For our first post in seven months I want to promote someone I consider a good friend. A kindred spirit really, as far as saving vintage television is concerned.
Stu Shostak has been mentioned before here but he is doing something now that I think deserves all our support if we love vintage broadcasting and being able to see it regularly at a reasonable cost..
First, some background:
Stu Shostak grew up in in the Los Angeles area, very much a "TV Kid" just as I was growing up in the Canton area. Being in LA, he was close to many of the TV broadcast stations, and as he became a teen ager, he became fascinated with TV films, and doing internship at one of the stations he noticed how many shows on film were simply being discarded in the trash..Stu took to "rescuing" as many of these films as possible. Many of them kinescopes and one time only broadcasts could have disappeared forever if not for Stu's foresight.
Fast forward to 1979..Stu and a partner started Shokus Video, probably the first company to sell old TV Shows directly to the home market..By this time Stu had amassed hundreds if not a few thousand different titles, many which are very rare and one of a kind..
Shokus Video Website
In the meantime, Stu began a career as warmup comedian for 1970's and 80's sitcoms and became Lucille Ball's official film and video archivist.
In 2006 Stu began an Internet Radio Show, Stu's Show which airs Wednesdays 4-6PM Pacific Time (7-9 ET). Here he, and wife Jeannine Kasun host many TV and animation greats, such as Ed Asner, Dick Van Dyke, Linda Kaye Henning, Jerry Beck, Mark Evanier, William Schallert and many others. Also producers and directors of classic TV that otherwise would be forgotten are also featured..The conversation is lively and sometimes will go overtime..
Stu's Show
Forward to The present..Stu has begun a "Shokus Video" presence on YouTube, with an eye toward starting a Roku (Internet Streaming TV Box) Channel in the future if there is enough support. I would love to see a lot of our friends join Stu's YouTube Channel. For all he's done to preserve Classic TV over the last 35 years or more. He deserves as much support as we can give him..Here is a link to the channel, just started a few days ago..There will be some content never released on VHS or DVD..Check it out and more importantly, subscribe to it as I have..
Shokus Video YouTube Channel
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Cleveland TV Tales
Today I want to review the latest book from Gray and Co, Cleveland TV Tales, by Mike and Janice Olszewski. Mike has been a well known Cleveland radio DJ and has had a long interest in Cleveland TV history. Wife Janice is a Photographer and Travel Expert.
The book itself is quite an enjoyable read, first Mike delves into the circumstances behind the birth of WEWS, "First In Cleveland" in December 1947, and goes into some detail about Paul Hodges, the first "Personality" on Channel 5..With the station only a short time in 1948-49..
The first chapter also talks of early WNBK and WXEL days..
Even early on, big stars would frequent Local Cleveland shows to plug their projects, etc..Jimmy Stewart visited WEWS to emcee the Cleveland Press Christmas Party..James Cagney is pictured with Tom Haley in an early WNBK segment..In 1961 Chuck Connors visited WEWS and invited Captain Penny (Ron Penfound) to appear in a January 1962 "Rifleman" episode.
The next chapter talks of TV News and how it changed over the years, from the "rip and read" headline service in the late 40's, early 50's to the Multiple anchor setups of the 60's and 70's..With several great stories of TV News in Cleveland..
WXEL News Slide (Early 1950's?) Courtesy Neil Zurcher's NEO TV Memories..
Next, Mike writes about personalities..A great chapter on Linn Sheldon/Barnaby opens things up. Sheldon was one of the first popular performers in Cleveland. He could do anything.. then Miss Dorothy Fuldheim The pioneering newscaster that opened the door for women nationally in the news business..Lots of good stories about people who made TV and TV history in the Cleveland area..
The stories Mike writes here are more than dry bio's..Great stories, some rarely or never put in print before and over 60 photos, some not published before anywhere. Had the privilege of meeting Mike at Ghoulardifest a few years back and have been looking forward to this book since then..A great read and well worth picking up..There is already talk of a volume 2..
Link to The book page: Gray and Company-Cleveland TV Tales