tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post3087544945004124254..comments2024-03-27T22:27:16.556-04:00Comments on It's About TV: Bonus! Thanksgiving Day listings: November 25, 1971Mitchell Hadleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08695771505209080030noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post-19975424290237405412014-11-30T01:00:14.908-05:002014-11-30T01:00:14.908-05:00Just found my Chicago edition of this issue.
Ther...Just found my Chicago edition of this issue. <br />There was still local TV in Chicago in '71, but it was in transition.<br />There were three commercial UHF stations by this time, but they still didn't sign on until afternoons on weekdays (Exception: ch26 had business news and a ticker crawl mornings and afternoons, giving way to Spanish-language programs in prime time).<br />Ch32 was slowly expanding to a longer broadcast day, mainly syndie reruns and movies, with the occasional local talking head.<br />Ch44 had a shorter day , with syndie leftovers and local talk and news, featuring old Chicago hands like Jim Conway, Merri Dee, and Sig Sakowicz.<br />Yes - <i>that</i>Sig Sakowicz.<br />Bet you thought Jackie Vernon made that name up, didn't you?<br />Sig Sakowicz was hugely popular in Chicago radio for decades; this was his first extended TV gig, and Sig put ch44 on the map more than just about anyone else in that early period.<br />Sig Sakowicz passed away in the '80s, but his name lives on in his son, Father Gary Sakowicz, who presides over many of the important Catholic funerals (sorry - make that Masses of the Resurrection) in town.<br />I'd better change the subject now, because every time I type 'Sakowicz' the spell-check on my confuser goes gaga.<br /><br />Meanwhile, ch9, the major independent in town, mostly had reruns and movies, plus their kid blocks - Ray Rayner in the mornings, Bozo at noon, Garfield Goose after school.<br />There was also a local talker in the early afternoon with Roy Leonard, who had become a staple on WGN radio - and remained so until his retirement a few years ago.<br />Roy Leonard passed on just a few weeks ago, and Chicago mourned.<br />So much for Thanksgiving.<br /><br />There was another local talker I ought to mention - Howard Miller, who had the midnight slot on ch7, the ABC station. <br />Miller was somewhat right-wing in his views, and had had trouble holding on to his radio gigs, changing stations fairly often. He got the ch7 midnight spot when he substituted for the not-very-popular incumbent and doubled his numbers.<br />In those days, midnight wasn't a favored time slot, and Howard Miller got away with quite a bit that he might not have in another day part.<br />On one show, for example, Miller flew in Father Charles Coughlin, the notorious Detroit "radio priest" from the '30s, who most people thought had long since died. Nothing much happened that night, and I don't know if ch7 saved the tape - it would be interesting to look at today, for sure.<br />Howard Miller didn't keep this show for very long - one of his sponsors was an Arizona real estate company in which he had an interest, and the FCC looked askance at that. Ultimately, ch7 started using their morning host, Bob Kennedy, to tape an extra hour for midnight use.<br /><br />It's late, and I'm kind of dry now, so I'll stand down.<br />(Actually, I just wanted to get the plug in for Sig Sakowicz.)<br /><br />Mike Dorannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post-91432906153345521402014-11-27T23:44:28.733-05:002014-11-27T23:44:28.733-05:00There are a couple of YouTube account holders who ...There are a couple of YouTube account holders who have uploaded entire episodes of The Dick Cavett Show and they are really incredible to watch. I've seen 90 minute interviews with Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Carol Burnett, Bette Davis, Lucile Ball and even a shorter version of an impromptu interview given by Katherine Hepburn inside an empty studio with just her and Cavett. Other shows which have multiple guests are fascinating because of the diversity of the guests for that night. the one that comes to mind is a program with Chet Huntley, Janis Joplin and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. I never knew about the Danny Kaye show which you've listed above, but that would certainly be another one that would be great to watch. Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17269689015712662193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6042603612494762084.post-20950954569921362402014-11-26T23:12:01.478-05:002014-11-26T23:12:01.478-05:00You know, I actually remember this day...I remembe...You know, I actually remember this day...I remember that sometime after the LA-Dallas game played in the brand-new Texas Stadium, CBS had on Brian Piccolo's widow to preview "Brian's Song" (which appeared on ABC).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com