For years people in the Syracuse media labeled WTVH-TV a sinking ship, but it never fully slipped beneath the surface until yesterday. Syracuse’s first television station, the once untouchable powerhouse that captured half of the audience watching television at noon and nearly as much at 6 o’clock, kept plodding along, listless and often lifeless, but still defying common sense to stay afloat. “How are they still in business?” people would ask.
WTVH 1988
The sad ending came in the form of a station meeting for all employees. Forty of them reported for a normal day of work, and left an hour later, walking past hired security personnel at the doors, belongings in cardboard boxes. Like the old luxury liners, life was perfectly normal one moment and then finished the next, thus the common analogy of ships at sea to illustrate life’s other journeys.
Why Channel 5? Why not Channels 3 and 9 which faced the same competition from the internet, the same market forces in a region of declining population and the same economic recession? One could argue the other stations have a better talent pool, only some of those staffers used to work at Channel 5 and vice versa. It’s common in this city for workers to go from one station to another in search of better appreciation and salary. Some people would say the difference is management.
It’s no coincidence that the longest tenured executives in television generally run the most successful stations. Channel 9 in Syracuse has the most stability in the front office, on the front lines, and in the many vital jobs behind the camera. That is followed by Channel 3, with corresponding ratings. WTVH on the other hand had five general managers in ten years, none of whom grew up here. The ratings? Well, let’s just say every new G. M. had a deeper hole from which to dig out.
But before he picked up a shovel, he had a very steep learning curve. The new boss had no idea who Jean Daugherty or Ron Curtis were, never heard of “The Magic Toy Shop”, didn’t know televised election night coverage was essentially invented by a shy, unassuming man named Lou Gulino, had no clue of the value of broadcasting the news from the New York State Fair, and when long-time employees suggested the Fair was no place to cut back on the news production budget, they were met with the same old refrain; the reason no one watched anymore was because of TV-5′s hokey old formula, like featuring Ron Curtis and his family and everyday Central New Yorkers at Christmastime. By the time these out of town managers realized the importance of connecting with the audience on “Time of Wonder, Time of Joy”, as well as face to face in those final hot days of August, it was too late. Channel 5 had less of the audience than it had just one year earlier. WTVH seemed oddly and increasingly out of touch.
In the fifteen months since I was dismissed by a General Manager who left for a new job out of town two months later, people in the business asked me if I took satisfaction that the ratings were in a free fall. I did not. I knew enough about the business of running a television station to know March 2, 2009 was coming. Forty people are now out of a job, forty people with families and mortgages and summer vacations in the planning stages who knew they were plugging their fingers in the dikes, and who plugged them with pride. Some of the managers who brought this television station down are scattered throughout the country. I wonder if they even follow the Syracuse University Orangemen anymore.
In encouraging me to go to college, my dad told me a degree is something no one can ever take away from you. Experience works the same way. For all the people who worked at Channel 5, and the hundreds of thousands more who watched Newscenter 5 through the years; the TV5 Live Eye, the singular name of Ron-and-Mo, and the silly campaigns “Stand Up And Tell Them You’re From Syracuse” and “Gimme 5″, will always be on in the living room.
What do you miss most about TV 5? My pals of 27 years have discovered this site as a place to share their memories. For those who watched WTVH from home you’ll see some familiar names in the comments below, but many more that aren’t familiar, and I hope along with the humor you’ll see how hard everyone worked to get it right for you each day and night; the paycheck only part of what drove this bunch to excellence.
So enjoy the comments, “feel the love” as we say, and don’t be dissuaded from participating in what seems like an insider TV thing. Viewer Fred Adsit asked if he’d come to the right place to share a story or two and the answer is YES! Do come in. As we used to say in every broadcast, “Thank you for joining us”.
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What we miss most about WTVH-5 is you. Yesterday when we heard what happened to WTVH, I turned and said to my wife ” see, I knew they wouldn’t make it with out Maureen”. We stopped watching it when you left. What GM’s don’t realize is, even though we really don’t know the newscasters, we feel like they are family. We let them into our house every night at the same time. We form a bond. After you left,we started watching 9 and Carrie. We’d comment on Carrie’s necklaces saying they looked alot like the ones you used to wear. Then we saw Bridge street where we learned you two are friends and how you make the necklaces. Small World.
Well Maureen if you see any of the people from WTVH that lost their jobs , let them know they are in our prayers.
Ken and Donna Temple
Hi, Mo, it’s Sandi from WTVH. I was overhwelmed by the WTVH5 move to “merge” with WSTM. I don’t know all of the 40 who filed out of the Station, but I do know that some of them I shared 7 years with and only feel for them at this sad time in their lives as you so very well alluded to. I can relate all to well to your very well written memoirs and share the same feelings. I always missed you when you left, a lift to me my day when I saw you and shared whatever we decided to talk about.
Thank you for the time you took to express your heartfelt feelings to some wonderful people. I would love hearing from you again. Sandi L.
I grew up in a family that always watched you and Ron Curtis and then kept watching you after Ron retired. I also could not believe it when they fired you. I knew that those bosses must not have been from here. They clearly didn’t poll all of us who had watched you and Ron Curtis and Liz Ayers and all of the people who made Channel 5 the powerhouse you describe. I did not watch Channel 5 after you left.
What will I miss about Channel 5? Your down to earth spirit on the news and when you used to make Ron laugh. You often made the whole team laugh, but seeing Ron crack up with you was so much fun.
Your tribute to your colleagues is very kind.
Best of luck to you and your former co-workers.
A lovely and perfect piece – you’re more of an adult than I am. For those GMs, I want show trials and perp walks and justice, which will never come.
Most of all, I want the good time back so I can appreciate what I had.
I’m ashamed to say I never paid enough attention to you, never realized how beautiful a writer you are.
best,
s.
Mo:
Beautifully written and spot-on.
We are the lucky ones. We get to say that we were part of something that, for a time, was special. My goodness, has anyone ever taken a moment to total up the raw talent that was in that place?
That’s what I miss: Working in a community of very talented people. National-class photographers, gifted writers and anchors who made direct connections to the public. We made some beautiful — the word is unlikely in this context, but correct — beautiful TV news.
You ask what I remember. Here goes:
Dave Tinsch experimenting with unusual camera angles in routine stories. Joe Picciotto capturing a wiffle ball game in the reflection of a child’s sunglasses. John Ellis wandering into the upstairs archives and returning with exactly the right 5 seconds of tape from an obscure story from 15 years ago.
Dan Roach flipping the bird at a driver while driving a marked station car. Dan Roach standing in the direct path of a nutjob with a shotgun, just to get a great shot of the man framed by two Sheriff’s Deputies.
A Bill Carey obit, or his story about urine testing at Cornell that kept calling the urine “….you know.”
Atkinson going on in his David Brinkley way, doing the daily “Scotty? Ronnie?” dance.
Louie pulling yet another live longform event off at the last possible second.
Mike Tirico barfing on air.
Lizzie tossing to a closing song of a local band at a festival by saying the band was performing that famous old Beatles tune, “Shake It Up, Baby.”
A guy flashing the moon over Lisa Holbrook’s shoulder during a live shot from LeMoyne.
Hiding with Jay LaBarre after a quick shoot in Oswego, with an Oswego Sub Shop sub at his favorite hiding place from college.
Watching Bob Kirk tear a new one into some anonymous airline flunky after our flight to New Orleans was brought down on takeoff by a pigeon in the engine.
Al Nall singing a drunken rendition of “Brick House” at 4am later in that New Orleans trip on stage with the hotel house band. And the words “Brick House” were the only ones he knew.
The sweethearts in accounting and the tyrant they worked for, until he retired and Vicki got the job.
“Swing-by”s, as in, “When you’re done in Ithaca, please swing by Utica and pick up a VO/SOT.” And hurry back; we need the gear.
Lynn Huston finding more inventive ways to flummox Tracy Davidson during the toss to weather on the weekend news. “It’s a good weekend for flossing dog’s teeth,” for example.
Sottile chasing that stuffed animal around Central New York in several stories.
Pan Am 103.
Wallie Howard, and Bill’s command that even though we were behind on the story, we were gonna “take it back.”
Taking it back.
Watching Elizabeth Ellis grow up, one newsroom visit at a time.
The revolving door of sports anchors: Cyphers and Schenewerk; Cooper and Harmon; Tirico and Hoard; MacGorman; Eves. I know I’ve forgotten a few.
Sottile, Davies, Fischer, and the other weather anchors, all of whom were unable to hit a 2:30 cue, thus screwing the above sports guys out of time.
Jim Holland knowing exactly how to get a 35 share at 6, but unable to find his way home to Radisson when the bridge along the one route he knew was closed.
When I produced, I never worried about the anchoring when you and Ron were there. You and I never were the closest of friends, but if I ran a newsroom in Syracuse right now, I’d be calling. (And you could jack up your price
The biggest mistake Channel 5 made after Ron left was letting you go. It was the last real link to the past, and they had built no future worth moving into.
We were the lucky ones.
-Dave
Mo:
Awesome reflection. Thank you for the kind words. Your story and Dave’s response made me smile and cry at the same time. I used to complain to Sandy all the time about how much work I had to do or about news directors changing my plans, but she knew just how much I loved the job.
Going to the fair is just not the same now that I’m not trying to make the computer in the trailer work, or bugging Pete Peters about an IFB problem, or dirving around in a golf cart looking for a guest that Ron would approve of.
I’ve got a lot more memories I’d like to post. But I am one of the lucky ones, I have to get back to work. Funny, after agonizing about leaving channel 5 several years ago, I am now in effect the assignment editor at 5.
We are organizing a get together at Riley’s this Friday starting around 7-7;30. Would love to see you there Mo!
Hi Mo
What a sad ending for such a great magnet for talent, shooters and producers.
As I worked in larger markets the quality of the journalism diminished with each successive stop. More concerned with getting grieving family bites, less concerned with story telling and good photography. As the cities got bigger so too did the need for more blood and guts. Crime tape was the goal, not well-crafted journalism or long-form-investigative reports. That required time and talent and trust, something that didn’t exist in shops where delayed gratification wasn’t allowed.
Syracuse was different—especially at Channel 5 where I learned from the best writers I have ever worked with.
Given what is happening in the industry I can’t say I am surprised. I think most cities will be one or two station towns very soon with fewer newscasts and partnerships with surviving papers. It still doesn’t take away the pain of seeing WTVH shuttered.
I was in Syracuse last year for a shoot with Dan Roach and Jon Duffy—I MADE them drive by WTVH and I got the same sense of excitement and possibility when making the turn into the lot.
The Photogs there, Dan, Jay, Joe and others were mostly gracious and certainly taught me a lot when I knew nothing about the daily grind of turning stories. And I mean NOTHING. Jay had to write my standups and Ham met me at the airport for a ‘tryout’ and wrote the entire story.
Thanks for your beautiful eulogy.
Benno
What he said……………..
It’s so disturbing when something like this happens – having your employees do their jobs and then dumping them a few hours later, like last weeks garbage. That was the coward’s way out. I really don’t understand the reasons. I do know there’s the right way to do things and WTVH management’s. You just don’t ax people that way without reprecussions. One represucssion is that my husband and I will no longer watch WTVH news (or whatever it’s called now). We’ve already started watching WKTV (we live near Utica). We did watch it yesterday – what a disaster!
To anyone in management – in a position to fire employees: Let them go in a considerate way. With dignity. Let them say goodbye to their viewers.
Btw, Maureen, my husband and I met you and Ron at the NYS Fair many years ago and you gave us autographed pictures. I’m so glad I kept them!
Oh, one more thing……….I really don’t know anything about the people from Channel 3 but I have to say, I prefer seeing the weather done by someone wearing a suit and tie rather than looking like he just came in from mowing his lawn just to do the show. And where’s the weather quiz???? We’ll miss you, Tom.
Very well written blog, Maureen. I agree with you on so many points. I work in television news as well, and I’m a native of Syracuse ( got my first TV gig there many years back ). I’m also deeply saddened by any TV station that falls victim to our harsh economic times, let alone one that I grew up watching. WTVH was a big part of the routine of TV viewing for my family for years.
Unfortunately, I am one of those “out of town managers” now in a top twenty market, and we certainly implemented big changes at the CBS affiliate that I was hired to help turn around. It wasn’t pretty. What we did wasn’t popular, especially with a lot of long time employees. ( I’ve been on both sides of the coin. ) What it does take is long term vision, some creativity, and in many cases, a lot of courage to wipe the clate clean and start over, to help the station evolve and grow into a healthy one. Perceptions will always paint you as an outsider that “doesn’t understand” what the market requires, but unfortunatly, in many instances, it’s the long time employees who may not have a grasp as to why the market is changing. Broadcasting companies don’t mess with a good thing unless it’s for a reason. In our instance, we’ve had the same plan in place for seven years now, our branding is extremely consistant, and we’ve managed to bring a CBS affiliate back from the dead, displacing a 30 year market leader as the number one rated station. Incidentally, the 30 year market leader that we essentially swapped places with, an ABC Affiliate, was slow to change with the times, and are changing their graphics, branding, anchors, and everything else every six months. It’s a free fall that nobody likes to see, but again, that’s part of the business.
Every situation is obviously different, and in a competitive field like broadcast news, change is a constant to stay competitive. I do agree with you about mismanagement and multiple leadership changes that can certainly spiral a station into a directionless free fall; I’ve seen that happen first hand as well. Too many stations also ditch the plan in place after just a few months; the endeavors a station must take to re-invent itself takes time. Unfortunately, with shrinking revenues and even more pressures placed on us by the displacement of viewers contributes to situations like what WTVH– and many other stations– are going through. I can only take your comments as painting a fairly accurate picture of what must have happened at WTVH.
I feel like this industry is changing in radical ways…it’s already so different than when I started. I have to practice what I’m preaching and embrace these changes, however. I have little choice these days.
Best wishes to your former co-workers and friends, and to you as well.
Moey,
Last night I was at the drugstore. I was wearing an old TV-5 jacket. The pharmacy clerk saw the logo and said in a vocal tone more usually associated with someone greeting the family at a wake , “I’m so sorry…” In a sense it was a wake; we spoke of the good times, the departed and the loss.
I was spoiled. At the time I signed on at 5, we had just gotten the numbers from the first ratings period ever that we had passed Fred Hillegas and TV-3. There was a graphic on the wall showing two lines. TV-3 in blue, descending and TV-5 in red, ascending. The lines had just crossed, with us in the ascendant.
And it only got better! It was great to work for a station that took the lead in all things. So many wonderful people to work with. Trailblazing with video and live shots and doing whatever it took to put out the very best product we could.
I especially remember Election Night 1976, the night of the first Live Eye. The truck wasn’t even legally registered in New York State, and the paint, literally, was still wet on the logos. We busted our A**es that night, but we knew we had done something special. The next day I was in the courthouse, and I can’t tell you how many times I heard people saying “Did you see what TV-5 did last night!” It was a proud time.
Which makes this denouement all the sadder. We were such a family! I treasure my friendships with so many of the folks. You, Scottie, Dave, Louie, and so many others. We did such good work! I hope the public remembers those times rather than the last few sad years.
Late on the night I was canned I was at the station trying to gather up 34 years of memories. I was loading boxes into my car when a car pulled into the parking lot and screeched to a halt. Greg Turner jumped out and came to me and cried on my shoulder. I wish I could cry on the shoulders of the forty.
Love to you and the family,
Johnnie
Hi Maureen…
I am so happy to have found your wonderfully written blog. It’s unfortunate that I did so only after reading about the demise of Channel 5. I never crossed paths with you, but I wish I had. You had me at ‘Good Evening’ when I came to Ithaca College as a bright-eyed broadcast journalism major in 1998. The Syracuse market seemed very competitive back then and I was surprised by the high quality of the newscasts. It always ‘played’ like a much bigger market, as they say. But there’s no doubt, I was a fan of Channel 5′s anchor team.. especially you. Your command.. your delivery.. your down-to-earth, mom-next-door presence. Loved it. Matt and you had great chemistry and a great look together. How quickly things change, right? I’ve found that out myself. I went on to graduate from IC with a broadcast journalism degree. And after a stint in a smaller market, I’m now home producing the news in my hometown of Buffalo. I’m fortunate. I’m doing what I love in a city I love at a strong station. But that doesn’t mean we are not immune to the realities of this busines either. We now have to do more with less, while still trying to give the viewers what they expect of us… and more importantly, what they deserve.
I’m not a fan of change. And I couldn’t believe it when I read they let you go. A similar thing happened here.. at the Granite station.. to a longtime anchor. But she walked away with her dignity. You of course have that too… along with a legion of fans.
Best of luck to you, Maureen. You’re a class act all the way. If I ever become GM one day, I’m tracking you down.
God Bless,
Aaron
Moey:
Thank you for the kind thoughts. Your post brought those little snippets of memory out of deep storage, and I’m grateful for that. It made me happy — and sad — to remember them.
I hope to see you at the get-together Friday night, so I can buy you a drink and catch up on the relationship I should have had with you, had I been a fully-formed adult then.
(And your blog is now in my RSS reader. You have a graceful writing style and I am enjoying it very much. I spent an hour or so reading other posts in your blog last night.)
-Dave
Maureen,
My wife Karen & I now live in St. Louis, but when I found out what channel 5 was doing today, I was shocked. But then I found your website, so there was some good to come out of this.
I was raised in Fayetteville, NY. My mom & dad still live there. When my best friend & I were married we watched channel 5 every night. Early on I was a bus driver for Syracuse & Oswego Bus lines, and each year would pick up a group of local professionals from Onondaga Hill and transport them to a Penn State Game in PA. Two of those each year was Ron Curtis and Jack Morse. He was the same gentleman off the air as he was on the air. I also remember Fred Hilliges (sp?) and of course you.
We moved to St. Louis in 1992, and local news never was the same. The chemistry between you and Ron is unforgettable.
I recently retired as corporate safety Director at Anheuser-Busch, and have lived in Texas as well. Never have I found a local news stations news department as professionally run as was during your tenure at channel 5. I just wanted to thank you for that, and your wonderful website. I will be checking it often. I had no idea you were such a wonderful writer. I thoroughly enjoyed all of your stories.
Good luck to all of you at channel 5 news department and know you will be missed…especially by my mom & dad who are in there 80′s.
Sincerely,
Dave Costello
Hi Maureen,
Just found your blog and now have some tears (for the third day this week) in my eyes. It’s sad that this circumstance is providing the platform for so many people to reconnect, but I suppose it’s no different than a loved one’s funeral.
As you may remember from just 8 short years ago, WTVH was my first producing gig. You, Matt, Lizzy and Karen were the first people I ever wrote real news copy for, and then enjoyed sitting in that dank control room, hearing each of you make it sing even when the words fell flat.
Fast forward to 2009, as local TV news is in a tailspin, only a small part of which can be blamed on the economy. I’ve been through a lot these past 6 months at WNBC in New York, watching countless colleagues be fired or forced out, having to re-apply for my own position, only to earn a greater title but for less money, and taking on many new tasks such as video editing and sending news to taxicabs.
But as much as I do complain, we had our own content center (nee: newsroom) meeting this morning. Thankfully, it was the complete opposite of Monday’s gathering on James Street. The troops were gathered (complete with actual mimosas and strawberries) to celebrate next week’s launch of our new 24/7 cable channel, along with expanded content on the web and mass transit. After the meeting, I felt it was appropriate to tell my news director about WTVH, and tell her how happy I was that we just had the meeting we had.
It’s all relative. I’ll probably continue to shed tears this week about the death of WTVH. But just like a funeral, I suppose I’m thankful the moment has arrived to reconnect with old colleagues and friends, just like yourself, and reminisce about the good times we shared together.
Hope to see you soon,
Ryan Fisher
noon, 5, 6, 10, 11 producer, ’01-’02
My dear Moo! It’s Coo! Your old pal Coach! And a big hello to my former colleagues that have been reading and writing on Maureen’s wonderful and touching tribute. The eighties were certainly a decade of magic at TV-5, weren’t they? We were the fortunate employees for awhile, at least…a fantastic staff chock full of dedicated, hard-working reporters, producers and photogs. I’ve thought fondly of everyone I worked with during those years… Didn’t Dave Bullard sum it up beautifully with his list of memories? You and I had a few, and if you don’t mind I’d like to share 3 that come to me rather quickly like the times I had to sneak you saltines on the set during your first pregnancy, our swim “lessons,” (remember those flip turns?) and of course, my personal favorite, the evening when we sat in your car creating limericks for every co-worker after that station softball game! (John Ellis, if you were in on it with us it would have been even more hilarious!)
Yet, I truly grieve for the 40 souls who no longer have jobs, as their dedication to the station and their friendships they forged are just as significant as ours were so long ago. God bless them all, and please stay in touch.
Fondly,
Coach
(still swimming after all these years)
Mo,
Michael just told me today about your blog!! It is wonderful!!
You used to always say to me “Jodi, you are the glue in the newsroom” well mo… I am passing YOU the bottle of elmer’s !
Please keep us together and keep the memories of WTVH alive here on your blog ! There are so many stories to be told and I hope we can continue to share them! I have thousands on Tony Rizzo alone!!
p.s. I can’t stop reading dave bullard’s comments!! lol !
luv u mo!
Jodi
Maureen,
What a woman of integrity, just as Ron wouldve known you to be. After all you have been through you havent once slamed your situation with WTVH 5. I too stopped watching channel 5 after you were fired. It was bad enough when Ron retired, then his passing, I sure miss him. I admir you Maureen, through all this you still encouraged the ones that walked out of the building to look up, things do change, but you have given them hope, hope to know that even though things look hopeless, it doesnt end with leaving WTVH 5. I often wondered where you were and what you are doing now, I thought well, maybe Ill see her at wegmans or something, I havent yet, but I do know that if I do run into you I will definatly say “hey”!
Thank you for sharing yourself with us for the many years on WTVH 5, you made us laugh,(especially when you and ron would get laughing and could hardly contain yourselves to finish the story!) pause and remember, sometimes cry, but most of all, we loved you, you became part of our family everyday for many years.
Oh and thanks for putting up this sight, I can now actually tell you how much I miss you!!!
Tina
To all my old friends visiting each other here, and hello from Washington, DC -
Lets go easy on those Rizzo storeies!
It would take forever to sit here and share the thoughts and the memories rolling thru my head since I heard what happened on Tuesday. We really did not appreciate, until it was behind us, what an amazing time and place we were a part of. Maureen and Dave and Scott and John have already used up the best words, so I feel at a slight disadvantage.
But, I will toss a few more flashes at the group
- Ron and Dave Tinsch tossing a baseball back and forth across the length of the newsroom
- Jim Holland walking in at 10 am SHARP with a “mornin, mornin, monrin”
- Graham Robertson introducing the concept of wine (along with beer) in the newsroom on select Friday nights while the show was on.
- Swing by, spot news, 10-10, “99″
- The 1 O’clock meeting. And Ron with his little cigar before smoking was banned in the newsroom
- The 1 o clock “Jeez-us” Insta-package.
- The BIG stories: Allied shuts down, the raid on Alexander’s house and office, the start of the Gulf War, the blizzard of ’93, Pan Am 103.
- Leslie Atknison and Lori Rizzo, pregnant at the same time
- Maureen, didn’t you time contractions once on the set?
- Kae Newman, impossibly live from Ossining
- Newsroom “in the” round, turn the scanners up, turn the scanners down, Flash cam.
- The directors, who got the shows on the air despite what we’d throw at them: Kevin Sio, Fred Baker, Gene Flavin, Roy Bellus
- RIP TIME
- A Fourth of July, where we shot two parades. On the first, the tape came back with video, but no audio. The second, in the afternoon, audio, no video. So we just put the two together and no one knew the difference.
- Newscope, Symond Says, Positively Central New York, Thursday’s Child (or was it Wednesday?), Take 5-You Deserve it!, “the 5 cast for Syracuse and Central New York”, “I’m Jack Morse-Tonight, That’s Sports,” Rich Isome and the I team (of one) – finding the Bronco on the used car lot! – “Now for all of us who work the LATE night newswatch here at YOUR newscenter” “And I’ll see you again tomorrow at Noon”
If I do the math correctly, our children – most of whom made their television debuts just before or after weather on the 6 – are now approaching the ages we were when we started arriving at 980 James St. Mine are well, and I hope all of yours are, too.
For all of us at Newscenter 5 …
- Tony Rizzo
Mo, thanks for the kind words to me. It means a lot from the women with “class” who always had the perfume scents that made me follow her and ask “who today”. I have another job now PT. I didn’t waste a lot of time looking for work. I’ve heard about some of the TV5′ers from some who kept in touch with me. I was after the Ron Curtis era, but he was always there in spirit and thru you. I stopped watching TVH5 after my impromptu departure. Never could bring myself to watch it again. Now some of my dearest memories are without jobs, their families and lives turned upsidedown.
Dave Bullard was always one of my favorities, as is Bill Carey. I worked with both of them at WHEN-Radio. Now I’m truly dating myself. I hope you and your beautiful family are doing well and are happy. I wear Dee-Dee’s jewels all the time. Sweet memories of a very sweet Maureen. Please keep in touch. Sandi
Here’s an old production person adding his thoughts. My memories of TVH and strong and clear. It was a wonderful group of people to be associated with, both production and news, union and non-union. I will be there on Friday. Kevin
Mo (and all the former 5 posters),
I am desolated that I won’t be able to be at Riley’s Friday night. We will be on our way to Virginia for the dual celebration of (A) Rocco’s third birthday and(B)Gianna Rose’s baptism. Do I qualify for fossil status yet?
So hoist one for me, friends, and know I am with you in my heart.
JEL
Mo,
My brother in Ithaca sent me the link to your blog.
What powerful words you’ve written. It feels like there’s been a death in the family (and there has been).
I grew up watching ch. 5, and Ron Curtis, and remember reporters such as Larry Price, Jon Bowman and Bob Kirk, doing their reports on film (I later worked for Bob Kirk when he was ND at WROC in Rochester). We can’t forget Al Roker doing weather, Jack Morse on sports…”And tonight – that’s sports!”…Jack Slater on weather…
Then when I became assignment editor at WTVH, I was working with the greatest crew of photojournalists in the state. Though I missed the era of some of the greats like Dan Roach and Dave Tinsch, there was Joe Picciotto (I seem to remember getting into at least one shouting match with him!), Jay LaBarre (what a great guy to get along with–a fellow Oswego grad!), Jim Hamilton (Ham — was he still there at the end?)…You couldn’t help but respect the art they would turn out. Al Lauricella, to this day, had one of the best attitudes I’ve ever encountered in a TV news room.
The days I was assigned to produce the noon, I couldn’t believe I was writing and producing for Ron Curtis — the legend — the same man I grew up watching. It was such a thrill to be working with a class act such as he.
When I was assignment editor at WSTM, Tony Rizzo and I became friends like soldiers become buddies in a foxhole. We both had one of the worst jobs in the newsroom. Spot news would break — we’d both hit the 2-way, looking for any crew in radio range, but none responding — and he would call me at ch. 3.
“you drowning?”
“Yea!”
“Me too, I’m drowning too!”
We were all capable of playing games on the 2-way. I’d hit the mic, and say something to one of our ch. 3 crews, like:
“Did you get the bodies coming out?”
“Yea.”
“All three of them?”
“Yea.”
“Did you get sound?”
“Yea, the cops talked.”
Then sit back, and wait for Tony to go berserk on his2- way, panic in his voice: “Base to any car! Base to any car!!”
Or, I’d be BSing with him on the phone, and dare him to walk behind the flashcam during the noon show, while Scott or someone was doing a hit. Why? Just because. Like two kids playing with technology.
Then later, I inherited his job — after Roger Mirabito, and Dick DeLine — but Tony was a tiger at that desk, I know that.
John Ellis was like a sage. Really, guys like him commanded respect because they’d stuck with such a looney-tunes business for so many decades, through so man management changes, and knew so much about the city, the archives, how to get something done…I made it a point to stay on their good sides.
980 James St. was one of those buildings that just had this broadcasting aura to it. The big heavy doors leading to the studio…The palatial lobby, with all the awards on the walls…I can remember driving past it as a little kid, in the 1960s, and the adults in the car pointing to it saying “look, kids, there’s channel 5″…As if it was some sort of wonderland where they made TV shows.
To think it’s actually going to be shuttered.
When they were getting set to change call letters in the summer of 1976, and for awhile, to build suspense, the big metal letters that spelled “W H E N” on the front of the building were changed to “W ? ? ?”, and the station used that shot as an ID.
I remember the night of a huge pileup, in an ice storm, on the old Rt. 81 overpass at Park Street in early 1977, on a Friday night (we lived not far away.) Ron came on at 11Pm and stated that “the other station could not get close to the scene with their portable videotape equipment (!), but we did…” Many years later, John Ellis told me of the superhuman effort it took that night to get film shot, developed and edited in time for the 11PM show.
We can’t forget that that same building housed one of the most successful radio stations in the history of American Broadcasting: 62-WHEN.
A couple of stories of a kid smitten by the broadcasting bug early on:
At Chestnut Hill Middle, we had a radio club. This was early 1974. I convinced our advisor that we should tour a real radio station, and he got us in at WHEN, when it was still upstairs. Dr. Al Adams was the midday jock at the time. I remember on the tour meeting Rod Wood and — I think — Marc Levenson, in the radio newsroom (when it was this tiny room across from the AM studio)…Seeing a wire machine for the first time…Seeing Jack Mindy’s desk (what a cheap thrill!)…And poking my head into the TV newsroom (which would later become accounting), and seeing Nancy Duffy sitting at her desk, chewing on a pencil, looking like she was thinking. You just don’t forget moments like that.
Two years later: 62-WHEN radio was still upstairs, and it was far-and-away #1. I was as hungry as ever to learn about radio, in 1976. So this 16 year old had the guts to call up Ray D’Orio (RIP), who had no idea who I was, and say “I’ve been told to make friends with radio people, hang out in their studios, to break into the business.” I guess they were telling me to be a radio groupie. We arranged a day for me to come down and see what radio was like.
I took the bus downtown from Galeville after school, and waited in the side lobby. That’s when there was still a receptionist there. I told her I was there to see Ray, and I had a seat. At one point she put her glasses on, and I said “do you know who you look like?”
She replied, patiently, “I know.” She was a dead ringer for Jean Stapleton. Good thing she worked for a CBS affiliate.
Waiting in the lobby, who should casually walk through, and go up the stairs, but Art Goodwin. Wow! A TV Star, I thought. In the flesh. That was in the days when he read “letters to the editor” on the noon show (he might’ve anchored it at the time, too) and I clearly remember him hosting movie shows on TV5 at night.
Ray got off his midday shift, and showed me around the station. I remember looking through the glass of Master Control, seeing The Mickey Mouse Club playing on a huge 2″ videotape machine.
A few months later, I was still so desperate to learn all I could about radio. Ray invited me to the studio again, for his saturday shift. I took a bus downtown on a Saturday morning and, not knowing the bus schedule going up James St., I decided to hoof it. All the way up the hill.
It was six degrees that day. That’s how badly I wanted to get into broadcasting.
On the radio news shift that Saturday: Bill Carey. Jeff Laurence was PD, and made a quick appearance for some reason in the studio (like a busy, conscientious PD should). I remember thinking “cool, he gets to wear blue jeans to work.”
At the end of his shift, while he went behind the racks to put his carts away, Ray actually let me fire a couple carts on my own!
“C’mere. Sit here. Now, when I tell you, push THIS button, then THIS button.”
Holy crap. I’m sitting at the board of WHEN!
I heard him putting his music away, that sound that plastic carts make when you’re sliding them into the racks. The song was ending.
I heard him shout: “Hit it!” I pushed the button. It was a jingle. Then when it ended, he shouted again.
“Hit it!”
The second button fired a song. “Let ‘Em In”, from Wings. You don’t forget the first song you ever “played” on the radio.
And the discjockey who came in at 3PM that day was Jay Walker. RIP.
When I got older, I was fortunate and damned proud to be able to say, on the air every day, “Newswatch 62 — a 24 hour service of W H E N.”
One can not discount what local television stations and broadcast facilities mean to the communities they serve. WHEN/WTVH was around when America, and Syracuse, were at their industrial apex — their news crews made a one-of-a-kind daily record of local history, both in moving images and in scripts. How can a legacy like that just be ended, in one fell swoop, on a Monday morning? Doesn’t this boggle your minds? It is not unlike the stories we read on the air every day — of misfortune, of scandal, of tragedy–once in a while, you would stop and think “there but for the grace of God go I” — You’d hear the stories from the midwest, the west , the south, about news operations folding — those were usually “newer” operations, the FOXes, and now, it’s happened to one of the original 108.
*sigh*. Thanks for providing this space, and your thoughts, Maureen. Maybe see you Friday night.
-Rob Jason Fain
My dear MOO!
Don’t feel guilty about missing the births of my two children! I’m sure my mother gave you every last detail, just like in her column. By the way, my kids are 11 and 12 and terrific.
Tony Rizzo? Wow…just when we’ve been remeniscing with the likes of Dave Bullard, Lou Gulino and John Ellis (“Kill Moose and Squirrel…” remember John?), even more memories surface! Hey, how about the most ridiculous slogan of them all when I began in 1985, “Gimme 5!” Bob was waterskiing and Carrie was attempting to juggle some fruit or vegetable at the farmers market? Yikes. Thanks for the additional memories, Tony, and as for those limericks, Mooey, well, I still remember some of them…
Regards to all,
Coach
Dear Maureen;
I am equally flattered by your response. I know people there are grieving and your blog seems to be a good pick me up.
The comments about the catchphrases and slogans are really funny…everyb station that I’ve ever worked at has gone through this. Don’t blame your Marketing Department; usually when slogans or positioning statements change, our lives become a living hell. And I’ve been told to roll out some pretty goofy ones over the years. “Gimmee Five” in 1985? That’s really funny…although it probably wasn’t then. I can only imagine waht Ron Curtis must have thought when “Gimmee Five” was first brought up in some conference room meeting…. I’ve seen that look from other anchors when I’ve come bearing the bad news passed down from the consultant that we’re becoming “The Investigation Station”…. ( Which prompts an instant comment from me: “So does that mean we have Super Duper Investigative Doppler Radar? We Investigate Storms? How does that work from a weather branding standpoint?” ) I shouldn’t laugh, this has happened.
What is interesting is that my boss here is a very well known GM ( who spent time in Syracuse years ago, didn’t know him then, but I have been yelled at by him on a daily basis for years here ) who is the only station manager that keeps consultants OUT of the decision making. Plenty come in and try to pull the old “Are you a coverage YOU can count on station, or a COVERAGE you can count on station? The words ‘Coverage’ and ‘You’ are top tier images in our research project, and need to be plastered on everything….”. After a sales pitch like that, our GM will have an expression on his face as if the consultant is a cyclops. “Do people really say they need to watch the “coverage station” when they are deciding what to stay up and watch at 11pm”? I have seen him say. He will insist that we’re sticking to the course we set out on, new slogans that work in Peoria be damned. We’ve moved the needle through creating a product unique to the market and knowing the core values of the audience on each night. For all the negatives that many people have said about our GM ( and I’m certain you’ve heard of him– our station has made news as well as reported it ), he is an extremely strong leader who knows exactly what he wants, and doesn’t deviate from the plan. I think that’s essential to what we’ve done right here, and probably an example of what failed to happen at WTVH, as you’ve mentioned.
From what I’ve read by you and your co-workers, my only regret is that I never worked with any of the people that have chimed in on this board. TV stations, slogans, ratings, revenue, whatever, it always boils down to the work and the people who do it. From what I can tell by the postings, you were all the best of the best. As I watched you anchor in my formative years, there’s little question that you deserve all the accolades your fans and co workers are giving you. ( And Ron Curtis… the measure of a journalist of his stature is how much we trusted him on days when we needed a strong voice to give us the facts and assure us.)
I’ve worked in big markets ( LA ) and small ( Binghamton ), north, south, east and west, and I can tell you that I’ve never been able to shake my old hometown. It was a great place to grow up. Thanks for all you’ve done for this Central New Yorker who went into this field in part because of the efforts of your former co-workers and, of course, you.
Grab an ale and a roast beef at Clarks for me!
Rob
Hi Maureen,
I stumbled upon this blog due to the WTVH fiasco this week. Never worked there (or anywhere else in broadcasting ) but wanted to share my memories. I moved to Syracuse around 1985 and didn’t know a soul other than my new at the time husband. I was unemployed and homesick for the only other town I had lived in. I started watching the noon news and you and Mr Curtis gave me a connection to Syracuse. (It sounds hokey, I know.) I found a job and some friends after a few weeks but that first connection stayed with me and when big events happened WTVH was who I turned to. It was always because of the personalities at the station. And what personalities they were! You, Ron, Keith, Rob King, Tracy Davidson, Liz Ayers, Marti Skold & her snow fluffies. I cannot watch Mike Tirico now without thinking of his first day on the air and the deer caught in headlights look and of course the day he tossed his cookies on the air. There are too many people to name (and it is nice to see some of them posting their memories on your blog comments!) Aside from the financial/business side of the problems at channel 5, I think as a viewer their biggest problem was their lack of personalities in the past year or so. (Micheal Benny does a good job reading the news but he doesn’t exude warm or even caring on the air. I am sure off air he is a warm and caring person. It just doesn’t translate over the airwaves to me.) The only ones left were Tom and Keith. I had been a very loyal viewer of channel 5 news up until last year when I started watching sporadically.
Thank you for being my first connection to Syracuse. And I have to add one more thing….I think the best news advertisement I have ever seen anywhere is the old “Stand Up and Say It. You’re from Syracuse!” I still hum it every once in a while. That ad came out just as I stopped referring to where I grew up as “home” and started calling Syracuse home.
Thank you and all the others associated with WTVH who may read this for making the local news something worth watching back in the day.
A little piece…no, a BIG piece of us…died when we heard the news. So many memories, good memories of a television family–and we were a family, replete with the squabbes that all families have from time to time, only because we loved what were doing and loved the people with whom we were working. I’ve been gone from Channel 5 for 18 years now, but I often think of those days, and literally dream abut them. Mo, thanks for your deeply felt and well written perspectives on times past and prsent. Thanks to all who are contributting to this blog for their vivid accounts of the good times. My favorite memory is from 1976, when Bob Dole was running for Vice President. He was about to appear at a rally at a private section of Hancock Airport. All the reporters and photographers had to get there by a certain tme or else we would be locked out by the Secret Service. Then-photographer Jon Bowman and I were en-route in one of the fine vehicles of the NewsCenter 5 news fleet– a Ford Pinto! Needless to stay, the car stalled at GM Circle and wouldn’t run in any gear–except reverse. You guessed it. Jon drove and I navigated with the passenger door open, on a rainy, muddy day–BACKWARDS. We got to our desination on time and got the story. Just another day at the office. I probably tell that story once a month to anyone who wants to know about the good old days. They were more than just “good”–they were great. My thanks and love to all of you who made those years so special….to Liz, Louie, John E, Scotty, Tony, Bill, Jack, the greatest photographers in the world: Dave T, Dan, Jay, Jim H., Paul B,…I know I’m forgeting some folks and please accept my apologies. Finally, much love to the families of those no longer with us….to Donna Speziale, a first class lady…and of course to Ron, my mentor and the best friend any of us could have asked for.
Thank you, Mo– I’m sitting here in Kansas City choking back the tears! And because of Dave Bullard’s memory and those morons at LeMoyne– I feel proud that my small contribution made the cut!
Thank you Tony for making sure I received this beautiful tribute! I have never been surrounded by a group of such talented and fun people in my life. Sitting between Scott A. and Lynn H. every day gave me a unique window on the world I will never forget! And when things were blowing up in the field– we always knew the ship was secure with Ron and Mo on the set! I will never forget Tony handing me a list of 6 stories to cover on my first day– Lynn introducing me as someone who trains dobermans in my spare time– collapsing a Sunday show from 30-minutes down to 7 on the fly, when CBS’s golf coverage ran over– chatting with Lou at 7am instead of writing and almost missing the morning cut-ins– getting to experience Liz’s warmth and Bobby on a daily basis– standing in a snow drift for the 3rd straight night trying to come up with a clever and different way to tell people “It’s STILL snowing outside!!”– and finally, the most brilliant writing I’ve ever been around (Scott and Dave– you guys are the best!) I’ve watched the business decline to the point of no return over the last 24 years– talent and experience being devalued and cast aside by ‘young and cheap’. In October, I became one of the many casualties when new ownership came in and blew up my station in Denver. Even before the events of the week– I looked back at what we had in Syracuse, how very rare and special it was. I am so grateful to each and every one of you…
Mo,
Not only is your blog beautifully written, but it has developed a following. We might be in a 2.0 universe, but you’ve re-created exactly what you used to do as an anchor. You might be surprised how often I tell the folks in New York City about WTVH, the best news shop I’ve had the privilege of working for during an 18-year career. You might be surprised how often I’ve incorporated your lesson about personalizing stories. I too was nodding along with Dave B’s observations, and my hunch is you’ll see some more in the coming days and weeks.
Best always,
Andrew
Mo — Thanks to you and the rest of the WTVH alums for sharing some wonderful memories.
Monday’s news was like a punch to the gut, even 17 years after I stopped working at TV-5. My real pain is for the 40 talented people who were truly affected this week. Keith Kobland’s picture on the Syracuse.com website (complete with the Phillies cap atop his work belongings) was particularly poignant.
Mo, I received a link to your site in an email from Lisa Holbrook after landing in Boston this afternoon. I spent the next 30 minutes buried in my BlackBerry laughing and shedding a few tears as I scrolled through the names, the inside jokes and all those memories.
It is testimony to what made TV-5 an great place. You can dismantle the house but cannot break the family. The people on camera, but especially off, made the experience of working at 980 James Street a life changing one for so many of us.
Have you come across a local newsroom with that many talented people who stayed in one place for so long?
This week’s news has brought to mind some wonderful thoughts, sending me back in my mind (and my basement) to dig up the memories of a very special place.
Anyone interested in some postcards of Lynn Houston, Tracy Davidson and yours truly from the NY State Fair circa 1989 let me know I will get them to you in short time
I just wanted to say a personal thanks to the many of you – who made that building go from my intern days in 1986 through those five wonderful formative years that followed.
The people of TV-5 taught me so many lessons of the business, of life, of humility and the never ending quest for perfection.
I have been forever influenced by the photogs (before you were all photojournalists) who would not let that one sloppy piece of audio out of an edit bay; who wouldn’t let you in front of a camera if you weren’t lit just right. They have to be the best group of cameramen any local newsroom has ever put together .. so many of us would volunteer for one more drive to Ithaca with any one of that amazing group.
The guts of the newsroom Louie, Rizzo, Moose, Scott, Bill Carey .. all of whom instilled in many of us how to plan it, research it, report the hell out of it, write it and then tell a story. But get it done quick enough so you don’t mess up Rizzo’s plan for that gear!!!
The anchors like Mo, Bob, Liz, Lisa, Tracy, Kathy, Cyphers, John Eves and Coop; who set an unbelievable example of how to do the job for this sports intern in school up on the hill.
But most of all thanks to Ron.
Could anyone better define the title of mentor.
How many lessons did he teach all of us, in the most gentle, first class, humble way.
No one has or will ever do the job better than him..
Thanks to all of you who welcomed NewsCenter 5 into your home. I can’t begin to count the number of people who I have encountered (including a wonderful couple in Australia in 2000) who have said “Hey I remember you from Channel 5 in Syracuse.” Every time I return to town I always say no city feels like home the way Syracuse does — it’s because of the people of Central New York.
I have so much more to say – but John Fischer’s weather ran long again and took another minute from sports ..
I wish I could skip my NBA game in Boston on Friday to be with all of you. Please know I will be sharing a toast from afar.
I hope someone starts an electronic list so the TV-5 family can say in touch via email as the years and miles grow.
Long live
- Letters to the Editor, (your name won’t be used if you so request);
-Mr. Food’s Cheese of the Month;
-Sports Plus and Sports Nuts;
-and all of us who worked the late night newswatch with Bob..
You are missed and loved .. Thanks for the extraordinary memories.
Back in early 1988 when Cathy Creany walked me through the halls of WTVH, I was wondering what I would be getting into if I took the news director’s job. When Cathy introduced me to Ron Curtis his chewing gum fell from his mouth. What was I getting myself into? Then, I watched the newscasts. I remember the great photography, solid reporting and producing. I took the job. During my first week I got a paniced call from
Liz Ayers. There was a small fire in the newsroom. When I was making my way from
‘corporate housing’ (actually a little studio downtown), the elevator door stuck and it took me forever to get out. All the way to the station, I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. But when things settled down, I was very happy to find what I had gotten into. I was working with some great people, accomplished journalists and some who became lifelong friends.
I am going to get into a little trouble here because I am going to unintentionally leave out names. I’ve been around the country and have worked with a lot of people, but I was always impressed with our photojournalists, reporters, producers and anchors.
Ron Curtis was always a gentleman. From him, I learned to put things in positive terms.
One day when we were leaving the set at noon I sensed something was wrong. I asked him
if he was mad at me. He said, yes I heard you tell the producers to “forget Ron.” I hadn’t.
I said ‘Don’t forget Ron.” He didn’t hear the don’t. From then on I have said “include.”
I still haven’t seen an anchor team that knows how to pick up a script if a td punched
the wrong camera. I had rarely been on camera before I came to TVH. But Maureen,
Liz, Tracy and Ron were always patient with me.
Great producers: When it came to the big stories, everyone (including the competitors)
turned to Bill Carey. I know I often frustrated Lou Gulino with scripts changes, but I always appreciated his abilities. I remembered the day we launched the hour long evening newscast. Dave Bullard said it was like passing a bowling ball. Pete Spartano
knows so much about everything.
Great reporters: Scott Atkinson, Suzanne Lysak, Lynn Houston and I know I am leaving out several. And even though he could drive you crazy, you all admitted Tony Rizzo
was the best assignment editor in the region.
With Cathy Creany’s leadership think of all the great things we got to do.
Maureen went to Northern Ireland. Bill and Dave Tinsch covered the first
Gulf War, went to Pearl Harbor. We covered the political conventions. Tirico followed SU on the road. To Hawaii for one bowl game.
I tried to do a couple of impossible things. I tried to convince Mike Tirico he could be the next Ron Curtis and forget ESPN. I tried to convince Keith to move to Phoenix to become a reporter.
It was a great ride for me.
Graham Robertson
Hi Maureen.
It was a great mystery.
Was it new media? An economic slowdown? Investment banker owners unable to grasp just how to run a successful operation (in any arena it seems)?
We may never know who or what killed WTVH. But, as one of many of those related to the victim, let me add my voice to those in mourning.
In days that now seems just shy of the industrial revolution, I can remember moving to Syracuse all the way from Auburn (yes, we had motorized vehicles in the 70s, so the trip took less than a day.)
I was taking a job at what was then an incredible radio operation called WHEN. It was owned by a company called Meredith and was located in a building on James Street where it shared space with another Meredith company known as WHEN TV.
It was back in those early days, days when being right, being first and being clear were things to be admired.
And there was a Guide ready to show a young newsperson the road to doing their craft in a respectable way. He was the man who helped to steer Channel 5 through decades of news coverage – Ron Curtis.
At his knee, young people learned how to craft a story, how to ask the right questions, how to keep digging until you got the answers and, most importantly, how to do your job in a way that was ethical, compassionate and thorough. He made being a broadcast journalist a “calling” more than a “job”.
Ron, of course, has passed on and so too has that model for a journalist.
Today, people who have little interest in what television “can be” buy television stations simply as a set of numbers designed to boost the numbers at the bottom line. They treat the art of journalism as if it were a fast food restaurant. How cheaply can we produce a product and how can we draw people to the take out window. They never seem to think about how the burger tastes. The response to fewer people at the window? Cutback on the cooks. Oh, and forget the cheese.
Obviously, television is a business. And businesses cannot work if there is more money going out than coming in. And Syracuse’s precipitous decline in market size, as neighbors moved south and west, has complicated matters.
Syracuse now is a “starter” market, where young people get their first job and go through the trial and error process that most of us were able to accomplish in much smaller, discrete locations. It doesn’t make them any less talented or professional. It just makes them young.
I know it was inevitable that, with dollars tight, debt high, market size dropping and advertising drying up that something had to give. But, it is still sad that in a society that celebrates multiple voices and diversity in views, we have lost one key conduit for those voices and views.
Let’s hope we have reached the end of such losses, but I fear with the pressures on television, radio and newspapers, this may only be the beginning.
Anyway, just some thoughts from the man who fired you first. (God, I love Ed Bradley)
Let me throw my wholehearted endorsement behind an e-mail list.
In the meantime — there’s a Facebook group called Legends of WTVH that (I think) Louie and/or Jodi set up. Many of us are linked through Facebook and it’s a wonderful way to stay in touch. Find any one of us and we’ll hook you up with the others. (And Mike, it accepts pictures, so your postcard pix can have a really nice home there, too.)
Hi Maureen!
As I read your blog, the one thing I will always remember about you is your amazing talent for writing. I always chose you to proof read for me because you always made those changes that made my scripts soooo brilliant:) I have so many fond memories of channel 5 and I can say that I have probably never laughed harder in my life than in that station. Poor Lou alwasy hearing his name over the intercom “Lou-ass” and he’d shake his head..such a good sport Lou! The talent was amazing and I”m so grateful to have had that time in my life with so many wonderful people. I caught you the other day on Bridge Street with Carey! You’re still as gorgeous as ever. Thanks for all the memories!! Brenda Tyler
To Maureen and all my dear friends at WTVH,
I am so moved by your memories and feel so fortunate to have been a small part of the WTVH legacy. I am even more moved by the fact that I learned of this blog through an email from Tony Rizzo. I never thought I would see the day. He hated me! (Thanks, Tony!)
As a young news assistant at TV5, arriving fresh from sunny ASU to embark on my first job, I recall my shock over the 166 inches of snow my first winter and not owning a pair of boots the entire time. Rookie! (Fool?)
More importantly, I remember the most amazing people, as it turns out, that I would ever meet before or since. Ron Curtis, what a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. Mike Tirico, we all saw your future. It was so obvious, your talent. Maureen, what a professional and dear friend. You gave me a chance to get out in the field and produce your “For Your Health” segments and “Home for the Holidays.” What a thrill! I recall our uncontrollable laughter over “the Town of Clay man,” which still makes me laugh.
Working in the field allowed me the opportunity to work with the GREATEST photojournalists in the business. You taught me everthing. I LOVE you guys, still. Dan Roach, John Duffy, Joe Picciotto, Jim Hamilton, Paul Burke- what a huge impression you made on my career and for that I thank you. Producer, Peter Spartano, the same goes for you. I learned so much. You are amazing, patient and wise. I am still in awe of all of you. Beyond the lessons, you were great people and friends. I think of you often. I am so fortunate to have you, forever, as part of the stories of my life.
Thank you, WTVH, for all the fond memories. Thank you, Maureen, for giving us all a voice and a chance to share what meant so much.
Fondly,
Kathy Angliss (Prochno)
P.S. I’ll be thinking of you at Riley’s!
Wow MO …glue #2 …the list of names here begins!! I knew it would!!
First of all Mo YES please start a WTVH contact list that would be so fantastic! !! It is way over due!
This is the perfect place to share all of our past memories and stories of WTVH !!
-As for present and the future and what everyone is up to everyday… many of us are on Facebook! Lou started a “Legends of WTVH Group”….I harass people to join! I hope all of you join it has been a blast!!
RIZZO & CAREY !!!! Where the heck have you been and why have you not kept in touch…shame on both of you !!!!
Here is my FIRST RIZZO story….
”how I ended up across from tony rizzo everyday”….
In 1991 Ed Bradley hired me is sales because I was “good fer biz-niss”.
Talk about paying your dues!! I DID!!
Bill Carey, then the ND… approached me and asked if I was going to apply for the “News Assistant” job opening… uuum ,the ND just asked me to apply…hell yes! My interview with Mr. Bill Carey consisted of; Jodi now Tony is not exactly really easy to work with, does a lot of yelling and swearing offend you, do angry men make you nervous,…Jodi the truth is that your name was the only name Tony mentioned he would work with so you got the job!!! WOW, Bill & Tony just saved my life from the 2nd floor!
(I don’t like to list names because you always forget someone…forgive me in advance!)
In front of me sat Tony Rizzo and in the ND office was Bill Carey….
Behind me was my TV sister Donna Jean Speziale Richards, Maureen Green, Lynn Huston, Lisa Holbrook, our EP Peter Spartano, SLY Suzanne Lysak, Paul Burke the Entertainment reporter/Tog, , Dave Bullard our regional reporter (remember when stations had a regional reporter!!!) (to this day I have no idea why Scotty calls Dave …Moose??) Keith Kobland!
To my right was Scotty Atkinson, Liz Ayers, Kathy Orr……
Producer pod was Lou Gulino, Randy Wenner……..
Ron Curtis down the hall!!!!
Dan Hoard in Sports….
Edit bays & Togs… John Ellis, Joe P, Ham, John Duffy, Dan Roach, Jay….the best togs ever!!! And many more!
What a year, 1991, to start in NEWS!!! I was so LUCKY and very grateful to have learned from the BEST!!! And because of EACH OF YOU I was worked at WTVH for 11 years!! -And have lifelong friends!
*The secret is, Tony Rizzo is the biggest teddy bear !! His bark was loud and there was never a bite….kind of like Joe P! This GIRL learned to “MAN” the desk from the very best…. Tony Rizzo! I luv you Tony Rizzo !! Bill Carey and Peter Spartano were the best ND’s and I was fortunate to have had the privilege to work with….there were many other employees over the next 11 years….more stories to come here on Mo’s Blog!
Jodi (Milewitz) Mueller (WTVH 1991 – 2002)
jodiultimate@msn.com –I’ll start the contact list!!!
Luv u all….thanks again MO !!!
Thank you Moey for your most eloquent blog.
What can I say that hasn’t already been said? The walls of WTVH echo with memories of a lifetime. The Golden Years of television there were truly golden. It wasn’t being the first station on the air in Central New York, or being number one in the ratings for so many years, or even winning an Emmy. It was always about being a family. We worked together, we played together and we cried together.
Moey, the first time I met you was at a tragic fatal fire in Baldwinsville, where a mother and child lost their lives. Not the best story to send a green, young photographer out on a one-manner. Although you worked for the competition then, you saw I was shaken and helped me get through it. You held my mike for a sound bite and even wrote down the interviewee’s name and a few facts about the story. I’ll never forget that. I also remember when you were pregnant with Natalie the newsroom had a baby pool and I guessed the closest to the time she was born. (I hope you gave her that savings bond
With respect to your story about New Orleans Mr Bullard, I think having our lives threatened by a band of renegade Indians stands out more as a significant event. There were so many funny moments as well. Such as as watching a super imposed hamburger dropping over the anchor open, or watching the Noxema shaving creme girl tell Ron to “take it all off” at Noon. We rocked out to MTV in the edit bays and before everything was live, we would hang around after our shifts were over to watch the news together. I won’t name all of the people again, but I miss you all. The best moment I ever had was coming home from the war and driving up to see a banner with my name on it hanging in front of the station. I had to drive around the block to get a grip. Many of us may have parted ways, but our memories will bind us together for ever.
Thank you all so much for sharing your stories and taking the time to keep the flame of our fellowship alive. Our memories created at WTVH will live in our hearts and minds forever.
BTW, I was the Syracuse Press Club Photographer of the Year and dropped a camera off the roof of MacArthur Stadium that very same year. Who can top that roller coaster ride?
Mo –
So eloquent! I am truly saddened by what happened at Channel 5. Though I was in the ‘Cuse for only two years and left a decade ago – the city and WTVH have a special place in my heart. When I first started I was a year out of college and green as could be. But after learning from the pros like you, David Muir, Matt Mulcahy, Joe Piciotto, Lou Guilino, Roger Mirabito, Keith Kobland, Tom Hauf, Kathy Orr, Donna Spezielli, Sheryl Nathans..the list goes on and on…I left with tons of knowledge, experience, and most importantly many dear friends. Unfortunately it takes something like this that forces one to remember all of the special memories. Truly one of the hightlights of my career. I know everyone who was laid off will land on their feet somehow – but it is Syracuse and the viewers who are truly at a loss.
Love to everyone!
Nancy
Mo-
Just found your blog thru Jodi’s facebook. What a great read. Very touching.
I was a short-timer, I admit it. (2001-2004) I don’t have even near half the histories as most here do. But the 2 1/2 years I spent growing, learning, and maturing as a photojournalist at WTVH are some of my best memories. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
I still remember my interview with Joe in 2001… a little chat at the station and then a drive to the State Fair. There I am, a 22 year old right out of college standing around the Fair set in my suit and tie, feeling very out of place. Even so, I felt welcome. And then the excitement of getting that call offering me the job… I was so out of it I forgot to ask Joe what my salary would be or when I was going to start!
From then on, it’s little memories. Walking into the newsroom and thinking “Wow… I’m working for a REAL TV station!” Shadowing Al Lauricella my first day and I vividly remember shooting a bank robbery. October 3rd… I still remember the day. And being sent out on my first solo VO/SOT… and realizing that I had to find an interview and I had to ask questions. Driving down the road and looking at the “Eyewitness News 5″ sticker on the hood and being overcome with a feeling of pride… seriously!
Being reminded by the older photogs: “Back in my day, you needed at least 2-3 years of experience to be hired here!” I took those words to heart and learned everything I could from those guys… I sure didn’t want to let Joe, or any of the other guys for that matter, down.
What I loved about WTVH was its informality, and despite that, the top notch product that we produced. I always viewed the photogs as a frat. A bunch of knuckleheads who could goof off as well as any teenager but underneath it all was a serious professional. I watched and I learned and did my best to imitate and find my own voice. From Joe and Al putting together a serious, nat sound heavy package all the way to the sage advice from Larry Wilcox that, by the way, still rings in my ears from time to time: “Make air, not art!”
I have no better memories than from when we started the “Final Quarter” sports show. At least 4 or 5 photogs rushing into the edit bay at about 9:30 with games to log and cut. Getting your games done and tossing your best highlights to the photog who got done first so they could edit the music video closer… and then all of us gathering around a TV in the newsroom to watch the show, as a group. There was no better feeling that that teamwork. I’ll admit, I still pull out a few of those closers from that first year and and shake my head in amazement at what we were able to pull off.
So as I read the news on Monday, I felt my heart sink. I knew things weren’t good… hearing that Joe was let go, hearing John was let go made that fact real. But WTVH was my first job… my first TV station. How are you supposed to feel when I place that helped make you into the professional that you are disappears? Well, I’ll remember the good times and the good people I worked with: Joe, Al, Jim, Jay, Ben, Larry, Fran, Chris, George and everybody else.
I won’t be able to make it out there on Friday, but I’ll raise a glass for WTVH.
I hope everyone who was affected by what happens lands on their feet.
And Mo- I know we didn’t work together much, but thanks for this post. It brought back a lot of good memories.
Moey,
As I will not be able to regale you all with stories at Riley’s tonight, I must do so now. Buckle your seat belts.
The Bread Truck: Mo, I have (somewhere) pictures of you and Pauly leaving for City Hall in the Bread Truck. I will effort. The last time I drove it, it only had first and third gears, and I had to drive it up Berkeley Drive. Mo, you will understand.
Best joke at my expense: I was regaling all the youngsters with some pointless “war story” when Jay LaBarre stuck a pretend mike in my face and asked: “Mr. Ellis, did you cover the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?” Before I could get my mouth open, Michael Benny chimed in. “Yes, but he missed the walk.” I slid to the floor in uncontrollable laughter. Thank you forever, Michael.
Andy Brigham: “Jaws”, for obvious reasons. The best interviewer I have ever seen. Fearless, no beating around the bush. I have never seen so many blowhards sweat as when Andy got on their case. Comment from a pol at his going away party: “The six worst words in the English language are ‘Andy Brigham is on the phone’ “. Tough as nails on the outside, sweet as a jelly donut inside. He took a chance on me, for which I am forever grateful.
Outtake: Joe Sotille and I discovering on a Saturday night that there was an extra state on the US map. Two fools collapsed in laughter.
Al Roker: I knew as soon as I met Al that we wouldn’t have him for long. He was a sophomore at SUNY-OZ when he came to us . He used to do the six weather, then drive back to Oswego to eat in the dining hall, then drive back for the eleven. JoAnne and I hosted him many times at dinner to spare him the trip and the gas money. When we used to simulcast WCNY’s Tel-auc, Al and I both participated. One night I had a regular merchandise table to sell, Al had the Tel-and -Sel board. That’s where you just read copy for gift certificates and services and such, no physical items. I was watching as Al read his copy for each item when suddenly he stopped! What!?! He took a deep breath and said,”The next item up for bids, number (whatever it was), BULL SEMEN!!!” (It was for an animal husbandry service, you see…) He read the rest of the copy then smiled and said: ” Makes a great Father’s Day gift!!!” We all know where he is today, and rightfully so.
Outtake: Al, congrats on E-9! Mike Waters told me. Have you used up all that foot powder I sent you in the desert yet?
Outtake: The Navy Junket: Sotille and I getting to go to Gitmo, Puerto Rico. the USS John F. Kennedy so Holland could become the worlds oldest ensign. Flying over the Bermuda Triangle in a small plane with no bathroom.
Outtake: The look on Andy’s face when the girlfriend of one of the reporters asked him to let her guy off work because “I’m so horny.”
I must stop now so we can get on the road to ‘ol Virginny. Mo, sign me up for the e-mail site or whatever it is. I’m such a Luddite!
Johnny
Mo,
I feel like my childhood home burned down this week. In 1987 when I was just a high school senior John Fear included me in the Channel 5 Explorers Post. Fellow explorer David Muir and I would cross paths later at Ithaca College and then again back at Channel 5.
Fast forward to the summer of 1991 when I did my internship working on the 11. I would beg Peter Spartano to let me write anything and Spez and Sly to take me with them on stories. Mike Tirico used to call me Bearcat b/c I was addicted to the scanners hoping if I heard something they’d let me go out with them. That 3 month internship turned into a year. College graduation came and went and while I looked for a job I’d hang out at the station. Until I finally got my break when Graham left, Bill became ND and Lou finally got off the mornings b/c I took his spot.
I’ll never forget my first day on the job. My first job ever and I’m doing the morning for Liz Ayers and Kathy Orr and the Noon for Ron Curtis and Maureen Green. Lizzy taught me patience….her running into the station at 6:20 a.m. saying “its ok Miss Robin, I’m here.” Mo you taught me a lot with that red pen of yours on my scripts which I didn’t appreciate until much later and Ron…what didn’t he teach me?
Memories I haven’t seen here….how about the red phone on the set. What producer didn’t groan when Ron would pick it up and do his little wave with it. How about the Blizzard of ’93 when we all lived at the station for 3 days?
I’ll wrap up soon b/c I’m beginning to feel like this is a Spez/Joe P. piece that I booked 1:30 for and its running 2:15.
And of course last but not least Channel 5 is where John and I met. I remember Ron telling me if we ever got married he’d dance with me at my wedding. Tony Rizzo promising…although I think it might have been more sarcastic that he wouldn’t miss that day….which he didn’t and Tony I’ll always love you for being there for us on our wedding day.
I’m all grown up now…we have our own son….we can drive him by where we met… but a building doesn’t do justice to the family that was once inside.
Well Mo…poignantly (the hardest word to spell?) stated, beautfully written, calm and clear. I can hear you read it as I read what you wrote. Aren’t words fun? And you said it all…for all of us.
I know I’m going to leave out some names so forgive me in advance.
I arrived at WTVH in the days of Rizzo and Robertson, Carey and Kirk, Scott and Moose. And of course, Ron Curtis and Liz Ayers. I instantly knew how solid and professional these folks were and that I had better start pulling my weight right away.
But I didn’t have to pull so hard because there were so many pulling right along with me. Great shooters…Picciotto, Roach and Duffy(they became a pair), Butch Charles, Jay, Ham , Al (hey bud), Paul Burke (the original “do it all Paul”), Dave Tinsch, and of course the walking history book, John Ellis.
And all those reporters and anchors, Suzanne Lysak, Lynn, Lisa, Keith Kobland, Donna, Randy Wenner, Andrew Siff (stuck in a traffic jam on the way to a story, he gets out of the car and starts interviewing people about the traffic jam…classic) Elizabeth Johnson, the business needs more people like these. The sports guys…does anybody remember Mike Tirico, wonder what he’s doing these days(I’m so jealous everytime I watch the British Open, you too Roach)…John Eaves…MacGorman, Dan Hoard.
Jodi and Kathy Angliss. You managed to put up with it and keep it all together. Jodi has kept the Legends going. And yes Kathy, there is a Town of Clay man, and he still appears on Central New York newscasts from time to time.
Kathy Orr, Tracy D., Lee Goldberg, anyone seen David Muir around, what’s he up to?
All those newsroom meetings, newscasts, “24 Hours” documentaries, Pan Am , Harris family, Lee Alexander, State Fairs…etc…etc and on and on. So many stories touched all of us.
Lynn Houston was the prophet. He was the first to warn us about Granite. He said they were way leveraged ( I had to look up what that meant). But he was right, way right.
I sat in the GM’s office one day, a scene right out of Heller. How’s this for a nightmare, two GM’s occupied it at the same time during the transition from Meredith to Granite. I was begging to be able to hire an assignment editor since Rizzo had recently left. The two kept arguing with each other about who had the “juice” to make the call…very bizarre. They finally relented and jointly told me to go ahead. That assignment editor would be Dick DeLine. Still miss him to this day. And of course we all miss Donna. And of course we all miss Ron…he was everyone’s guiding light.
I have to mention Lou Gulino and be nice since I have to see him at the Syracuse Press Club meetings. Lou has survived and flourished and still works harder than just about anybody I have ever known.
So, Maureen, thanks for starting all this. We go way back to pre-WTVH when Ch-9 was having growing pains. Thank you for bringing all of our friends to your blog…hope to see you all Friday. Take care…Peter.
And of course I have neglected to mention all the great directors and production staff and engineers. And neglected to reflect on how Joe Picciotto pushed everyone to be better…and pushed himself the hardest.
And now I have gone way long and we’ll have to cut weather and sports to get back on time…sorry…see ya later.
Peter.
Thank you Mo for putting all the things I’ve been feeling into words. At the risk of reiteration, when the ownership of the station changed, so did TVH.
When I first stared as Art Director, I was in awe walking down the hallways and seeing Ron Curtis, yourself, Lou, to name a few. It never really went away. I remember thinking “oh my God thats Jean Daugherty!” The talent that has come through that building is truly amazing and it was completely ignored and misunderstood by the (especially current) management. Yes, times are tough, but if “they” were smart they would have looked back at what made TVH great and used that knowledge to make it great again. I was proud to work with Ron, Jean, Lou G., Joe P. Ron Jr., the list goes on and on. Because they taught me that we were there for the community not to see how much money could be made for home headquarters. In my opinion this has slipped away from the broadcast community at large here in CNY. I hope at some point we can regain that integrity again. I miss you all!
Hi Mo…I will definitely be visiting this blog often. I wish I had known about it sooner.
It is truly sad that all that broadcast history will be put in a box in a basement somewhere. Maybe John Ellis will keep it together-who knows.
I was both excited and scared to death when Jim Hamilton hired me back in ’93. I knew what a great place I was walking into, and I hoped I could just keep up. And that is the Ch5 that will always be in my heart. And truth be told, if Inever worked there I doubt I would be as succesful as I am today. I owe it all to those great reporters, producers, anchors and shooters. It is still the best place I have ever worked, ESPN never came close. The Newsroom is gone, but the friends and memories will live on.
Thanks Mo!
Tony Melfi
I am going to jump back in with 2 memories. I came on board in 1979, one week after getting married (which I still am). I grew up watching “Magic Toy Shop” and it was a shock to be assigned that show (or its iteration at that point) with almost all the original cast members. Jean was of course a wonderful person and I think she embodied the goodness that local television could be. Here’s my Ron story: sometime during my first week at work, hot and muggy late July, I was coming back in from lunch and here comes Ron out the back door: dark 3 piece suite, tie snugged up tight , hair impecable (of course) looking cool and unflapable. Wow, what an image. I knew I was in the presence of the “maestro” as my old friend Joe Sottile called him. Looking forward to more stories tonight.
mo, this is so great and it gets better everyday! i have a WTVH email list and i am asking everyone to email me at:
jodiultimate@msn.com
to be added!!! including you mo!! i will send out a mass email when i have it all together!
Well, what can you say about the loss of a big part of all our lives. Even though it has been years since I worked there, so much of who I am as a person and professionally came right from 980 James.
First, for all those that lost jobs this week I wish you the best. I think Keith you were the only one I still knew there. I still know more people that work at 3&9 and I never worked there. There is life after 5! Like those of us who left years ago, soon TV5 will be just a memory and you will find life has even greater rewards waiting for you.
Am I surprised this happen? No not at all. In fact I am amazed it didn’t happen sooner. The future of broadcasting I believe is cloudy at best. This is just as much a reality in big markets, as well as the networks. I see it all the time, cut backs and more cut backs. Quality? Well that is becoming a commodity many networks and production companies just can’t afford anymore. Even in my new world of network sports broadcasts, or the ENG I provide for national shows, cheaper is better. When Duffy and I started CameraOne I can remember the pressure of such high quality producing and what was expected of us, it was nerve wracking. We were offering a service that came with high expectations. Today I’ll get a call to do a one man band for something that will end up on a national show. Yea, we’ll make it look good, but the money saved in the end will be more important than what I put on tape. It is just a fact of life in this new media world. The 3′s,5′s and 9′s are all but gone or soon will be. Now it’s hundreds of channels and added to that, the internet. Television has become Wal-Mart! And when we give all the production to the Chinese, it will become complete.
But as the world we once knew changes, one thing can’t be taken away, and that is the great memories!
Mo, Northern Ireland. Not once, but twice. What local stations would spend money to do a story like “Project Children” today?
And Paulie, my best bud. The best scam trip of all time. When we convinced Jim Holland to do a story on Vanessa Williams in LA. I remember landing in LA thinking he sent two photographers to do this. So what was the first thing we did? Head to the bar! Yea we brought back the story but we had a blast doing it.
And who can forget the “Hooters” calender I put up in the edit bays! Remember the crap surrounding that one? Considering what the internet has to offer today how funny is a Hooters calendar.
While I could go on and on let me just say if nothing else, it’s good to see everyone here and hear from you. So much I have forgotten, and it all is just rushing back hearing these stories. I love the memories from my 5 days, and am especially happy I still have a few sportscasts preserved forever. To have sat on the set with Ron, Liz, Mo, was great, but what about Larry Sparano! Yea, I sat on that set with the GREATS!
It’s been a BLAST!
See you all down the road.
Dan
OK, one last little one. Re: Pete’s comment about keeping the show on time. He would jokingly launch a TOW Missile (first Gulf War reference)…TOW standing for “Take it Outa Weather”.
I cannot say in words what a loss is it, although I only spent a few years at 5 they were the most productive years in my entire career. The people that I had the honor and privledge of both knowing and working with, the life long freinds I have made, I will truly miss it. The good times (being named photog of the month 2 times in the same year) and bad (when a producer threw a desk phone at me, lol) Aynway, best of luck to all who have been affected i’m sure better things will come.
Mark Harris (former photojournalist) 1995-1998
Mo,
I want to thank you like so many others have for this place we could come to and be together again!
Looking at all the names and posts so many memories flood back. Two things stand out for me… First, WTVH is where Robin and I started our lives together. Second, I am so lucky to have worked and shared so much with so many great people. I will always treasure those years!
For me some of the best times were in the “photog lounge”. Sitting in awe of Joe, Duffy, Roach, Al, Paul and John Ellis to name a few. Learning a craft and being part of a family.
Somilia with Bill, 24 hours, Raquette Lake with Sly, the hand of Ron pulling me out of Oneida Lake durring the flooding special, my very short time on the desk!
I like so many others have a ton to share, but I will save that for Riley’s and hopefully another time when we can all get together.
The only thing that sucks more than the demise of a newsroom I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of, is trying to write something meaningful after Maureen, Bullard, and Tirico have already posted.
Maureen – you are the epitome of class. Now that I’ve discovered your blog, I look forward to reading it on a regular basis.
Bullard – you remain the best writer I’ve ever worked with and always made it look easy. What a gift!
Tirico – if not for you convincing management to give me a tryout, I would have never been part of the family.
I was in Syracuse last Sunday to broadcast the SU/Cincinnati game and had breakfast with a friend from Channel 9 at Cosmos on Marshall Street (good to know some CNY institutions are going strong. The T.H.B. is still on the menu, and the jukebox selections haven’t changed since I was a freshman in 1981. It’s probably the last place on earth that you can groove to “Rock with You” by Michael Jackson for a dime).
When my friend told me the rumors of a turn-out-the-lights meeting scheduled for the next morning at WTVH, I was flabbergasted. I was aware that ratings hadn’t been strong in recent years but always maintained the belief that a new owner or different management team would eventually right the ship. It’s no mystery why Channel 9 has dominated in recent years – the key people on both sides of the camera have been there for more than a decade. Does anyone doubt that if even half of the ‘TVH alums who have shared their memories on this blog were still working there, the station would be competing for number one?
My heart goes out to my friends Keith Kobland, Kevin Mahar, and everyone who lost their jobs this week.
When I remember my time at Channel 5, the first thing that stands out is the photogs/editors. Good God – what an all-star team! Ham, Joe, Jay, Dan, John (Duffy, Lisi, and Ellis), Al, Tony, Paul…I honestly didn’t truly appreciate how phenomenal you guys were until I worked in another newsroom. I’ve seen a ton of TV news all over the country and I’ve never seen better video. Thanks for making us all look good…and doing all the driving.
Of course, it didn’t end there. The building was filled with talented and dedicated people right down to the ever-present Jan Orcut (forgive me if I butchered the spelling), who kept the building spic and span. I think the only person who spent more time there than Jan was the world’s youngest intern, Laurence “L-Train” Segal, who I’m happy to say gave me a call last week.
I had no clue and very little experience when Graham Robertson gave me a shot to be the weekend sports guy in 1991. The first time I anchored, Graham reminded me to save a couple of minutes for the makeup room before we went on the air. Imagine my surprise when I walked in and saw various lotions and potions but no makeup person. After asking Lisa Holbrook for some pointers, I went to the nearest drugstore to buy supplies. I was too embarrassed to ask for help at the store so I decided a “medium” base would be a safe choice. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice that the makeup I purchased was specifically for “beautiful women of color.”
I’m fairly certain I destroyed every copy of the air check.
Eventually my makeup technique got better and so did my work – thanks mostly to advice and positive feedback from talented co-workers. What a thrill it was to exit the sports department and walk by Ron’s office (with those classic photos of him shaking hands with Presidents) and have him tell you he had enjoyed something you had just done. I will always consider Ron’s stamp of approval to be the ultimate compliment.
I wish I could attend the gathering at Riley’s because I know the stories will be priceless. If I was there, I would start with this one.
It’s a few days before Christmas and Bill Carey is doing a package about the holiday season for the less-fortunate in the community that includes getting video at the Salvation Army where they are handing out free Christmas trees. As fate would have it, he and the photog are out of view getting an overhead shot when an extremely popular sports guy from another station is walking out with his free tree.
Bill’s script went roughly as follows (and picture it in that booming voice):
(Over a wide shot) “They came to celebrate the holidays…”
(Over tighter shots of various people) “the poor…the indigent…”
(Over tight shot of rival sports guy) “THE NEEDY.”
Thanks for four of the best years of my life.
Dan
Mo,
This is the one bright spot throughout the whole TV5 debacle. You Blog is a true reflection of you, thoughtful, gracious and above all classy. I have enjoyed reading everyone’s posts over the past few days but have been somewhat hesitant to list my memories. After some thought I figured I’d give it a whirl…..
1988 Working as a news photog at Channel 3 and getting the call from Dave Tinsch asking if I was willing to join the staff. Are you kidding? At that time 5 was the mecca of photojournalism, at least locally, so I turned in my resignation immediately and started on nights and weekends. It didn’t matter, I wanted to learn from the people I admired the most in field. People who always were held in high regard whether they be an Anchor, Reporter, Producer, Photojournalist, and yes assignment editor too!
From day one I would constantly push myself to be as good as everyone else in the newsroom. Sometimes I would, sometimes I wouldn’t, but I had the opportunity to be part of the best staff I’ve have ever worked with. That is something that I truly miss.
…..I will never forget going nose to nose with Rizzo one minute and shaking his hand the next.
….The regional report with Dave Ballard and Gene Young before him. It was always a tossup with me as to which of the two knew the better places to eat!
….Sitting out the back door with the smokers ( you know who you are ) because it was the cool thing to do…even though I don’t smoke…
…The edit room couch where we solved not just every problem in the newsroom, but every problem in the world…..
….Great documentaries like Hurricane Andrew, and Pearl Harbor….Bill Carey not only knows how to sell an idea to the News Director, but also how to scam first class from the airline…..
…..Driving down some unknown country road, lost on a spectacular early summer day with Scott Atkinson thinking, it doesn’t get any better than this….
……Laughing harder than I’ve ever laughed and working harder than I ever have…..
I used to work with Bill Beagle at Channel 3 and he told me something that I still hold on to. “Once you work in tv news you can do anything.” I think that’s only true for those of us who had the honor of being part of TV5. For me it was a glorious ride, I miss even today.
All the best Mo,
John Duffy
Mo – You were always a good writer and you haven’t lost your touch. Monday was sad for a number of quality indivuals at WTVH. It is also sad for the viewers in this market as well as the industry in general. Yes there are many stories to tell. At the end of the day we all tried to put out a quality product that served the viewers. Some days we did better than others. What I miss the most is working with some incredible people who helped make every day just a little bit better.
Dear Mo,
You know I sent this to the paper. Who knows if they’ll use it.
I hope you will all forgive the formality of the letter. In recent days,
I have felt a growing desire to let an entire community know how special that place was.
In the meantime, I keep coming back here for more. Boy do I miss everyone.
To the Editor:
I still have that letter from Ron Curtis dated September 11, 1986.
He had written back to a viewer who had asked for advice on journalism schools and how to prepare for a career in television news.
At the time, he didn’t know that viewer was still a middle school student with dreams of one day joining Curtis’ ranks at Channel 5.
This week I have found myself vacillating between profound sadness and profound gratitude to all of the people who molded that boy from Syracuse who began visiting Channel 5 in 1987.
Most of the newsroom didn’t know what to make of me… that kid who actually reveled in making police “beat calls” and “rip time,” when we lined up to sort scripts before news time… everyone in the line towering over me.
I am so grateful to all of you for allowing me in.
I am thankful to have learned from the many gifted writers, Scott Atkinson, Bill Carey, Maureen Green and others who wrote so beautifully to the pictures and who celebrated the people in their stories long before character driven reporting was a consultant driven trend.
I thank the photographers, Jim, Jay, Dan, Paul, John, Dave T, Al , Butch, Joe and so many others who taught me the pictures were often worth far more than any words attached to them. Looking back, I know the kid in the backseat of the cruiser was not always welcomed during the race to breaking news. I hope carrying the tripod was good enough in exchange.
I remember one of those early summers as an intern a violent spate of thunderstorms in Oswego County. While inside our gray Chevrolet cruiser, utility lines were dropping and tree limbs were crashing down. Photographer Jay LaBarre jumped from the car to capture the images with Reporter Terri Peters alongside him. “Drive the car a half mile to meet up with us,” they yelled. And so I did.
When they got back in, rain drenched and breathless, they asked, how old are you anyway? Fourteen.
They told me never to tell anyone, but now I don’t think they’ll mind.
I remember Mike Tirico poking fun at me when we’d meet in those long, dim hallways on the way to Studio A, asking why the buttoned-down shirts? Why so professional? You’re just a teen, he’d say.
But I knew where I was. And Mike knew too.
There was Liz Ayers, who even while facing such adversity at home, came in everyday with a spirit and smile that beamed off the newsroom walls. What strength she taught us all.
I realize why I have felt so broken this week. My first decade in this business was at Channel 5. The vast majority of those years were unpaid as the junior intern. And those are the years I cherish.
Poor John Ellis, chief editor, who endured my repeated requests to see the blooper reels… the same ones over and over. Maureen reading on the noon news about Dolly Parton and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, “Parton showed up with two of the things that made her most famous… her guitar and her wigs.” For the next two stories, you could see Mo looking to Ron with a huge smile and you could hear him laughing off camera. Finally the two-shot, and there Ron was, holding his tie knot to his neck, stifling his laughter. Mo asked, “What’s so funny?” Ron said, “I’m just picturing…” Mo answered, “Oh, I know what you’re picturing.”
And poor Tony Rizzo, the Assignment Editor, who while juggling photographers and reporters’ schedules, had to deal with the pesky kid intern. After a few months away, I would walk in, and he would yell, it must be spring vacation! And then he’d inform me that Ron and Maureen were off. Do you want to go home now?
I didn’t go home. I stayed so long, in fact, I finally got hired… thanks to former News Director Peter Spartano and to Ron. I don’t how I landed that anchor job, but I look back now and cherish every day I shared Ron’s chair on that anchor desk. Sharing being the operative word, because no one ever filled it.
I understand movers are now packing up what’s left inside Channel 5. I hope they don’t take away the wall with the growth chart etched in pen. The newsroom staff would measure how much I had grown every summer during my return visits.
I’m still racing to stories and I have that driver’s license now too.
The biggest change is the people who viewers now ask me about.
“What are Charlie and Diane really like?”
The perfect mix of intelligence and elegance I always say.
But I knew how important those traits were as far back as 14.
I’d watched Ron and Mo.
Maureen,
Since I’m seeing you in a couple hours, I’ll keep this brief. Former colleagues have said it all better than I ever could. So a few personal thoughts for you..
…I still have on tape the story you did that I think was Tony Rizzo’s idea about “the Grinch who stole Christmas” at city hall, when they were planning to take down the wires that hold the Christmas decorations, a story that used clips from the special as a metaphor of what was happening (remember?)
…I still remember as producer, arguing with you over how to pronounce “Westmoreland” in a script. You wanted to pronounce it like most of Syracuse did, and I told you no, that I grew up near there, and they emphasize “West”, not “more.” I did everything I could, then watched in the booth as you pronounced it just the way you wanted.
…lunches and desserts after the Noon show was on its way to Mars, before the afternoon overtime (for me) began
…water skiing for the entire day as part of the “GIMME 5″ campaign — the whole day because the GM’s son was in the group, and was, as I recall, just learning to water ski (I thought TV news beat working for a living, but that beat even TV news…)
…weren’t you there the day that something went wrong (live truck went down, maybe?) and Louie yelled “This place sucks moose#$%^”, and smashed a clipboard over a table?
…the sometimes air-conditioned trailer at the Fair, watching Louie call the base in a panic about some crisis or another, on those gigantic original cell phones that looked like giant Fred Flintstone lunch boxes
…being told to sit next to you at the autograph table after the show at the Fair, as people scrambled for your autograph then politely said to me “Oh, you can sign it, too. Are you somebody?”
…meeting you at the Fayetteville Christmas tree lighting ceremony
…as your competition, holding your hand and helping you hurry down the bleachers in the Carrier Dome, to help you cover your own graduation (wasn’t it Ted Kopple?)
…the times our families spent time together growing up
Here’s to the great times — you were a big part of my past. See you soon…
Randy
My time was short, but my memories long of the TVH family and what it meant to Central New York. Working there was truly being in a family, with the ups and downs of that bond. Despite the tragedy, the undying spirit of the station lives through all of us who will forever remember.
Be well sisters and brothers.
Art
I ran across this site while following up on some links about what happened this week at channel 5. I was trying to find out where Bob Kirk was after all these years, but the last I could find he had been in Rochester.
I have a picture of you when you were expecting one of your children when you were at one of the balloon fests. Years ago, Channel 5 was the ONLY station my family watched for news. I’ve always been a news junky type of person, and I have the highest respect for you and all the talent that came out of channel 5 over the years. Thanks for the trip down memory lane here. I tried to read them all; I’m getting blurry-eyed now, but will bookmark it and catch up later.
A former channel 5 viewer from ‘the good ole days’.
Reading everyone’s post here has been wonderful. Thank you, Mo, for creating this oasis. Seeing everyone last night started the healing process, at least for me. I spent more than half of my life in the hallowed halls at 980 James. I worked there for more than half of WTVH (WHEN-TV)’s existence.
As I told you last night, I was hesitant to post my memories here because they aren’t newsroom memories. I was one of the “others.” You told me it was for all memories, so here goes:
“The Magic Key to the Magic Door to the Wonderful Magic Toy Shop.” We were still taping daily shows when I started there in 1975.
Obie Rein, the original Meredith Broadcast employee. Jimmy Knapp, the audio man who would hide in the recessed doors and whistle at all the women who walked by. The always incredible John Fear. Tom Hunt, Ron Pastuf, Don Miller. Roy Bellus, Gene Flavin, Frank Giordano. These are the folks who invented local TV broadcasting.
Being crammed into an old audio booth with every other employee and recording “EEEEEEEE-vom” for a new movie open.
The “Washington Sex Scandal” graphic that Al Roker made (back in the days before computers) that we hung in the traffic department (which was the news room all of you remember). Picture the DC skyline . . . and the Washington Monument soaring high above everything else. I don’t remember if Andy ever let that one on the air.
The ‘portable’ 1″ machine and all night commercial location shoots.
Diamond P Sports.
Production Manager Bruce Levy’s practical joke on News Director Andy Brigham. Even GM Larry Rhodes was in on this one. Doretta Settineri (now Royer) had just learned to switch on the Grass Valley 1600. The regular director called in sick, so Bruce told Andy that Doretta would be directing the noon news. At 11am, Doretta walked into the news room and asked, “Do I need a script or something?” Andy, of course, went through the roof and up the stairs to the corner office. Larry never blinked. “You doubt Doretta’s ability?” In the mean time, Bruce was getting ready to direct the show himself.
John Bowman flipping off another driver, who followed him back to the station. I was at the front desk when this . . . person stormed into the building, screaming he was with the federal marshall’s office and that was going to get his. Meanwhile, John was standing around the corner listening to this jerk and laughing his head off. An hour or so later, I was being questioned by the FBI because impersonating a federal officer is a no-no, and Bowman wanted his revenge.
The week in every March when I was the most popular person in the building: dividing my time between haunting the telephone because Nielsen was supposed to call with Feb advances and haunting the CBS TWX so we could find out where & when Syracuse would play in the NCAA tournament . . . and every manager in the building dodging my footsteps.
1987. Syracuse makes it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournment. They were scheduled to play North Carolina. CBS didn’t carry every game back then, and their contract with the NCAA was different than it is now. Back then, CBS would tape-delay games and show them in late night, but they had to show games to stations in areas of “natural interest” on a live basis. Then President Ronald Reagan decided to have a press conference. That night. At the time of the game. We told CBS that they had to give us the Syracuse-North Carolina Sweet 16 game live. CBS balked. We told CBS that the presidential news conference could be seen on other stations in our market, and they had to provide us with the game LIVE, as per their contract with the NCAA. WTVH won that one. Yes, we preempted the President of the United States for SU Basketball. The phones went crazy. Only one complaint came in that time, from an elderly woman who wanted to know what had happened to BARNEY MILLER
SU’s 1987 journey to the Final Four. We turned the windows on the front of the building into a big banner: GO ORANGE, and lit it up at night. We took the station jingle, STAND UP AND TELL ‘EM YOU’RE FROM SYRACUSE and slapped it on footage of the team running the court. Perfect.
When the announcement came that Meredith had sold WTVH to Granite, we found a Gallinger/Better Homes & Garden Real Estate Sign SOLD! sign and stuck it in the front yard.
FREAKY FLIX & FOOD.
Maureen
It was so wonderful to see you and everyone else who showed up at Riley’s last night. Jodi, Terry, and Liz and I have already talked about a more formal gathering sometime in the future.
First I can’t hope to top some of the excellent writers here. My forte were those special projects, but here goes;
I do remember one day asking News Director Jim Holland “what if we put Ron out at the fair for the entire newscast?” The first full year we did it, I remember the intercom breaking down and having to yell out the window of the truck. “camera 1 medium shot Ron, camera 2 crowd shot”
That same year our set wasn’t quite ready, and you guys had to literally climb a ladder to get on the platform. I had arranged to get Governor Mario Cuomo on the set for an interview. He arrived at our truck, we were introduced, and he asked who would be doing the interview and where. I pointed to the set and he asked “how do I get up there?” I pointed to the ladder. If looks could kill.
Jim invited the whole newsroom to a New Years Eve party he and his neighbors were hosting in Radisson. I asked him if there would be any single women there. 18 months later you and Ron, and the whole TV 5 crew were at my wedding. Sandy and I will celebrate 25 years in May.
Do you remember the time when one of the tape machines that played the news open crashed? We used a backup machine to run the noon news open. but the engineers were trying to fix the main machine and tested it by running a Wendy’s commercial. Somehow the playback of the two machines combined on the air. As the announcer said “Now, Ron Curtis” this hamburger bun goes bouncing across the screen. ” Maureen Green” and some onions go bouncing across. When the camera in the studio came on the look on Ron’s face was priceless.
I remember producing the noon news, and asking Tony Rizzo if any stories would be coming back for the noon news and Tony Responded “&*^% the Noon”. FTN became a catchphrase.
Exit polls
The election Night “book”.
The young producers in the WSTM newsroom often complain about a reporter’s story coming in 15 seconds long, and how their show was now in trouble. They never had to produce a show where Ron anchored, and Scott Atkinson was doing “Live Eye” report. That’s an easy 2 minutes long. Sorry weather, sorry sports.
We used to take the news on the road. The first time I think was 1984, and we did the noon news from Oswego right on the river. Mr. Food even came by. I remember the Oswego Palladium Times headline “WTVH Wows Them in Oswego”.
Kathy Orr who for years would say she never heard my time cues because her earpiece must be broken. I’m sure you and Ron could hear me through the walls screaming ‘WRAP’.
Jack Slater getting mooned during the weather outside. Years later we learned the Grimes HS students who did it were Bobcat Goldthwait and Tom (Sponge Bob) Kenny.
How about when SU was to play Kentucky in the NCAA National Championship game in 1996? We put Ron and Maureen in the Carrier Dome to host the pregame special. Thousands of fans gathered there to watch the game on giant screen TV’s. They could hardly hear themselves talk or hear Roger Mirabito and I in the control room because for minutes after the show started the fans kept cheering Ron and Mo. After the game, we did a whip-around to start the post game show. Ron in the studio, Rob King at the Meadowlands, Maureen on the roof of the Varsity, and David Muir on Marshall Street. As David started to talk, he and the camera crew were overwhelmed–no maybe mugged, by the enthusiastic crowds.
I could ramble on for hours and hours and usually do when talking to co-workers about the good old days. At the time we probably didn’t think they were the good old days. We complained about everything and everyone. That was the beauty of going out on a story with a photog, you could bitch all the way there and back, and while at the story bitch with the photogs and reporters from 3 & 9.
But we do know now they were the good old days. To the photographers: You guys truly were the best. You made countless reporters, producers, and anchors look good. The highest compliment I ever received was after winning an award for a feature story, the judges wrote; “the reporter knew when to shut up and let the natural sound and pictures tell the story”. You guys taught me that. Thank you for always making my strange ideas work.
To our directors, production staff, and engineers. Thank you for putting up with an often spastic producer and making so many so many election night, state fairs, and news remotes work.
To the anchor team, thanks for making my lame copy sound better than it should have, and making the shows always look good no matter the producing and technical errors that happened along the way.
Lou Gulino
WTVH 1981-2005
Maureen,
It was a sad moment when you left WTVH, almost as sad as Ron Curtis’ retirement. Yes, WTVH has been the tv station to watch for news since before those days when we were kept awaiting the new letters for WHEN, and yes I recall when it changed, was it from channel 8?
You, WTVH, had a major challenge in coverage, of course your metropolitan area as defined by govt persons, but also Cortland County and its neighbors, especially at times of tragedy, and Tompkins County had several incredibly sad ones in and near the 1990s.
But you and Ron, yes our John Eves, too, were stalwarts in the area news world, and if the significance of State Fair broadcasting was not realized, the failure was not the station’s, but mine.
Glad, Maureen, you are still in the news world, and I am very pleased to find this www site.
May you be prospering, and may you realize, just a bit, how much a part of many lives WTVH, and yes you and Ron, played.
WSE
Thank you WSE, for your kind words. Our staff tried to cover the entire region, and for awhile I think we did a pretty good job. I’m happy to know you liked the coverage. Do you still listen to my pal John Eves in Cortland? Great guy. Take care, Maureen
Dear Maureen-
Thank you for this e-TV5 reunion. It’s rather ironic that one of the tools that helped to dismantle Ch. 5, and other stations around the country, is at the same time bringing us all back together. Your comments and those who have added to them would have touched my father very much. Thank you all! He was the first to admit that he was part of a team, and what a team it was.
For a time it was a Tiffany Station of the Tiffany Network. A sparkling example of what broadcasting should be. While I played a tiny role in TV5’s history I too felt the WONDER of working at that historic site and it was a JOY. It’s hard to believe that nothing will emanate from the once bustling building at 980 James Street. THE MAGIC TOY SHOP is closed. THE TV5 LIVE EYE, shut. Once the NEWSCENTER, now the center of controversy. The DIALOGUE over who’s to blame continues but there is no question that in local broadcasting history TV5 really was SOMETHING SPECIAL. Thank you all for this trip down Memory Lane which, in this case, is also known as Ron Curtis Pkwy.
God bless,
Ron Curtis, Jr.
My goodness Ron, how good it is to hear from you. As you can tell from all the tributes from the employees who commented above, your dad meant so much to so many. He really was TV5. I enjoyed your conversation with Sean Kirst’s column last week. Glad to know you’re doing well. Freaky Flix and Food was never the same after you left. Like your dad, everything you did there was memorable. Please give your family my very best, Maureen
It was wonderful to see everyone at the “wake”. As Dan Roach said (paraphrasing here), all the little, old stuff falls away and we remember what it was like to be with some amazing people.
Al Nall: How come all of my favorite moments (we’ll always have Tijuana) seem to have happened around you? He and I had the best road gig in the world when we worked the evening shift at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans. Our satellite filing time was so early that we had to be done by the time the evening session of the convention began. So by the time the evening session began, we were done and on our way to Bourbon St. Al — remember a band called “Laissez Faire”?
And you and I may have gotten waylaid by the Oneida dissidents, but I’m the one who wound up testifying in court and being submitted to 10 cross-examinations by 10 defendants’ lawyers. Damn, that was fun.
Dan Hoard: Wow. Thank you for the kind comment. It’s especially kind considering I was the producer who regularly took your time when KO ran long, which she did as a matter of routine. Nobody was ever funnier than you were with “I Dare Dan”. You were Kenny Mayne before Kenny Mayne was. My dream team of local sportscasters is Tirico, Cyphers and you.
And I forget who mentioned it above, but I never took offense when Louie shouted that something sucked moose&*%$.
The Wendy’s hamburger open remains the single funniest thing I ever saw at Channel 5. To see Ron’s face, disgusted, peeking out from between a falling slice of tomato and a bouncing-upwards piece of lettuce because the background color of the ad was the exact shade of our chromakey…well…that’s just the most wonderful 5 blooper of all time.
I hope everyone who got the axe (and those who will soon get it) can find good jobs quickly. And I hope most of them find those jobs outside of broadcasting. Because, as Bill noted above, when a company goes from caring about making good local television to caring only about making a profit, the end result is disastrous. This was not a business designed to be run by investment bankers. Until the bankers fly off in search of other industries’ carcasses to pick, broadcasting will remain a risky way to make a long term living.
Mo –thanks for providing this gathering place and to my former colleagues and friends, thanks for an incredible ride.
Hi Maureen,
It’s great to be able to catch up with you online. You probably don’t remember me, but I was a meteorology shadow at channel 5 under Tom Hauf, and then John DiPasquale. I remember seeing you and talking for a minute with you the few times I was at the station for the evening news. I have to say those times at channel 5 were incredible. It was great to see professionals appear as nice as they seem on TV the same way in person. It turns out after I spoke out online saying how awful it was to have you gone, I too was thrown out of channel 5 this past August. I see now it didn’t really matter seeing what happened last week. At any rate, I just thought I would stop by and say hello, and I have to ask the burning question, any plans to return to CNY journalism?
Carson
Maureen,
It was great seeing everyone at Riley’s. Each of the previous times that I have seen so many folks from Channel 5 it has been because a member of the TV5 family has made the transition. And now the news operation itself makes the transition. How weird it was(is) to see WSTM’s graphics on TV5.
So many memories.
Mike Tirico on Bourbon Street, and on Coyne Field seconds before a live shot. The microphone told the story.
Legendary weather shots.
The day Graham started and let everyone see their personnel file.
Navigating a golf cart at the Fair. (I clipped some lady in the leg and vowed never to work the fair again.)
Straight To The Source
I learned so much, especially from Dave, Jim, Jay and all the rest of the photojournalists and felt privileged to be working with the best set of photographers in the state. I worked hard to be sure I measured up. I respected the fact that our reporters always wanted to get the story right, and most often we still got it on first.
Everyone else has said what has needed to be said. I just want to say thanks to everyone I worked with for allowing me to be part of the family.
Butch
Hi Carson, Of course I remember you! I was one of your cheerleaders, so I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you at 5. At the moment, this is what I am doing in “journalism”. I always open to new ideas. What are you up to these days? Hugs, Maureen
Dave, I don’t want to clutter up the board with more of me, so I’m sitting back, but I have to add the “Onion Open” remains the funniest thing I’ve ever seen on TV. Does anyone have a copy of it??? I would love a dub. Dave it was truly great to see you again. M.
Although I never worked for WTVH (with the exception of a few Crunch games back in the ‘90s), I have had the pleasure of making television with many of you at 9 and in the freelance world over the past 25 years. After spending a couple of hours reading these posts, I have lost count of exactly how many- the number easily eclipses 30. These days, our collaboration is most often on regional or nation telecasts. Clearly, the résumés of those who have posted above speaks volumes of the quality work that was done on both sides of the camera by talented, dedicated broadcasters at central NY’s first TV station. If my memory serves me correctly, 5 was also the first TV station in Syracuse to have a Web site. How fitting that the eulogies are so eloquently offered on-line.
Ever the student of history, especially that which relates to central NY radio and television, I have a deep appreciation for the anecdotes you have all so graciously shared. Memories live forever. Thank you, Maureen, for providing a platform upon which others may share their stories.
While the filter of nostalgia often distorts our view of the past, especially in sad times, we must not let our reverence for the past diminish what we have yet to offer to the future. Though the delivery systems may change, it is content that draws audiences to media. Across platforms, it is the collective experiences of those who have come before that inevitably provides the foundation for those who follow. To those of you who have had the misfortune of feeling the painful bite of the ax, I encourage you to remain thankful for your past experiences and proud of the legacy you helped to create. Above all, I encourage you to focus your energies on what you have yet to accomplish. Quality content is what you all know how to provide. Quality content will always be in demand.
Is it possible to miss a place where you never worked?
I have one story about WTVH that I’ve never forgotten because I’ve told it to dozens of young producers and reporters over the years. I was an intern on a summer Saturday, trying to break out of radio and into television, taking an hour to write a 20-second VO. When I got it good and polished, I handed it to Terri Peters, who read it and said to me: “You want me to read this on TV?” I turned to Kae Newman (for support, maybe). She said: “Why are you looking at me? Re-write it.”
I miss the place.
Jim Gilchriest
I can’t believe this has happened to WTVH. It does feel like a good friend has passed away. I wish I could have been there on Friday but I am not living in Syracuse anymore. My thoughts are with everyone.
I worked at WTVH from 1980 to 2004. I was not in the news dept. but in the production dept. I was the one who told the anchors to straighten their ties and made sure they looked good for the camera on the set. I still think about it when I see David Muir on ABC. I remember him when he was 14.
Freaky Flicks and Food – Always a good memory. I still have a copy of when I was the floor director and Matt was the guest host. My head was in a box on the set and I could hear all the laughter in the control room. It was hard to keep a straight face. Also the time the moon in the back fell down and the director had me go back as the show went on live to fix it.
Sports Nuts – Remember that?
Telethons -
Toyshop Corporation on Location -
And lets not forget the “Yuck Jar” – Some of you will remember this well.
There are many many more memories, these are just a few.
Lorrie
Moey: I used to have the Wendy’s open, on an old 3/4″ tape. I’m calling my travel agent now to book a trip into the deepest, darkest corner of my attic to see if I can find the old, hidden treasure.
-Indiana Moose
PS: It was a great pleasure to see you, too, Moey.
PPS: I never looked shorter than when Butch shot one of my standups. He’s so tall *I* got nosebleeds. He’s also the only guy who gets away with calling me “Davey”, as in “…and Goliath”.
PPSS: It bears mentioning that among the excellent ‘togs at ‘TVH, a few names haven’t gotten their due. Butch, for one. Benny Smegelsky, for another. Scotty Bogardus, for a third. (Gotta believe I’m missing someone else, for sure.) You can teach someone how to operate a camera, but you can’t teach intelligence. Each one of them bailed my sorry butt out shoots over the years because they knew something I didn’t know. To work with people smarter than you, that’s a blessing.
Maureen:
While I spent nearly 8 years as the ND at 3, I proudly spent my first 6 months in the business working at Newscenter 5. All of the posters here, correctly describe ‘TVH as the Tiffany Station of the Tiffany Network. I learned more from Andy Brigham in that short time than I even imagined possible. As for mentors there was none better than Ron. Although I do still smile about my small part in what, at that point, may have been Ron’s least favorite incident on-air. Jon Bowman and I were assigned to cover a story at the “Roamin’ Eye” in North Syracuse. A State Supreme Court judge had ruled that toplesss dancers had to wear pasties. Well, we got the shots we could air and Jon, of course, got some “extra” b-roll for viewing in the edit bays. So, Ron introduces the package and, yep, the naughty b-roll came into living rooms all over CNY. Gene Flavin couldn’t hit the black button fast enough but the damage was done. The next day’s Post Standard had a front page article “Mammarian Exhibition Shocks Channel 5 Viewers.” Jon got a week off and we all learned a lesson. Still, 31 years later, it does make me smile. Good luck and God Bless to all of you hit with the layoffs.
Mark
Maureen,
Thank you for allowing us to share some thoughts.
Maureen,
If someone did not know who Ron Curtis or Jean Daugherty were, and never heard of “The Magic Toy Shop”, that person had no business running Channel 5.
Give my regards to your former colleagues and please tell them Thank You.
Mo, I was so planning on attending Friday nite, but was not feeling well. Hope it all went well and lots of good memories abounding for all. Love to see you sometime for lunch.
Let me know if that could happen, and we could “reunite” ourselves. Love to see some that “jewelry stuff”. You still doing that???? All the nice folks on this blog and all your kind words are comforting to those who we will miss in the archives of TVH.
Oh, my husband is just the same, retired and loving life, but don’t ask me about it.
Sandi
Hello Frank,
Thank you for writing. I agree with your sentiments and I know many former staffers are checking in to see kind comments like yours. They mean the world to all of us. Very Best, Maureen
I noticed that Newscenter 5 was missing alot of stuff it had before when Ron Curtis left
The Sense of community went with him and it is now lost. for the past few years I have
noticed that The christmas specials are missing TIME OF WONDER TIME OF JOY
And CHRISTMAS IN SYRACUSE are no longer airing the 2 stories CAROLEE. and LETS
KEEP CHRISTMAS were beautiful and are sadly missing from the airwaves THE MAGIC TOY SHOP was a delightful show These things need to be brought back we need to have a
New version of THE MAGIC TOY SHOP with the same characters but with new people
that are multitalented like the original cast and have some new stuff and olfd stuff too
during the christmas talk they could talk about christmas traditions like taking kids to the
MOST to see The Polar Express or to the christmas tree fest or play CAROLE and do the same things the original cast did draw pictures tell stories etc etc I watched these programs when I was young and I think a new kids program should be on the air and a updated Time of wonder time of joy too
Kathy Guinto
WTVH News Viewer
Maureen,
Glad to hear back from you! Right now I’m still working on a few different things in weather, the usual. Recently got a chance to visit Dave Longley at WSYR, and had a great time. Love the blog, keep it up! Hope to see you on Bridge Street again soon too
Carson
Carson that’s a great update. Dave Longley does know a thing or two about weather, doesn’t he? And thanks for the compliment about doing Bridge Street. It was a blast to work with my friend Carrie. Maureen
Dear Maureen,
For almost two weeks now, I’ve been taking it ALL in. I’ve been reading your blog, Matt’s blog. I read David’s op-ed in the newspaper the other day. I found out about what happened at channel 5 after spending the weekend in Dallas, wishing good luck to one of my best friends, who’s starting a new job in LA. I wrote a letter to her and included in it a quote (from the musical Annie, no less!) that says, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” We are all so lucky to have been a part of WTVH. I love reading all of the stories posted on your blog – even if some happened years before I got there.
Each one of us has a million and one stories. I remember – quite vividly – working the nightside shift on a Sunday, the night before Labor Day 1998. At some point after midnight, I left to drive to my boyfriend’s parents’ (now my in-laws!) home in Rome to spend the holiday with them. I never made it there. The storm rolled in. In my open-air Jeep Wrangler, I was soaked, the jeep was soaked, I drove back to the station (dodging fallen trees and power lines along the way). After some near-death moments, I thought I could just spend the night at the station. Within minutes of getting into WTVH, one of the best photojournalists (and all-around funny guy) Chris Hart comes bounding in. He probably just woke up 10 minutes earlier. Chris – in no uncertain terms – said we needed to go back out and get video and interviews. He shot some of the best video from the Labor Day Storm. We interviewed shell-shocked CNYers. One woman said, “I thought I was dead.” By the end of several hours, I thought I was dead too. Exhausted!! By mid-morning, I was allowed to go home. Chris worked a few more hours I think. Now that’s dedication… and true work ethic I wish more people could embody.
I had a daydream for a long time… that my husband would quit his job in NYC and work on the family’s dairy farm in Rome. We could live on the farm (don’t know if my in-laws shared that same dream. Ha!). Our little Jack would spend his days running around the barn and the fields, and I could work at WTVH.
Oh well.
I’m sad I missed Riley’s (with a one-and-a-half year old child, it’s hard to plan at the last minute). It’s been wonderful though, seeing everyone’s photos from that night. I’m counting on another get-together soon! I’m now at another channel 5 (Fox/WNYW). I’m surrounded by great people… but how I miss everyone at WTVH 5! Maureen, I love your blog. You are a class act… the pro who writes beautiful prose. Keep it up. The laundry will get finished another day! Hope to see you and everyone else soon! In saying goodbye to Dallas, my friend who left for LA wrote on her Facebook page a Dr. Seuss quote, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” It’s tough not to cry, but there’s a lot to smile about. Saint Patrick’s Day is Tuesday. The corned beef there (by far the best I’ve ever eaten) at Coleman’s makes me smile. Also, good luck to all who are on the job hunt. I know they’ll all land on their feet. The memories I have of WTVH are worth smiling about.
Katherine Creag
Katherine, it is GREAT to hear from you. It’s a difficult time of transition for all and I can see you’re going through it too. We really are all in this together. Thanks for your memories of crazy, wonderful channel 5, thank you for your compliments about my blog. I’m grateful you checked in. I’ll do as you say; postpone the laundry for more writing. Keep in touch and enjoy every frustrating and messy moment with your Jack. He’ll be off to college in a heartbeat. Trust me. Hugs, Maureen
Maureen,
Thank you! Your blog is a wonderful way to remember all those great days for those of us who are proud to have worked at WTVH. After working at 9 stations across the country, I can truly say that my years at WTVH were some of the best times in television news that anyone could have. We all worked hard, learned alot, laughed alot and put on a great product.
I still tell the story of Jim Holland interviewing me for the weather job when I was 9 months pregnant. I had to get my doctor to sign a letter so the airline would let me fly. Kirstin was born, we moved across the state and I was on the air, doing the weather, 3 weeks later just in time for the February book. That baby girl will graduate from college in May, time sure flies.
Weather on the porch was always challenging with the neighborhood kids that lived behind James Street. I remember many nights those kids hurled firecrackers or snowballs into that back parking lot to get as close to the weather porch as they possibly could.
The photogs were without a doubt, the best in this business. From Dan, Dave, John Duffy, Butch, Jay, Jim and Bogey, you all had a great eye, got the best shots and rides to locations were always filled with wonderful conversations. I loved you all! John Ellis was one of a kind and I learned so much from each of you.
And what a newsroom it was, Tony and Lou, you were amazing. Scott and Leslie, Carol Clark, Dave Bullard, Lynn Huston, and Gene Young all turned out incredible news stories everyday. I can picture in my head where all of you sat in the newsroom. I loved when my desk was next to sports in the corner. It was so much fun chatting with John Eves and Mike Tirico. And I mean this from the bottom of my heart when I write that there are no anchor teams in the country that can beat Ron and Maureen and Bob and Liz. Being on the desk with all of you felt like home and the viewers felt we were a part of their homes during those “glory days”. Each of you knew news, put on a stellar performance every newscast, every day, but at the end of the day we were all truly a part of a team and a TV family that I’ve never seen in any newsroom, anywhere.
Love to all of you and it would be fun to have a drink and reminisce sometime.
Marti, you bring back wonderful memories for all, and for me personally, you were an inspiration. You handled work and motherhood with aplomb and now you’ll have a college graduate to show for it. Can Kirsten really be that old already? Can we be that old already? Ha. Thanks for coming to the blog. The list of grateful TV5 veterans grows every day. We really were a force. Kisses, Maureen
good morning all,
I was just sitting here reading the newer post and thought hey I remember a youtube entry of Rons Last day at WTVH 5 thought I would link you to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLus1P_tmz0
“Don’t it always seem you know…that you don’t know what you’ve got till its gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot…”
First of all, thank you Maureen for creating this forum for us to both reminisce and mourn! And thanks to all of you who posted, for making me a blubbering idiot!
So many memories…
John Ellis and Crawford “Craw” Hurley who gave me a chance when I had no business getting my break at a station with such a great history.
beating the other “photogs” in to work in the morning so I could get the “good” camera. Not that it was!
working with gear that broke down so much, nobody got mad when you lost a story.
Jon Bowman, Rich Isome, Jack Morse and Joe Sottile (sp) who let a young kid make mistakes on their stories.
Jack Slater
K. Maxwell and her white powder before the 11:00 show
creating the photog lounge
My first “fatal”. I’ll bet everyone respectfully remembers (and should) theirs.
dating interns…females anyhow. And I wasn’t the only “tog” who did it!!
Shooting a fatal fire with Maureen where the victim was a child…and then watching her breakdown in tears when she got back to her cubical. It happened at one time or another to ALL of us. “Gods way of letting us know were still human” Crawford Hurley told me. We spent so much time together…It was always heartbreaking to see a coworker hurting.
the bread truck! Death on wheels
Scott Atkinson, Dave Bullard, Maureen Green, Bill Carey, Randy Wenner, Mike Tirico and Steve Cyphers. Great writers, even better “STORYTELLERS”! Imagine, sportscasters who were good writers and storytellers.
Gene “the hammer” Young
The regional report… just leave us alone, we’ll see you at 4:00pm
Election night. Catered dinner and every year with out fail… Lou’s rundown would be thrown out by the news director within the first 1/2 hour of coverage.
Lou Gulino and Tony Rizzo. Two nice guys (although not always) with the most thankless jobs in an entire TV station…and they did it as good if not better than anyone in the business could.
Although, there was the time Tony called me in, in the middle of the night for a HUGE fire in Cortland. “thanksgiving eve…family burned out of their home” he said” When I got to the scene, they were rolling up the hoses. IT WAS A VACENT HOUSE, and I got a speeding ticket. I still love you Tony!
Working monday nights with only 2 photogs/editors. Billy Blake killed Officer David Clark on a monday night. Scott Bogardus hit the street, and I stayed back to edit the show. Taking it back! We ALL did more with less, and we were ALL really good at it.
Speaking of “bogie”. I work with, and tried to lead the best Photojournalist in our business. Dan Roach – some might say he had a little attitude sometimes. I say, there wasnt a more dependable guy on the street. Dan always got it done, and it was always quality work. Paul Burke, One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Paul always had a smile or a joke or a song or a bear-hug…and in our business, we needed that…everyday! Jim Hamilton & Jay Labarre, great sports shooters and equally solid in news. Scott Bogardus, Joe Picciatto and John Duffy… Bogie, Joe and John were/are ARTISTS who ALWAYS caused me to work to improve my craft. Butch Charles…gave me the attitude checks that I needed. Didn’t like it then, but I appreciate it now. And Al Nall!!! Al paged me on my FIRST night as Chief Photographer, to tell me that “he had just dropped a set of gear off the roof of Big Mac Stadium”, and he wasn’t kidding! Al was another SOLID shooter who’s commitment to “serving our country” is appreciated more than he will ever know!
“Photographer of the Month”
RUNNING stories into MC as the anchors were reading the intros!! And, producers who believed in us when we told them “it would be there”!
Pot luck “family” dinners in the studio with the weekend crew!
Driving back country roads with Kae Newman and shutting of the headlights just to watch her freak out
going to a nudist camp with Terri Peters and having the owner walk up to her car window to introduce himself… NUDE!!!
having a crush on Marti Skold, Elizabeth Draper and Liz Ayer when they first came to the station! (If you can call it a crush a t age 25!)
Finding out that Liz is one of the nicest people on the face of this earth
having Ron tell me…”you will NEVER date my daughter David” And yes, I was dumb enough to ask!!
Rileys… and I’m so sorry and jealous that I missed the reunion
Jean Daugherty…and trying on the “Mister Trolley Head” when I first met her!
getting my ass kicked on the Onondaga Reservation
“Thursdays Child” and helping to get children adopted.
flying to an SU/Pitt football game with “Captain” Roy Bellus during the air traffic controllers strike and having mechanical trouble in flight.
the “real people” we got to meet and sometimes help
Arguing with Bob Kirk, but respecting him for the TRUE journalist he is.
Beirut with Isome. Persian gulf with Bill Carey. Machine gun fire, scud missile attacks and spending an entire day in an underground bunker while bombs dropped around us.
Meeting Reagan at the White House with Lou and Ron
Being part of a medium market station that thought big. Project Children, Lockerbee Scotland, Beirut, Persian Gulf. And the second largest local broadcast team at the 1988 Democratic Convention in Atlanta. Second ONLY to Boston who was covering Dukakas.
Bill Carey (?) getting into a pissing match with Dan Rather at that convention
News Directors like Graham, Bill, and Pete who found us ways to do good and meaningful work
Telling a young and confident Mike Tirico that he was “no Bob Costas”! I couldn’t have been more wrong…or more sorry.
Blooper Reels at Christmas parties
24 hours with Billy Joel
Photogs being renamed Photojournalist…because they were
Photo essays
the “mini dick”
watching all of your children grow up
Shooting Tracy Davidsons audition tape. And then falling in love with her.
Ron, who did SO much For SO many of us. And taught us the true meaning of being a Journalist and a Gentleman
Wow, you’ve all brought back so many memories. Thanks, for making 1980-1992 some of themost wonderful years of my life. As I know you all do, I think of those days often.
Thanks again Maureen, for giving us this forum…and for letting me ramble!
Dave it is so good to hear from you! I’m happy things are well for you and Tracy in Philly. I still consider your Arbor Day piece, the one with the old man reciting the poem ” I think that I shall never see a thing as lovely as a tree….” with your shots of trees in the rain, the most lovely photojournalistic piece I’ve ever seen. Exquisite. Thank you for sharing your memories of whacky and wonderful TV 5. Hugs from Syracuse, Maureen
I saw this little tribute to Channel 5 and thought of you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE3GrcekR5M
Thanks for the link Des. I’ll check it out. I’m aware there are lots of “golden oldies” on you tube.
Hi Maureen. I think that’s how I knew you when I was the Sports Director at WIXT-TV from 1983-85.
When we were there, I recognized that you were a sharp, young reporter. I was the guy with the humorous sportscasts participating and maybe even blowing a horn on the air. Pete Spartanno was there then and seemed disciplined and maybe surprised at my hijinxs.
To put this in perspective, many other TV stations sweep out their talent. I remember when Providence’s WJAR- TV where I worked 73-75 did the same thing. Same deal in Erie, PA where two stations merged.
I’m retired now outside Clearwater, FL and you can count the ways management can eliminate talent. Union or not.
There is usually a clause buried among 35 pages that says “managment has the right to terminate talent without reason.”
Why do you think engineers still are working there 30 years later and the talent is long gone? When you write to sympathize with talent, you’d better do it 20 times over becaue who knows where the next job will come from. GOOD LUCK FELLOW BROADCASTERS!
Ron “Biff” Winders
Hi there Ron, Yes of course I remember you. Was it really 83 to 85? Yikes. It was yesterday. I’m so glad you’re enjoying your retirement in a warm and sunny place. You paid your dues in a couple of Syracuse winters and deserve palm trees and golf courses.
Maureen: A month-and-a-half later I see your response. Thanks. Today on April 19, 2011 it was 89 degrees here outside Clearwater, FL and fifty degrees cooler at 39 in my previous hometown of Erie, PA.
By the way I must have had a “senior moment.” Was WIXT-TV 9 sports director from 1982-84 not 83-85. See yah.
Hi Ron, No problem about the delay. Lucky you to be in a place where the heat gets to you.
I miss all you guys,living or deseased(Ron & Art)I miss Maureen Green!!You could call me a news freak,if you like.I moved to syracuse in 69,at the age of 8yrs old.I watched news day & night,Ron curtis was someone I trusted with the news!when I was older ,on a field trip to one of the stations,I cought a glimps of Art Goodwin,tall,dressed very well and may I say a very handsom man!I will never forget that,it was like seeing royalty.When he past it was a sad day in our home.I can’t began to speak on Mr Curtis,soo sad that I can’t