Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509270001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARGIE FISHER EDITORIAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I was reminded recently of Channel 7's lowly beginnings when I came across a little booklet, deigned worthy by Times-World for publication and distribution to ``family members only'' in 1955. Titled ``Excitement is mounting ... WDBJ-TV is coming,'' the booklet's text and drawings are by the late Cecil Edmonds, a onetime columnist for The Roanoke Times.
To the surprise of no one familiar with Cecil's sharp wit, he poked fun at Times-World's managers - who were so thrilled and occupied with the birthing that they nearly forgot the morning and afternoon newspapers that were Channel 7's siblings.
``A Star Is Born.''(an act in two plays.) As the curtain opens, a well-known publisher, M.W. Bedstead V-8, is looking through one of his papers. Enter John Man Eure, a well-known radio-tv man.
Bedstead: Eure, I've looked this rag over and can't find a word about our new television station.
Eure: But, sir, we have all of page one and three columns on page eight.
Bedstead: A mere trifle, man. I want space and I'll have space if I have to buy a newspaper.
Eure: But, sir, we already own two newspapers.
Bedstead: We do? Out of town, no doubt?
Eure: Oh, no, sir. They are on the third floor.
Bedstead (pointing up): Up there? Are you sure?
Eure: They're there. I almost forgot myself, sir, but the other day I pushed the wrong button on the elevator. Devilishly busy up there.
Bedstead (raving): Well, tell them to move out. We need that space.
Eure: But where will they go, sir?
Bedstead: Well, you know that large rest room in the garage. ... Here's what we'll do ... ''
Indeed, the love child did nearly overrun the newspaper for several years while its own building was under construction.
Its studio was on our main floor, where Hal Grant, the station's all-purpose TV personality (weather, sports, etc.), hosted live professional wrestling matches each week. Newspaper staffers were well-advised to stay out of the way of the burly blunderbusses who came in for ``Wrestling From Roanoke.''
Channel 7's news reporters shared space on the third floor with the newspapers', as did reporters for then-WDBJ radio, which Times-World also owned at the time. (Times-World, incidentally, sold the TV and radio stations when the newspapers were purchased by Landmark Communications Inc.)
We newspaper reporters had standing orders to make carbon copies for both the TV and radio staffs when we typed our stories.
A famous early WDBJ-TV news anchor was John Patterson, who lost both legs during World War II infantry service in France. He used two canes to get around on artificial legs, but he could move faster going after a hot news story than most newsmen not so handicapped.
John Harkrader, retired founding president of WDBJ-TV, recalls, though, that Patterson often tarried until the last second before dashing from the third floor to the first-floor studio for the evening newscast. Often, he'd find the elevator was not at his disposal. So he'd hang his canes in his coat pockets, hold his news copy in his teeth - and slide down the stairs on his rump.
Patterson, who went on to CBS News and became a professor at Columbia School of Journalism, died in 1975.
As Cecil's booklet suggests, we print journalists liked to put down a lot of Channel 7's early efforts at local programming. M.W. Bedstead XXVII today announced plans for a new local news program over WDBJ-TV. Starring Roanoke newsmen John Eure and Al Smith, the show is tentatively titled ``Eure 'n Al.''
We joked that it was so stuffy - wouldn't touch beer- or wine-sponsored events - that Uncle Sam was even threatening to pull the spots for U.S. Savings Bonds. ``By Jove, Geoffrey, it's just like dear old BBC - dull and no commercials.''
But some of the shows we thought were hometown hokie - "Panorama," "Top of the Morning" - stayed on the tube for years. (``Klassroom Kwiz" survives to this day.) The public loved them.
Over the years, Channel 7 also fielded some of this state's finest news professionals. Many have been good friends and colleagues, among them: Don Murray, Ron MacDonald, Ted Powers, Harvey Powers, Paul Lancaster, Joe Dashiell, Jim Shaver and Richard Real. Some, like Patterson, Ann Compton and Eugenia Halsey, moved on to big-time network news.
One, of course, we couldn't even get to move on out to Colonial Avenue. When Channel 7 eventually cleared out of our building, it left behind a brassy upstart newsman, Frosty Landon, who'd started work for the TV station the day it made its on-the-air debut.
Landon has been our executive editor since 1982. It's rumored the real reason he's leaving that post this month is because Channel 7 finally offered him a deal he couldn't refuse. We don't print rumors, but watch for it: prime-time wrestling with Landon taking on all challengers on the mat.
by CNB