Classic Media-2010 in Review

MeTV, originally on Weigel Broadcast stations in Chicago and Milwaukee, has recently gone national with their classic TV lineup..Hoping for an announcement on a NE Ohio affiliate soon..


Antenna TV, from Tribune Co. set to begin on WJW-TV 8.2 January 1, 2011..


RTV Logo..RTV is on two low-power TV combos in NE Ohio..


Barbara Plummer, teacher of WEWS' Romper Room from 1958-71, passed away in 2010
Photo courtesy clevelandseniors.com


Paige Palmer, longtime Women's host at WEWS Channel 5 from 1948-73
From JCU Collection


John Fitzgerald, Sportscaster and announcer for WXEL/WJW from 1950-83..He passed away December 24..from Cleveland.com


Good Evening..
Thought I would do something I havent done before-A Year In Review post..First, lets look at people that left us this year..Including Paige Palmer (November 2009), Barbara Plummer (Miss Barbara from Romper Room), Paul Wilcox of Polka Varieties fame, Carl Day, who spent his early TV years at WJAN-17 Canton, and most recently John FitzGerald of WJW-TV 8, who died Christmas Eve..He was at Channel 9/8 from 1950-86..On the radio side, Ken Courtright, and Bill Weissinger of WSTB's Sunday Oldies Jukebox passed away as well..(Any others I may have forgotten, let me know please)

On The Bright side, while "TV Land" strays farther from its roots by showing movies, reality shows and original sitcoms, RTV is still active in the area on channels 29/35 Akron/Cleveland and 52/29 Canton/New Philadelphia..Recent good news is that 29 has already turned on its digital channel and WIVM will move to 39 and become digital sometime in January..Both facilities will add at least 3 more digital subchannels to their lineup..

Also, "Antenna TV" from Tribune Co..Is set to launch on WJW-TV 8.2 January 1, 2011with a Three Stooges marathon..It has also been recently announced that "MeTV" a Weigel Broadcating channel that has been operating in Chicago and Milwaukee for several years, will be going national in the coming year..Expecting that there should be a Cleveland/Akron affiliate announced soon..With MeTV, Antenna and RTV (which also may be adding new services)..There will be a lot of good Classic TV in 2011...

Here's hoping also, that more vintage Cleveland TV Video and audio might be found in 2011 that might be shared with our readers and the public..

Finally, everyone have a Safe Happy and Prosperous New Year..

Merry Christmas To All:

While most of the post below (Except for the Barnaby/Woodrow TV Guide Ad) is admittedly an "Encore" from Christmas Day 2007 and the dates are slightly behind, the sentiments are the same..Thanks to everyone for reading the blog over the last 3 and a half years, and for the suggestions and comments..I only regret that I cant always answer folks questions..But I honestly appreciate everyone's input and contributions to the success of the blog..I will try to find a couple of video features to put up on the Facebook Page before tomorrow..Merry Christmas to all and everyone have a safe holiday..


One of my favorite TV Guide ads:For the Barnaby/Woodrow Christmas Party on KYW-TV 3 December 25, 1961..




Thoughtful Christmas Greeting from WKEF-TV 22 Dayton Ohio-December 25, 1968 (Southern Ohio TV Guide)


Simple Christmas Greeting from WICU-TV 12 in Erie, Pa. from December 25, 1969 (TV Guide, Cleveland Edition)

On behalf of my dear wife Linda and myself, I would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2008. I at first had no idea how this website/blog would be received, or if I could even do quality enough work for it to be noticed. This has succeeded byond our wildest dreams..since late August, when we began keeping records, there have been nearly 10,500 blog visits from here in the U. S. and all over the world. representing over 18,000 single-page views..An average currently of 99 visits per day..most of those are from the Cleveland/NE Ohio area..The backbone of our readership and without which we wouldnt be here.

This site grew out of retro-schedules on Radio-Info.com and Radioinsight.com. I've always been a "Broadcasting Geek" from the time my mother got me a shortwave radio as as teenager..Earlier than that, I was known as the "walking TV Guide" by my family because of knowing instinctively what was on all the channels at any one time..(Wasnt hard with only 3 channels..LOL) I only wish I had kept the TV Guides from that era...With doing the retroschedules, I always felt I wanted to do more. Make the local TV memories more real, I guess, When we hit on the blog Idea in March 2007. I want to thank a few people that have been a real support.

First, my wonderful wife Linda..She doesnt always understand why I enjoy this like I do, but she supports me a lot and I love her for it. She has been very patient..Thank you so much, honey..

WIXYGrad74..Cliff Feightner from Rittman, Ohio..He is a committed Christian that went to the WIXY School of Broadcasting and has made himself a good home and family there in Rittman. He was the first one to inspire me about starting a blog and has been this blog's number 1 supporter..Thanks Cliff!

Mike and Kris While..an awesome couple from the Salem, Ohio area. Mike is one of the Administrators for bigchuckandliljohn.com and companion site couchpotatotheatre.com Two great sites carrying on the legacy and tradition of Big Chuck and Lil John/Hoolihan/Ghoulardi..We have worked together for a number of months promoting each other's sites and the legacy of local Cleveland Television..

Ohio Media Watch-A site run by a former broadcaster that also inspired me to start this..


And last but not least, Thanks everyone for comments, encouragment and most of all for reading us..Again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

1100 Cleveland....3WE....Smilin' Through..with Larry Morrow...

Cover of "This Is Larry Morrow:My Life On and Off the air"..Latest title recently released by Gray and Company..A delightful read..Note of reminder:Larry will be a guest on "More Sports and Les Levine" on Time Warner's NEON Network Channel 23 tonight (Tuesday, December 21) at 6PM (Live) and 11PM (replay)..


Larry spent 10 years as the morning man at WWWE-1100...It was during this time, as well as at WIXY, that he cemented his reputation as one of Cleveland's great boosters.(courtesy Wikipedia)


Early 1970's ad for CKLW "The Big 8" in Windsor..Larry hit the big time here as the overnight man, "Duke" Windsor..upon arriving in Cleveland at WIXY-1260, he found that the name "Duke Windsor" was owned by CKLW, so he had to use his real name..courtesy The "Big 8" Tribute Page


Larry Morrow "Cartoon" design used during his WIXY heyday..Larry's mother was very unhappy with this..Larry loved it, however..Courtesy Cleveland Seniors website


The post title above refers to what is called in the radio business as a "jingle" ..A short music interlude to bring the host back in from a commercial break..I fondly remember this from Mr. Morrow's days at WWWE-1100 in the 1970's and early 80's, though it could also refer to his life attitude..as we see in the latest release from Gray and Company, "This Is Larry Morrow:My Life On and Off the Air"..

Morrow tells of his upbringing in Pontiac Michigan, where he was born in 1938, and his loving family..He also tells of his early desire to move to California after his military service but was compelled to return home because of his father's illness..His start in radio in native Michigan, leading to his first success as "Duke Windsor" at "The Big 8" CKLW in 1965..after being let go at CKLW, he agreed to move to WIXY Cleveland in July 1966..He tells a story of being in his hotel room..tuning through the TV, thinking the same movie was on all three channels, but actually being the Hough Riots in the news covered on all channels..Larry wondered if he had made a mistake..Deciding to stay, he became part of the "WIXY Supermen", which propelled WIXY-1260 to the top of Cleveland Radio by the late 1960's, during which a 1969 promotion to "Bring the boys Home" for Thanksgiving during the height of the Vietnam War was a success, and gave Larry one of his most enduring memories. after a 6 year run at WIXY, Larry moved to Nick Mileti's 3WE, where he was morning man for 10 years..After a format change at WWWE, he everntually moved to WERE for a couple years then at WQAL from 1985-2000.Thoughout Larry speaks in endearing terms of most of his co-workers and management.He tells of various celebrities he has met along the way..

But his biggest success in radio was connecting with the people.Along the way, Larry grew in love with Cleveland when many Cleveland natives would just as soon joke about their city..Larry went so far as to dress like Founder Moses Cleaveland at various city functions, becoming the city's biggest booster in the media..He also tells of his love for his wife Rosary and 3 daughters..

The book itself is an enjoyable read..You feel Larry is there speaking to you over a cup of coffee..I highly recommend this book.

Sample chapter:

http://www.grayco.com/cleveland/books/51069/sample/index.shtml

Larry Morrow at the "WIXY 1260 Reunion" in 1988 on WMJI-105.7-Courtesy Ray Glasser..

Encore:Christmas Eve 1959

Originally posted December 25, 2007:A look at December 24, 1959..



A 1959 Holiday Greeting on behalf of the employees of WJW-TV 8 in Cleveland. Doug Adair started at the station in '59. Howard Hoffman, John Fitzgerald and Jim Doney were at TV 8 well into the 1970's. Another name on the list is Casey "Kassem"..actually Casey Kasem, who worked at TV 8 for a short time in the late 1950's before his greatest fame as "American Top 40" host and "Shaggy" on Scooby-Doo as well as other cartoon voices..He was also NBC announcer for awhile.


KYW-3 Eyewitness News Sunday Ad featuring Hugh Danaceau, who worked as a newsman for over 40 years at numerous Cleveland area Radio and TV stations ending at WCLV/WRMR at the time of his passing in 2003..By all accounts, a great newsman and a very authoritative voice..

Kraft Music Hall ad for Perry Como's Christmas Show Wednesday, December 23, 1959.

Highlights of Christmas week 1959:KYW-3 and WKBN-27 had "Year in Review" Shows, sponsored on both stations by Fisher Foods. NBC's Amahl and the Night Visitors is shown for the 10th time, though this year's version was taped in 1958. The Statewide 10 minute Documentary series, "The Ohio Story" featured "The First Christmas Tree."

Thursday, December 24, 1959

3-KYW NBC Cleveland

7AM Today
8:55 News-Tom Haley
9AM Cash On The Line Movie-Whistling In Dixie 1942
10:25 Girl On The Go-Gloria Brown
10:30 Play Your Hunch-Merv Griffin
11AM Price Is Right-Bill Cullen-COLOR
11:30 Concentration-Hugh Downs
Noon Truth Or Consequences-Bob Barker
12:30 It Could Be You-Bill Leyden-COLOR
1PM Movie-Never Take No For An Answer-1951-English
2:50 News-Pete French
3PM Young Dr. Malone
3:30 From These Roots
4PM House On High Street
4:30 Split Personality
5PM Barnaby, Popeye and Friends
5:30 Movie-When a Feller needs a Friend-1932
6:50 News-Pete French
6:55 Weather-Stu Cramer
7PM Bengal Lancers
7:30 Night Before Christmas-Tom Haley hosts this program featuring the Oberlin College Octet, Linn Sheldon and Ronnie Barrett
8PM Amahal and the Night Visitors-SPECIAL
9PM Bachelor Father
9:30 Ford Show starring Tennessee Ernie Ford-COLOR-Guest:Jay North (Live)
10PM Groucho Marx
10:30 Phil Silvers (Bilko)
11PM News-Pete French
11:10 Weather-Howard (Specs?)
11:15 Sports-Jim Graner
11:20 Story Of Christmas-Paul Bedford from the Cleveland Museum of Art
Midnight-Church Service-St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC

WEWS-5 ABC Cleveland

8:55 News-Randy Culver
9AM Christmas Chorus
9:30 Paige Palmer
11AM My Little Margie
11:30 Stu Erwin
Noon News-Randy Culver
12:05 Noon Show-Captain Penny (Mr. Jingeling at 12:25)
1PM One O-Clock Club-Dorothy Fuldheim, Bill Gordon
2:30 Gale Storm Show
3PM Beat The Clock
3;30 Who Do You Trust
4PM American Bandstand
5:30 Three Stooges
6:25 Mr. Jingeling
6:30 Dorothy Fuldheim
6:45 News-Tom Field
6:50 Weather-Sunny Day
6:55 Three Stooges and Friends
7:15 Huntley/Brinkley Report (NBC)
7:30 Gale Storm
8PM Donna Reed-Guest Buster Keaton
8:30 Real McCoys
9PM Pat Boone
9:30 Untouchables
10:30 Glencannon
11PM News-Tom Field
11:15-Jack Paar (NBC)
Midnight-Church Service-Catholic-from Washington, DC
1AM News-Paul Wilcox

WJW-8 CBS Cleveland

7AM Dateline UN
7:30 Rex Humbard
7:45 Spunky and Tadpole
8AM Captain Kangaroo
9AM Watch and Win Movie-Nancy Drew,Detective 1938
10:30 Medic
11AM I Love Lucy
11:30 December Bride
Noon Love Of Life
12:30 Search For Tomorrow
12:45 Guiding Light
1PM Movie-Heaven With a Barbed Wire Fence-1939
2:30 House Party
3PM Millionaire
3;30 Verdict Is Yours
4PM Brighter Day
4:15 Secret Storm
4:30 Edge Of Night
5PM As The World Turns
5:30 Movie-Konga, The Wild Stallion
7PM City Camera News-
7:10-Sports Camera-Warren Moran
7:15-CBS News-Douglas Edwards
7:30 Mackenzies Raiders (Instead of To Tell The Truth)
8PM Betty Hutton Show
8:30 Johnny Ringo
9PM Zane Grey
9:30 Playhouse 90
11PM-News-Warren Guthrie
11:10 City Report-Doug Adair
11:15 Sports, Weather
11:20 To Be Announced
11:30 Church Service-Natl. Cathedral, Washington, DC
12:30 Film Feature

WAKR-49 ABC Akron

Noon Restless Gun
12:30 Love that Bob
1PM Music Bingo
1:30 Looney Tunes
2PM Day In Court
3PM Gale Storm
3:30 Who Do You Trust?
4PM American Bandstand
4:30 Movie-The Great Lover
6PM Looney Tunes
6:30 Singing Towers-Christmas Music
6:55 Weather, News, Sports
7:15 Singing Towers
7:30 Gale Storm
8PM Women against Women-1938
8:50 Ohio Story
9PM Pat Boone
9:30 Movie-Min and Bill-1930
10:30 Ernie Kovacs
11PM Church Service-Episcopal
Midnight-Church Service-Catholic

Listings and ads courtesy TV Guide Dec. 19-25, 1959

Encore:Perry Como at The Hollywood Palace-1969

Today's Encore is from December 7, 2009..Perry Como hosting ABC's Hollywood Palace, in a full one hour Christmas episode, originally aired December 20, 1969, including commercials:


TV Guide Listing for Hollywood Palace December 20, 1969

"From December 20, 1969:Here is ABC's Hollywood Palace Christmas Show hosted by Perry Como, with Guests Dihann Carroll, Then starring in NBC's Julia, Comedian Shecky Greene, Edward Villella of the New York City Ballet, and Burr Tillstrom with Kukla and Ollie..(Shecky:Who'd you think I thought they were, Huntley and Brinkley?)..This hearkens back to the time of the "Christmas TV Special" when you had beautiful music and sometimes cheesy comedy..but most of us loved it..Perry here is at his easygoing best.as he reacts nicely to the goings on around him and sings some good songs as well..Commercials Included



Hollywood Palace-12/20/69 Part 1


Part 2-Kukla and Ollie, with Shecky Greene


Part 3 Dihann Carroll Sings


Part 4 Shecky Greene sketch, Perry Sings "Christmas Eve"


Part 5-Kukla, Ollie


Part 6 Christmas Medley with Perry Como and Singers

Como mentions here that he'll be back in February with a special sponsored by Sears "On another network that doesnt begin with C"

Quick thanks for all the Birthday greetings from Facebook friends and especially Cliff (WIXYGrad) Feightner for mentioning my birthday in his blog.."


Also thought I'd kind of try to change up the blog background hopefully to give a more "Holiday" feel to it..Let me know if you have problems seeing anything..I took out the "Shokus Radio" widget as well, thought it might be slow loading up the blog on my end..

Encore:Hoppity Hooper Christmas Episode (Cartoon Fun)

Originally posted November 28, 2007:

I believe this was telecast Sunday afternoons at 5PM on WEWS-TV 5 (ABC) "Hoppity Hooper" (though not this episode, unfortunately) has several episodes on Public Domain DVD..As I mention in the post I thought this show was underrated..



A little fun to start the Holiday season:A Christmas Episode of "Hoppity Hooper" from December 19, 1965..This was actually a repackaging of "Hoppity" into a series called "Cartoon Fun" on ABC-TV sponsored by Topper Toys, which ran Sunday afternoons from September-December, 1965. Veteran comic actor Hans Conreid was Waldo Wigglesworth, Bill Scott(Bullwinkle) was Fillmore the Bear and Chris Allen was the naive frog Hoppity..The show was reminiscent of Rocky and Bullwinkle, with crude animation and puns galore..Very underrated in my opinion..Thanks to Toontracker for this gem..

Encore:Newscenter 8 December 24, 1977

For our next Encore posting we present the complete Newscenter 8 broadcast from December 24, 1977. Including commercials and staff greeting spots..More details in the post below..Originally from December 13, 2007..



Tonight we present courtesy of Google Video, a complete Newscenter 8 broadcast from 30 years ago.. Saturday, December 24, 1977..The 32-minute program includes all commercials, as well as before and after newscast promo spots. There are several nice, heartwarming TV 8 "Seasons Greetings" spots..The Anchors were Jim Finerty and Kathy Adams with News, Mike Marlier with weather and Fred McLeod on Sports (now FSN-Channel 43 Cavaliers announcer)..In one of the last spots, we see Channel 8 was the 1977-78 local TV home for the Cavaliers, plus the sportscast mentions Barons NHL Hockey..being Christmas Eve, it was a relatively slow news day..

Note:The video above is actually a repeat posting from July 10th, 2007, but many of our newer readers may not have come across it as yet. Being closer to Christmas, I thought it was appropriate to repeat..