics.

"Even beyond that, we envision some programs for people in the community well beyond Lexington — political officials, business executives — providing opportunities for them to get a little reflection and thought on ethics in their professions," Ruscio added.

Mudd's donation will be supplemented with funds from the existing Society in the Professions program, which will now fall under the umbrella of the ethics center.

An endowed Roger Mudd professorship in ethics will fund a director for the center. The search for that position will begin in the fall, said Ruscio.

"I've really been waiting for awhile to do something that would be helpful and give back to the school some small measure of what it meant to me," said Mudd. "This is something special for me."

Mudd won the George Foster Peabody award for two CBS programs, "The Selling of the Pentagon" in 1970 and "Teddy," an interview with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, in 1979 ahead of his 1980 presidential campaign. Mudd also won the Joan S. Barone Award for Distinguished Washington Reporting, in 1990, and five Emmy Awards.

His memoir, "The Place to Be: Washington, CBS, and the Glory Days of Television News," was published in 2008.

Watch the interview Chuck Langdon and I did with Roger last year on our OUT OF THE PAST show on Fairfax Cable.

DC TV 1946

2010-12-10T08:35:00.000-05:00

This historical clipping courtesy of the Amazing Bob Bell:

DCRTV Link

2010-12-06T08:02:00.000-05:00

Our old friend Eddie Sacks, who as a child prodigy in the 60's, did a heck of a job as the board engineer for my very forgettable "Swinging Shephard" record shows, alerted me to the fact that the DCRTV.COM link had mysteriously dissappeared!

Sorry about that! I have no idea what happened, but I'm putting it back up.....and while I'm at it, I'll plug an interview Chuck Langdon and I did with the amazing Dave Hughes on Fairfax Cable's OUT OF THE PAST SHOW....a few months ago. (BTW, Tom Buckley will also be featured soon. Watch for it.

PS......I wrote a mildly interesting story on a website I maintain for my old high school...about an interview I did years ago on Cadence...with the man who was the "Mr. Smith"....who "goes to Washington.

Take a look.

Then, if you'd like to read about the event, according to Frank Capra,

Read part TWO

-Lee

WTOP-TV 1955

2010-11-25T17:16:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Bob Bell

Tippy Stringer on WTOP-TV before her WRC gig

2010-10-26T18:23:00.000-04:00

This was unearthed by Bob Bell:

Tippy Stringer Dies

2010-10-24T16:42:00.000-04:00

Tippy Stringer Huntley Conrad, charming D.C. weather beauty, dies at 80

By Emma Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer

Saturday, October 23, 2010; 9:46 PM

Tippy Stringer Huntley Conrad, who became a Washington personality during the 1950s as a comely weather girl issuing forecasts on the local NBC affiliate, and who left the city for New York when she married television newsman Chet Huntley, died Oct. 1 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 80 and had a brain tumor.

Miss Tippy Stringer, as she was known when she took to the airwaves, hosted cooking and homemaking shows on WRC-TV and radio before she landed a permanent role as the station's weather girl in 1953. She was often joined on-air by a cartoon character she created named Senator Fairweather, whose doe-eyed likeness was photographed with Tippy for Life magazine in 1955.

Mrs. Conrad appeared as a weather girl twice each evening, at 6:45 and 11:10, wearing pearls and a perfect coiffure. In between, she raced to the Shoreham Hotel's swanky Blue Room nightclub, where she changed costumes to sing in two nightly floor shows.

Five-foot-five, blond and slender, she was popular among television viewers and critics alike.
She "pitches her patter at women, but Miss Stringer herself is well-worth any male's attention," wrote Washington Post TV reviewer Lawrence Laurent in 1953. "Her long suit is fashion, beauty and the undeniable fact that she's about the cutest thing seen on TV in these parts."

Washington newsman David Brinkley, whom Miss Stringer knew through her television work, introduced her to Chet Huntley, who was known nationally for broadcasting the news with Brinkley on NBC's "The Huntley-Brinkley Report."

"She sat in my lap or something corny like that," Brinkley said in a 1961 interview, "and I told her who Chet was while he looked on [in] the monitor. The next thing I knew he was taking her out."
The couple married in 1959. They lived in New York until retiring in 1970 to Huntley's home state, Montana, where they founded the Big Sky Resort on the Gallatin River outside Bozeman. Chet Huntley died just three days before the 1974 dedication ceremony for the $25 million recreational complex

The resort, which includes a golf course and a tangle of ski runs including one called "Tippy's Tumble," was sold to a Michigan company in 1976. Mrs. Conrad - then Mrs. Huntley - ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1978 as a Republican candidate from Montana.
In 1980, she met and married another nationally known figure: William Conrad, an actor who first rose to prominence as the voice of Marshal Matt Dillon on the radio program "Gunsmoke." He had been widowed in 1977, and he met Tippy during a visit to the Big Sky Resort.
Mrs. Conrad moved to Los Angeles and helped manage Conrad's later career, which included a starring role in the CBS legal drama "Jake and the Fatman." William Conrad died in 1994 after 14 years of marriage.

In 1995, Mrs. Conrad founded the Stringer Foundation to support causes including public broadcasting and reproductive education.

Lewis Tipton Stringer was born July 15, 1930, in Evanston, Ill. Her family moved to the Washington area later that decade, and she graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.
She was admitted to the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg only to discover that the school had assumed, given her name, that she was a young man. With space in women's dorms already allotted to other students, she chose instead to attend the University of Maryland - and she began calling herself Tippy.

Mrs. Conrad was noticed for her looks and magnetism while performing onstage in student plays. She was crowned homecoming queen in 1951, the same year she appeared in a Washington Post article featuring local women and their fashion philosophies.
"I'm very fond of crinolines because they make your waist look so small," she said.
During the height of her local fame, Mrs. Conrad often appeared off-screen at local fairs and holiday celebrations. In the mid-1950s, she cut the ribbon at opening ceremonies for the Seven Corners Shopping Center and the bridge that carries East Capitol Street across the Anacostia River.
An honorary member of the city's royalty, she was crowned Miss Get Out the Vote in 1956, posing at the District Building in a sash, gown and white gloves as part of a campaign to nudge reluctant voters to the polls.

She also was the Washington Convention and Visitors Association's Miss Summer Jubilee; Queen of the Seabees, the Navy's civil engineering corps; and Princess of the Winchester, Va., Apple Blossom Festival.

Survivors include a brother.

THE WTOP-TV CONNECTION

(Our thanks to our friend the amazing Bob Bell for alerting us....and for his impressive research! -Lee)

Terrific!

2010-10-15T09:43:00.000-04:00

Thurmont 2010 was a great success!

Our "gluemaster" (the person who pastes all the little details together) Doris Fausey, would have been carried off on our group's shoulders if this had been a football game.

It wasn't, but the word "touchdown" comes to mind when describing this week's luncheon.

Doris booked the COZY INN last summer and guessed that about 40 people would attend. The final figure was 39!

COZY REUNION- OCTOBER 12, 2010 39 Attendees

Albert Bargamian
Mr. and Mrs.Gene Beall
Buddy and Florence Belote
Ray Bloom
Tom Buckley
Paul Byers
Bill Calder
George Catron
Earl and Donna Dunmeyer
Doris and Bob Fausey
Emil&Hazel&Mike Franks
Dave & Eloise French
Stanley Guttenberg
Mr.and Mrs.Norm Hannen
Jim and Margaret Hargreaves
Mike Henry
Harold Hoiland
Philomena Jurey
Chuck Langdon
Bob Oberlander
James O'Neal
Theda Parrish
Don Richards
Ratso Silman
James Snyder
Ernest Tobin
Carol Woodard
David Zarin and Son
Tony&Betty Zukas

Afterwards, Doris wrote a note to the Cozy Manager thanking Suzy, the reservation planner, and our waitress, Diane, who was the best we have had!

Sometimes everything just goes right. This was one of those times!

Here are some great snapshots of the event compliments of Tom Buckley.

Buddy Belote and Philomena Jurey

Don Richards and Doris Fausey

Chuck Langdon James O'Neal Michael Henry

David French

Dave Zarin

Don Richards

Doris Fausey and "Ratso" Silman

Earl Dunmyer Gene Beall Ray Bloom

Tony Zukas

Gene Beall and Bill Calder

Hal Hoiland and Theda Parrish

James Snyder

Jim Hargraves and Norm Hannen

Michael Henry and James O'Neal

Norm Hannen Ray Bloom Al Bargamian Jim Hargreaves

"Ratso" Silman and Don Richards

Ray Bloom and Al Bargamian

Stan Gutenberg and Buddy Belote

Stan Gutenberg and Emil Franks

Bob Oberlander and Don Richards

Enjoy! -Lee

Thurmont 2010

2010-09-30T17:17:00.000-04:00

It's just a matter of days now, til we all meet in Thurmont. A little less than half of the people we were expecting to attend have sent in their checks.

We're counting on a bunch more of you sending in your checks this week. A lot of us are getting long in tooth, so I don't supposed there will be very many of these great events left so be sure you attend this one.

Here's our list to date:

Al Bargamian
Ernie Baur
Mr.&Mrs. Gene Beall
Tom Buckley
Paul Byers
Earl & Donna Dunmeyer
Bob&Doris Fausey
Dave & Eloise French
Stanley Guttenberg
Jim and Peg Hargreaves
Hal Hoiland
Philomena Jurey
Theda Parrish
Don Richards
Lee Shephard &3 Guests-James O'Neil,Chuck Langdon,
Richard Webb
Carol Woodard

The event is Tuesday October 12 at 12 noon!

Not much time left, so be sure to have your name added to that list soon by sending $15 per person to: (As we used to say it in radio, "Do it TODAY!")

Doris Fausey
13109 Beaver Terrace
Rockville, MD 20853-3303

We plan to meet at the Cozy Restaurant at 12 noon on Tuesday, October 12th.
See you there!

Latest Thurmont list

2010-09-15T10:22:00.000-04:00

Here's the latest list of folks who have sent in their checks for the Thurmont Luncheon, Oct 12th.

Al Bargamian
Mr.and Mrs. Gene Beall
Earl & Donna Dunmeyer
Doris and Bob Fausey
Dave & Eloise French
Stanley Guttenberg
James and Peg Hargreaves
Philomena Jurey
Chuck Langdon
James O'Neil
Theda Parrish
Don Richards
Lee Shephard
Richard Webb
Carol Woodard

Be sure to have your name added to that list soon by sending $15 per person to:

Doris Fausey
13109 Beaver Terrace
Rockville, MD 20853-3303

We plan to meet at the Cozy Restaurant at 12 noon on Tuesday, October 12th.
See you there!

TV Guide May 17, 1966

2010-09-14T06:48:00.000-04:00

Bill Diehl sent in this gem from TV Guide.

Thurmont 2010

2010-09-11T08:34:00.000-04:00

Buddy and Florence Belote

Twenty four years ago, Buddy Belote invited a small bunch of retired WTOP engineers to a social get together lunch at the very popular Cozy Inn in Thurmont Maryland. It was a place full of happy memories of covering Presidents like Ike and JFK etc. at Camp David.

Add to that the beauty of the Fall colors during the month of October and the delicious home-style food of the COZY INN, and the choice of locations was never in doubt.

The checks are starting to arrive for our Thurmont 2010 event!

Doris Fausey reports that she's received checks from the following people:

Mr.and Mrs. Gene Beall
Earl & Donna Dunmeyer
Dave & Eloise French
Stanley Guttenberg
Philomena Jurey
Theda Parrish
Lee Shephard
James O'Neil
Richard Webb
Chuck Langdon
Carol Woodard

Be sure to have your name added to that list soon by sending $15 per person to:

Doris Fausey
13109 Beaver Terrace
Rockville, MD 20853-3303

We plan to meet at the Cozy Restaurant at 12 noon on Tuesday, October 12th.
See you there!

Arthur Godfrey

2010-09-08T09:01:00.000-04:00

It's hard to describe to young people today how enormously popular Arthur Godfrey was in his heyday.

He began his career, of course, at WTOP...(WJSV).back in the Earle Building days.

Our friend Bob Bell sent these pictures from a 1942 LIFE magazine feature.

Reading, Watching and Sleeping Sports

2010-09-06T16:30:00.000-04:00

Bill Diehl sent us this story about Warner Wolf that was in today's New York Times:

By ALEX VADUKUL

The sportscaster Warner Wolf, 72, wakes up most mornings at 4 a.m. to prepare for his air time; Sunday is an exception. He has been in the business for some 50 years, and settled in 2004 at WABC Radio, where he is now the sportscaster for “Imus in the Morning”; he also has his own show on Saturdays on ESPN Radio in New York. During football season, which starts this week, he spends Sundays glued to the television at his home on the Upper West Side. The rest of the year, he might go to a matinee with his wife, Sue.

"SLEEPING IN Sunday is the only day I don’t work, and it’s the only day I get up later than 4 a.m., or 5:30, like I do on Saturday for ESPN. But my mind is locked into those hours, so I wake up at 7:30 or 8. The first thing I have to do is read the paper. My wife will either fix breakfast at home or we’ll go eat around the corner at the diner and I’ll read the papers while I eat.


Warner Wolf and his wife Sue stop for a light snack and drink at Chez Josephine before heading to the theater.

NO COFFEE, EVER Sunday is the only day I eat breakfast. I always have the same thing: two fried eggs sunny side up, crispy bacon, a toasted English muffin (they put the butter on it) and no potatoes. I also take iced tea and then honeydew melon if it’s in season. No coffee. I’ve never had a cup of coffee in my life. Don’t want it. Was never interested in it. I’ve never smoked a cigarette either.

NO GYM Sunday is the only day I don’t go to the gym. During the week, I’m not sleepy, but the gym helps with that. I started noticing that if you get up at 4 a.m., do your work and then finish at 9:30 — if you don’t go to the gym, then the endorphins don’t work in your head and you’re going to fall asleep. The gym is huge for me.

ENTERTAINMENT On Sunday my wife and I will normally either go to a play, an Off Broadway play, a movie, or we’ll go drive to Connecticut and I’ll see my daughter. I love the theater.
PLAY BY PLAY My favorite musical might be “Jersey Boys.” That one’s hard to beat. I like dramatic shows and especially one-man shows where the guy will portray a historical character. I saw Laurence Fishburne do Thurgood Marshall. Another time, Steve Lang, the colonel from “Avatar,” did a one-man show about Army personnel in different wars. I saw someone do Teddy Roosevelt.

EARLY DINNER Sunday matinee is at 3 o’clock, so after that we’ll go to dinner, which may or may not be in the theater district. Dinner will be early because I have to get up at 4 a.m. the next day.
SUNDAY ADVANTAGE The one advantage of Sunday is that most events are played during the day, so I can write down all the results before bed and be prepared for the show Monday morning. During the week, everything is played at night, so what happens is I go to bed, wake up at midnight to check up on the results, and then go back to bed until 4 a.m. I have to do that to be prepared when I get to the studio. But even on Sundays, if it’s Sunday night baseball or football, I’ll wake up to check scores before returning to bed.

FOOTBALL SEASON My Sunday routine changes for five months of the year: football season. September to January I’m locked in, 1 o’clock to 7 o’clock. No shortcuts. I have to be able to talk about the game. There are so many intricacies and strategy points that if I didn’t watch the whole game I might miss them. I can’t picture going on the radio and someone says, “What about that play in the third quarter?” and then responding, “I missed it.”

Ernie Baur Retires

2010-09-06T10:05:00.000-04:00

DCRTV, Dave Hughes's up to the minute broadcast news site reports that:

Ernie Baur Retires - 9/3 - Ernie Baur, a veteran sports producer and director at WJLA, WUSA, WTTG, Home Team Sports, and now executive producer at Comcast SportsNet, is retiring this week. He was a copy boy for Sam Donaldson, directed Channel 7's "AM Washington" with Ed Walker, covered breaking news with Gordon Peterson, directed Glenn Brenner, Sonny Jurgensen, and Sam Huff, worked on the field for six national Super Bowl broadcasts, co-produced the "Warner Wolf Show," and gave birth to Wolf's signature "Let's go to the videotape" call.

Chuck Langdon and I interviewed Ernie on a show we do on Fairfax Cable called Out of the Past.

Ernie was the man Warner Wolf was speaking to when he first uttered his now famous signature trademark, "Let's go to the videotape!" The 14 local Emmy award winner discusses his long career, which began as a "copy boy" at WTOP-TV. Ernie is now the Executive Producer for Comcast Sports Net.

See the show HERE

Time Machine

2010-08-22T18:05:00.000-04:00

One of the biggest fans of our old WTOP radio staton was a very talented fellow named Joe Manning. I met him through this website.
He lives in Florence, Mass., and writes a very popular website, and from time to time mentions WTOP. His website address is: www.morningsonmaplestreet.com
He has given me permission to re-print this story:

By Joe Manning

As I have noted in several articles on this site, I grew up in the Washington, DC area. I was born in 1941, just several weeks before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. My father was in the US Army, and in 1944, he was sent to the Pacific Islands. My mother and I moved in with my paternal grandparents, who lived in Beltsville, Maryland, only seven miles from Washington. As far back as I can remember, the radio was always on, and for obvious reasons, I was always told to be quiet when the news came on. My grandparents were professional musicians, and my mother loved to sing, two more reasons that the radio was always on.

The CBS affiliate in Washington, WTOP, was the most popular radio station in my home, both during the war, and after my father came home. One of my fondest memories was listening to my mother sing along with Doris Day, Bing Crosby and Jo Stafford, as she went about doing her household chores. Back then, the disk jockeys talked slowly, sometimes rambling on about nothing in particular between songs, as if carrying on a conversation with their listeners. They often did their own commercials, simply by reading the copy placed on their desk. And when the station switched to national programming, the drone of voices in the daily soap operas and news shows was comforting, even though I usually paid no attention to what they were saying. It was a different time then.

Several weeks ago, I discovered a Web site called The Internet Archive. It is essentially a collection of thousands of links to audio and video files of old radio shows, live musical performances, news programs, and other media. I put WTOP into the search box, and found Complete Broadcast Day, WJSV, September 21, 1939. WJSV's call letters were changed to WTOP very soon after. A review on the site said:

Listening to this recorded broadcast gives us a sense of what it was like to live in Washington, D.C. on a fall day in 1939. Much of the news provided throughout the hours is local (commissioners meeting today on the budget; a petition to improve Leesburg Pike) as are the announcements (a regatta on the Potomac; the jitterbug semifinals of the Harvest Moon Ball; an ice cream social hosted by the Grainsville Methodist Church). Area businesses sponsor many of the programs (Zlotnik the Furrier, "at the sign of the big white bear," 12th and G Northwest; Coast-In Pontiac, "in the 400 block of Florida Avenue Northeast"; Kinsman Optical Company, "since 1900"). Also, a number of the shows are locally originated, such as Sundial with Arthur Godfrey, Certified Magic Carpet (a quiz show aired from the Cabinet Room of the Willard Hotel), and a Washington Senators baseball game from Griffith Stadium.

Nor is the larger world neglected. We hear news throughout the day of the war that broke out in Europe earlier in the month, and there are reports on such topics as the stock market and the cost of foodstuffs nationally. We hear music from artists who are popular throughout the country such as Horace Heidt, Bing Crosby and Artie Shaw. And there are plenty of network shows, including almost twenty soap operas, Amos 'n' Andy, and Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour.

I downloaded (free) all 19 MP3 files (20 hours), which took only an hour or so (I have high-speed DSL). Every morning for the last week, I have played one of the files while working on my computer. It is like traveling in a time machine. And there is one fact that makes this experience even more rewarding. The broadcast day represented was 23 days before my mother and father married in Washington. I can’t help but wonder if Mom might have listened to some of these broadcasts as she sat at home and worked on preparations for her wedding.

Here is the link to the show:

http://www.archive.org/details/CompleteBroadcastDay

Joe Manning is a freelance journalist, historian and genealogist, poet, photographer and songwriter. His book, Steeples: Sketches of North Adams (Flatiron Press 1997), is in its third printing. It has been required reading for several courses at Williams College and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He followed that with Disappearing Into North Adams (Flatiron Press 2001). His most recent book is Gig At The Amtrak (Flatiron Press 2005), a collection of his poetry.

Another story with a WTOP connection is this one he wrote about an old baseball hero of his, Herb Plews.

Cleatus Barnett Dies

2010-08-14T14:39:00.000-04:00

Cleatus Barnett, a long-time director of WMATA, died on August 11, 2010, in Pensacola, Florida.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 33 East Gregory St., Pensacola, at 4 p.m., on August 15, 2010.
The family will receive friends at 2 p.m. at Waters & Hibbert, 124 West Gregory St., Pensacola, FL. Donations in Mr. Barnett''s
memory may be made to the library fund of First Presbyterian Church, 33 E. Gregory St., Pensacola, FL 32502; the Salvation Army,
P.O. Box 18569, Pensacola, FL 32523; or The Waterfront Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 870, Pensacola, FL 32591. Mr. Barnett will be
buried at Barrancas National Cemetery in a private ceremony.
Published in The Washington Post on August 14, 2010

Thanks to Eddie Sacks for bringing this to my attention. -Lee

THURMONT 2010!

2010-08-03T17:21:00.000-04:00

Let's give a big toot on our vuvuzuela horns to Doris Fausey!

Once again, she has picked up the tedious organization and detail work to arrange for all us old WTOPers, CBSers, friends, fans, inlaws, outlaws and guests to meet and greet at the COZY INN in Thurmont, Md for the 23rd (or is it the 24th?) year.

Yes, thanks to the amazing Doris Fausey, whose legendary organizational skills are unequalled, has agreed to keep Buddy Belote's "Luncheon in Thurmont" alive for yet another year!

She's arranged for our usual room (near the food) on Tuesday October 12th (2010).

Same time, same station....as we used to say in radio. 12 noon til about 2.

$15 per person.

Make out your check to Doris Fausey and send it to her at:

Doris Fausey
13109 Beaver Terrace
Rockville, MD 20853

Stay tuned for more details!!

Mailbag

2010-07-30T15:15:00.000-04:00

It's nice to hear from some of our old friends who went on to the "Big Time."

Bill Diehl is still doing Show Business features for ABC, and Sam Donaldson pops up on ABC news specials from time to time. Gary Nunn, Bill Zimmerman and Hal Walker, all went to ABC, and of course, Warner Wolf owned NY TV for years.

Bill shared a short note he received from Warner during the early 70's when he was still with channel 9 here in Washington:

"...I had only been at ABC for a short time...Letter was dated March 2, 1972...I came to ABC in the summer of '71.

I edited out a few lines that I didn't think would be of interest to you...guess you could post it on your WTOP website...He also congratulated me on the upcoming birth of our child (turned out it was a girl, Suzanne) who was born June 20th of that year...she's now 38!

He also said to "say hello to Charles McCord and Bob Windsor. McCord as you probably know is still doing fine, as Imus's side-kick...and Bob Windsor passed away earlier this year...I went to a memorial service for him on Martha's Vineyard back in May. It was on the Vineyard that Bob built the island's first radio station, an FM station, WVOI (Voice of the Islands) Station went belly up in a couple of years and Bob returned to ABC as a correspondent on the radio network."

Another Jimmy Dean Photo

2010-07-28T07:48:00.000-04:00

Here's a behind the scenes photo of Jimmy Dean that Bob Bell discovered. Notice the WTOP radio poster in the background.

1964

2010-07-18T14:32:00.000-04:00

End of the Announcer Era

2010-07-18T07:21:00.000-04:00

1951 Picnic

2010-07-14T20:39:00.000-04:00

Our friend Bob Bell sent us this picture from a Pick Temple scrapbook. It is of a picnic held at the Transmitter site in Wheaton in 1951. (CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE)

Jimmy Dean Ad 1958

2010-05-26T07:14:00.000-04:00

The Amazing Bob Bell uncovered this gem:

This 1958 ad appears to have announced the switch of Jimmy's show from mornings at Broadcast House to afternoons at CBS Studios in NYC.

QSL Cards

2010-05-06T20:12:00.000-04:00

Our friend Bob Bell found this.

WTOP Radio Ad

2010-04-24T16:47:00.000-04:00

I'll bet Dave's wife Barbara loved this ad!

Not.

Support the Senators

2010-04-23T07:09:00.000-04:00

Our friend Bob Bell got this off eBay. It's from 1966.

Return With Us Now.........

2010-03-12T10:27:00.000-05:00

...to those exciting days of yesteryear....

Ah yes, the Golden Age of radio RETURNS!

Thanks to our own DON RICHARDS......on Friday night, April 23 at the Holiday Inn in Front Royal, there will be another evening of great live re-creations of two of old time radio's most "spine tingling" dramas from the great "Suspense" series. Dead Ernest and Three O'clock. It promises to be a memorable evening of entertainment for both those who remember what radio used to be like....as well as those too young to have experienced the thrill of the theatre of the mind.

AND......there's MORE:

A full dinner will be served by the adjoining Houlihan's Restauant. There will be an open bar. And Oh yes, there will also be a "Bickersons" skit, using an original script.

Tickets are fairly priced at $50. with all proceeds going to the Humane Society of Warren County
in Front Royal, Virginia. Where else can you get a complete dinner and an evening's entertainment for $50.

Don and his crew are donating their talents to the cause for free!

For reservations call 540-635-3571.

Melissa Belote's Olympic Medals Stolen

2010-02-26T20:07:00.000-05:00

Tom Buckley alerted us to this story from the Los Angeles Times

Channel 9's coverage; including a clip of "Mellisa Belote Day"....1972

Hurray for ....... Detroit?

2010-02-04T15:25:00.000-05:00

The latest word from long time WTOP-TV director Woody Robertson is that Detroit (his homebase now for over 20 years) is "jumping" with film production these days. The state is actively luring Hollywood to the Motor City by offering tax and other incentives. Apparently it's paying off.

Woody writes,

"...I am starting the first of "three" films which will carry us thru the summer. On this first one, I am the Executive Production Manager for the entire production.

The lead actor is Michael Manasseri, former star of the TV series "Weird Science" and also the movie "License to Drive"....
The remake of "Red Dawn" ( 80's film) finished shooting at the end of the year...they filmed all over and were here for 7 months.
The film will be in theaters by the end of this year.

This film I am starting is a comedies if combination,about a guy that works in Nuclear plant, gets contaminated and turns into a Giant Mosquito and begins stinging his enemies with his poison and sucking every once of blood from them.

We will start around the 12th of this month and finish shooting about the 10th of April."

To learn more about what's happening in the "flim industry" in Michigan CLICK HERE and to learn more about what Woody has been doing go HERE

Bob Windsor Dies

2010-01-24T07:46:00.000-05:00

Here is Bob's Obituary:

J. Robert Windsor
Broadcast Journalist

One of the early faces of ABC News and a broadcasting pioneer on Martha's Vineyard has died. J. Robert Windsor died January 25th at his home in Washington, D.C. He was 73 years old. Windsor died after a long battle with lung cancer.

He was born in New York City on November 5th, 1936. He was the son of John Dryden Windsor, an attorney, and Helen Johnson Windsor, a gifted pianist and an instructor at The Juilliard School. Bob attended The Collegiate School in New York City, Johns Hopkins University and the International Language Program at Yale University, where he became fluent in Mandarin. He married Marianne Evkovich on April 4, 1964 in Ashtabula, Ohio at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Bob, also known as J.R., began his distinguished broadcasting career in the military when he served as a radio man and Chinese linguist in the United States Air Force. He was based in Taiwan from 1957 to 1960 where his assignment was to eaves drop on Chinese communications during the Cold War. On return, he was stationed in Selma, Alabama where he first covered the Civil Rights Movement. Bob ended his tour of duty in Washington, D.C. in 1963 and got a job with a small local FM station - WASH, in Wheaton, MD that played mostly country music.

In the 1960's he worked as a radio and television news correspondent for WTOP in Washington D.C. He then joined ABC Television Network News and later became one of the voices of ABC Radio Network Information News, a division that covered national and international stories. From Washington, Windsor extensively covered the social movements and the unrest of that decade reporting on the Vietnam protests and the marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King. His interviews at the time included pivotal political figures including Congressman Adam Clayton Powell (NY), Senator Everett Dirksen (IL) , and Senator Robert Byrd (WV).

In 1970, Bob moved to Edgartown, Massachusetts where he built and licensed the first FM radio station on Martha's Vineyard, WVOI. The call letters stood for the Voice of the Islands. Not everyone was in favor of a radio station on the island but Bob convinced them otherwise. He got friends to record station breaks, his wife read commercials, and his children gave the nightly sign-off before the bagpipes played. Windsor became a big supporter of the local high school sports teams. He followed them on the road and broadcast the games live. Bob was a one man team. He was the station's programmer, manager, marketing and sales director, and on air personality when needed. He interviewed local celebrities like James Taylor and Carly Simons. Today the station is called WMVY.

On Martha's Vineyard Bob pursued his life-long love of sailing. He performed with local drama groups in a variety of productions and he served on the vestry of St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

Mr. Windsor moved to Madison, New Jersey and returned to work at the Manhattan studios of ABC Radio in the late 1970s. He later became an award-winning producer of documentaries focusing on medicine and disease. Bob was recognized many times by the American College of Medicine for his work on topics including brachytherapy, prostate cancer, diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease.

In the 1990s, Mr. Windsor returned to Washington DC. in his retirement he enjoyed partnering with his wife, Marianne, in residential real estate sales. He joined the Capital Hill Chorale and performed with the group for more than 10 years along with serving on its board of directors. Throughout his life Bob continued supporting his alma mater serving as the head of fund raising for The Collegiate School Class of 1954.. Bob spent much of his time travelling with his wife, visiting with his grandchildren , and recording the memories all along as the official family videographer.

J.R. Windsor is survived by his wife of 46 yrs, Marianne Windsor of Washington DC; his son and daughter in-law Mark and Katy Windsor, of Pasadena CA; his daughter and son in-law, Robin and Tony Petrossian, of Bellevue WA; and four grandchildren. A service will be held in his memory this spring on Martha's Vineyard.

Eat Your Heart Out TODAY SHOW!

2010-01-22T16:56:00.000-05:00

From Bob Bell's stack of old time stuff:

Maryland Politics and Julian Barber 1968

2010-01-10T16:23:00.000-05:00

Another one ....from the archives....

Julian Barber and the 1968 DC Primary Election Returns

2009-12-31T10:57:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Robert Barber (Julian's son) and our website historian, Bob Bell, you can take a trip into the past as Julian and the WTOP-TV news team report on the DC Primary Elections of 1968.

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

Remember?

2009-12-30T15:11:00.000-05:00

Our friend, the Amazing Bob Bell.....found these jewels:

The Jimmy Dean Show

2009-12-24T14:59:00.000-05:00

Roger Mudd talks about his days at Broadcast House

2009-12-06T18:59:00.000-05:00

You won't want to miss the interview that Chuck Langdon and I did with Roger Mudd not long ago. He talks about those days at CBS and WTOP in the 60's and 70's.

Take a look HERE

1955 Ad

2009-12-04T14:06:00.000-05:00

Good Idea

2009-12-02T19:34:00.000-05:00

Our friend Bob Bell dug up this very historical document from the July 10th, 1927 Washington Post.

(Click on article to enlarge!)

ROYCE

2009-11-20T20:31:00.000-05:00

UPDATE from Al Levin:

Royce's funeral service will be held this coming Monday morning November 23rd at the Wildwood Baptist Church, 10200 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 530-4444. This is near the intersection of Democracy Blvd. and Old Georgetown Road. Viewing will be at 10:00 AM and the service will start at 11:00. Royce will be buried next to the church.

In the days to come, I know Doris would like to hear from you.

Thanks Al,
If there are any of you who don't have her phone number, feel free to contact me
Lee Shephard

-Lee

Royce Fish Passes

2009-11-19T19:00:00.000-05:00

I just received word that our friend and co-worker Royce Fish passed away last night. (11/18/09)

Details to follow soon.

-Lee

America's First TV station

2009-11-10T19:29:00.000-05:00

Channel 9's own historian, Tom Buckley, has a column in the DC EXAMINER.COM about America's first TV station.

And it was right here in Washington. It's a fascinating story and Tom is just full of stories and facts about broadcasting's history that makes his column a must read. Sign up to be notified whenever Tom writes a new story.

Take a look;

America's First TV station

2009-11-09T20:48:00.001-05:00

Take a look;

Let's Have Lunch

2009-11-09T20:47:00.001-05:00

That's something everybody says, but almost nobody means it. It's kinda like southerners saying, "...well bless his heart"......just before they're about to trash someone big time.

One day in 1986 Buddy Belote didn't say "bless their hearts," but he did say "...let's have lunch sometime; and 23 years later....we're still having lunch.

THURMONT 09 was another big success! 51 old WTOP and CBS seasoned broadcasters gathered at the Cozy Inn in Thurmont, MD for
almost 2 hours of great food and outstanding comaraderie.

Doris Fausey did another splended job of handling
the details and grunt work prior to our reunion and received the admiration and thanks from our entire group. The "thumbs up" salute given at the close of the party was a unanamous tribute to Doris and Buddy...and signaled the "go ahead" sign for a repeat performance next year!

Tom Buckley captured some snapshots of our yearly extravaganza!

PS....Let us know if you sent Doris your check for the luncheon...but were unable to make it for some reason. You can email me if you like and I will bounce it over to Doris....and she will return your money. How's THAT for money back guarantee!

My email is shephard@gmail.com

Oh, one thing I forgot to mention at the lunch was that Woody Robertson sends his regards to everyone. As you know, Woody is based in Detroit, Michigan and is a major fixture of that city's TV and Movie industry. Woody writes:

"Please give all (that remember me) my best and wish I could have been there. Please pass along my website.....www.woodypro.org; my email...hummer3700@gmail.com..... and..... www.bigscreenmichigan.com....... I would love to hear from them."

-Woody

Enjoy......

Lets Have Lunch

2009-11-09T20:43:00.000-05:00

-Woody

Enjoy......

Nadine Silman Dies

2009-10-10T18:12:00.000-04:00

Nadine Silman, the wife of Jim Silman (who for many years was Program Director of WTOP-TV and long time CBS Sports Producer and Director) died on October 8th.

According to the October 10th obituary in the Washington Post, the Silman family will receive friends at Gawler's Funeral Home 5130 Wisconsin Ave, NW Washington, DC on Monday October 12th from 2 til 4pm and from 6 til 8pm.

Memorial services will be held at Concord St. Andrews United Methodist Church 5910 Goldsboro Rd. Bethesda, MD on Tuesday Oct 13th at 4pm.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Our deepest sympathy to Jim Silman and family in their time of grief.

-Lee

Here's the obituary from the Washington Post

SILMAN NADINE SILMAN On October 8, 2009, NADINE SILMAN of Bethesda, MD. Wife of Jimmie Silman, Jr.; mother of Jimmie "Ratso" Silman, III, Janeen Silman Miller, Diana Samia Pagnotta (Jeffrey); grandmother of Alyssa Silman Miller, Christina Gower Miller, Michael Vittorio Pagnotta and Samia Francesca Pagnotta; sister of Alva Salem. Family will receive friends at JOSEPH GAWLER''S SONS, 5130 Wisconsin Ave. at Harrison St., NW on Monday, October 12, 2009 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial services will be held at Concord St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 5910 Goldsboro Rd., Bethesda, MD on Tuesday, October 13 at 4 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children''s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.

From 1964

2009-10-07T08:26:00.000-04:00

Our good friend Bob Bell found this.Click on picture to enlarge

Thurmont 09 Almost Here!

2009-10-02T07:25:00.000-04:00

Doris Fausey the esteemed mover and shaker in charge of social events, since our founder Buddy Belote was elevated to the cushy position of CEO of our little group, reports that
with 11 days to go, the following is a list of attendees.

Albert Bargamian
Jeffrey Barron
Ernie&Lucille Baur
Mr. and Mrs. Gene Beall
Buddy and Florence Belote
Tom Buckley
Bill Calder
Mr.&Mrs.James Conner
Earl and Donna Dunmeyer
Doris and Bob Fausey
Royce and Doris Fish
Dave & Eloise French
Stanley Guttenberg
Mr.and Mrs.Norm Hannen
Jim and Margaret Hargreaves
Philomena Jurey
Chuck Langdon
Al Levin
Allan & JoAnn Mc Connell
Frank McDermott
James O'Neal
Theda Parrish
Kevin Rafferty
Don Richards
Lee Shephard
James Snyder
Carol Woodard
Richard Webb
David Zarin and Son

It's still not too late to sign up. But those of you whose motto is "Procrastinate Now" need to send your check for $13 per person in ASAP.

Doris Fausey

13109 Beaver Terrace

Rockville, MD 20853

See you there!

-Lee
The Date is Tuesday October 13th at 12 noon at the Cozy Inn Restaurant in Thurmont, MD.

Congradulate Ed Walker

2009-10-01T18:48:00.000-04:00

Be our guest:

Congratulate one of the most outstanding talents in the history of Washington radio, Ed Walker.

Click on his name below for details.

Ed Walker

Thurmont

2009-09-22T09:32:00.000-04:00

Doris Fausey reports that the checks are starting to trickle in for reservations for our Thurmont annual reunion luncheon. This is a wake up call for members of the PROCRASTINATE NOW club members.

I believe that the luncheon is a bit earlier than usual, so don't get caught off guard. Not a whole lot of time left. The event is:

Tuesday October 13th at 12 noon at the Cozy Inn Restaurant in Thurmont, MD. The price is only $13 per person.

Make your check out and send it to:

Doris Fausey
13109 Beaver Terrace
Rockville, MD 20853

Mr.&Mrs. Gene Beall

William Calder

Mr.&Mrs. Jim Conner

Doris & Bob Fausey

Stanley Guttenberg

Mr.&Mrs.Norm Hannen

Jim & Peg Hargreaves

Phil.Jurey

Chuck Langdon

Frank Mc Dermott

Don Richards

Lee Shephard and Guests; Richard Webb and James O'Neal

Dave Zarin and son

Reservations Are Rolling In

2009-08-29T14:53:00.000-04:00

Well, not exactly...but two have already been received!

One is from Jim Conner and the other from Chuck Langdon. The rest of us should start planning for this year's "Thiriller in Thurmont" on Tuesday October 13th at 12 noon at the Cozy Inn Restaurant in Thurmont, MD. The price is only $13 per person.

Even if you're not positive that you can make it, there's no need to delay making your reservation, since Doris returns your check if you're not able to attend!

Make your check out and send it to:

Doris Fausey
13109 Beaver Terrace
Rockville, MD 20853

As we used to say in radio, DO IT TODAY!

See you there!

Tom Buckley begins column for Washington Examiner

2009-08-11T15:46:00.000-04:00

Tom Buckley, whose great love for broadcasting history (and particularly Channel 9's history) has started a new venture for the Washington Examiner, writing about broadcasting as the DC Broadcasting Examiner. Tom says its mostly going to be historical stuff, with some big picture articles from time to time, and three or four short articles a week.

His first offering is a look at Channel 9's FIRST anchorman, Walter Cronkite.

take a look

Ed Walker in Hall of Fame

2009-08-07T08:34:00.000-04:00

The votes are in, and Ed Walker is now in the Radio Hall of Fame!

Read the story HERE

Royce FIsh Update

2009-07-29T18:49:00.000-04:00

Doris Fausey reports that Royce Fish is coming along OK now. He's had lymphoma non Hodgkin's for the past 4 years....and he thinks that's what caused the trouble.

Royce says they took out about 15 inches of his small bowel that left him with a 6 or 7 inch scar.

With all of that Royce remains in good spirits.

Sam Donaldson Video

2009-07-28T13:06:00.000-04:00

We now have the Out of the Past show that Chuck Langdon and I did with Sam Donaldson. You won't want to miss it!

Watch it HERE

Word From Detroit

2009-07-25T19:37:00.000-04:00

Detroit has long been known as Motor City. It appears that it soon will be called Movie City. The state of Michigan is going all out to entice Hollywood to make their films in Michigan, and their tax cuts and incentives to movie makers seem to be working.

Woody Robertson, who is one of Detroit's leading producers, tells me that the Movie Script that he has been working on for three years has now been Funded and will be distributed (and in the theaters in March 2010) by LIONSGATE Studios, Hollywood.

Woody says that this will be the FIRST ALL MICHIGAN FILM CREW TO EVER BE FUNDED AND DISTRIBUTED BY A MAJOR HOLLYWOOD STUDIO----LIONSGATE, STUDIOS.

And, It will also be the FIRST MAJOR HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION "WITHOUT" ANY CGI (computer generated effects, as well as NO green-screen filming..... FILM IS NAMED "Shadows in Eden" a HORROR Genre'....

Work on the film has already begun and the first phase will continue
at least thru November. As a direct result of his work on this film, Woody has been offered two-more-films !!

Woody doesn't seem to be familiar with the word, retirement.

Thurmont 09!

2009-07-21T18:08:00.001-04:00

Doris Fausey reports that the Thurmont traditional reunion luncheon will be held on Tuesday October 13th 2009.

Doris took over the details (and legwork) from the founder of popular event, Buddy Belote. Buddy and Florence are busy living "happily ever after"and are pleased to have handed off the organizing and planning of our traditional Fall Festival to Doris Fausey. Doris, as we all know, has always been the person you ask....if you want something done. Right.

She has secured a firm reservation for Tuesday October 13th at 12 noon at the Cozy Inn Restaurant in Thurmont, MD.

Doris negotiated a price of $13 per person, and reserved space for 45 people in our usual "window room."

With room to expand in case of overflow.

Let's have a big round of applause for Doris....and of course for Buddy and Florence for founding this event 23 or 24 years ago. Maybe....25?

But, who's counting.

Thurmont 09!

2009-07-21T18:08:00.000-04:00

Doris Fausey reports that the Thurmont traditional reunion luncheon will be held on Tuesday 10/13/09!

Doris took over the details (and legwork) from the founder of popular event, Buddy Belote. Buddy and Florence are busy living "happily ever after"and are pleased to have handed off the organizing and planning of our traditional Fall Festival to Doris Fausey. Doris, as we all know, has always been the person you ask....if you want something done. Right.

She has secured a firm reservation for Tuesday 10/13 at 12 noon at the Cozy Inn Restaurant in Thurmont, MD.

Doris negotiated a price of $13 per person, and rewerved space for 45 people in our usual "window room."

With room to expand in case of overflow.

Let's have a big round of applause for Doris....and of course for Buddy and Florence for founding this event 23 or 24 years ago. Maybe....25?

But, who's counting.

Bill Diehl Visits

2009-07-20T05:58:00.001-04:00

Another one of WTOP's famous graduates was in town recently and Chuck Langdon and I were fortunate enough to grab him long enough to tape one of our Out of the Past shows that we do out of Fairfax, VA.

Bill Diehl left our newsroom in the late 60's for WNEW in the big apple. In 1971 he went network...with ABC news. In the early 80's he began covering the Academy Awards for ABC and morphed into their Celebrity News Reporter.

Diehl recently retired from the network, but like another retiree, Sam Donaldson, is still seen on special occasions.

Chuck and I are a little backed up as far as post production is concerned, so it might be a couple of months before I can post the video here on the website.

But, it will be worth the wait.

Bill Diehl Visits

2009-07-20T05:58:00.000-04:00

Back on line

2009-07-15T18:03:00.001-04:00

Bravo! The domain name, www.wtoptv.com is working again!!

For over a month, our domain name, wtoptv.com has not worked. What a bummer. This site is actually hosted by "blogspot" and the address is www.wtoptv.blogspot.com, but to make it easier for people to log on....I bought the domain wtoptv.com....and had it to point to the blogspot address. Well, it stopped pointing; for over a month!

But it's now back up and running.......so hopefully we'll get those people who thought we had dissappeared completely...back.

Tell all your friends that wtoptv.com is working again!

Back on line

2009-07-15T18:03:00.000-04:00

Problem with WTOPTV.COM

2009-07-14T07:23:00.000-04:00

Until it's fixed....Please log on to WTOPTV.BLOGSPOT.COM to access the site.
-Lee Shephard

Royce Fish in hospital

2009-07-06T10:56:00.001-04:00

I got this note from Al Levin:

I just got a call from Dorris Fish, she told me that Royce is Suburban
Hospital, room 4346.
Royce was operated on Tuesday for a leak in his small intestines; it was
touch and go for a while however he is now well enough to have visitors.
Please pass this on to all of Royce's friends that you can.

Al Levin

Royce Fish in hospital

2009-07-06T10:56:00.000-04:00

Ernie Baur on Out of the Past TV show

2009-07-03T19:02:00.001-04:00

WTOP-TV's own Ernie Baur is one of the top innovators in the nation when it comes to Television Sports. The Warner Wolf Show, Redskin's Sidelines, Redskin's Playbook...are just a few examples of shows he's produced and directed over the years.

Ernie was the man Warner Wolf was speaking to when he first uttered his now famous signature trademark, "Let's go to the videotape!" The 14 local Emmy award winner discusses his long career, which began as a "copyboy" at WTOP-TV. Ernie is now the Executive Producer for Comcast Sports Net.

Watch the show HERE

Ernie Baur on Out of the Past TV show

2009-07-03T19:02:00.000-04:00

Tony Sylvester

2009-06-22T07:37:00.001-04:00

Our friend, the "Amazing Bob Bell" discovered this short clip of Tony Sylvester.

Tony Sylvester

2009-06-22T07:37:00.000-04:00

Our friend, the "Amazing Bob Bell" discovered this short clip of Tony Sylvester.

Bill Diehl's first newscast at WTOP-TV

2009-06-21T09:51:00.001-04:00

Bill Diehl, one of our illustrious performers whose reports on Hollywood for ABC news are considered tops in the industry honed his skills at WTOP-TV.

We came across a tape of his very first newscast at 'TOP which was recorded in July of 1966.
Enjoy!

Watch HERE

...and speaking of NEWSCASTS:

Bill Diehl's first newscast at WTOP-TV

2009-06-21T09:51:00.000-04:00