Local TV Shows and Personalities

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Permalink Reply by Danny Ray on June 2, 2008 at 12:36am

Don't laugh, but I am from Espanola! We received all 4 TV channels from Albuquerque (see, Espanola had TV). I enjoyed Uncle Roy, Uncle Howdy, Capt. Billy, Dick Bills, and Dr. Fishback. The news with Dick Knifing on channel 7 at that time, Tom Doyle on KOB TV and Strech Shear (sp?) on KGGM TV... he did dialing for dollars, sports, weather, community programs and everthing else at KGGM over the years... Black and White!

My dad and I used to go to Albuquerque a few times per year to buy goods for his dept. store in Espanola... it was like going to NYC for me. I loved going to Albuquerque. We even went to the grand opeing of Winrock Center in like 1962! Remember Toys by Roy? I used to ride with my dad to all the big retail stores to get ideas and prices... Globe Shopping City, Gulf Mart!

We heard radio from Albuquerque as well... KOB Radio with Tom Dunn. I went to Coronado Center one day and was fascinated as a kid watching Tom Dunn do his show from the little booth outside. Remember KQEO Radio with Bobby Box? And the guy who was the morning man on KOB and he played the piano while talking... George Mahony... like 1960ish. I later worked in Albuquerque Radio (1972/73) and TV and even worked with Bobby Box at one time... like working with Marconi! Got the opportunity to work for NM Broadcasting, KGGM-TV and KVSF Radio in Santa Fe for Mr. Bruce Hebenstreit who built the road up the back side of Sandia Mountain and put TV and radio towers on the crest. He also built a huge Hollywood sound stage at KGGM in Broadcast Plaza where I got to see some of the movies filmed in NM done while working there. Worked with his Son, "Andy" who was the anchor man on KGGM-TV news for a few years. I remember the Roma Wine Wrestling, Robert B. Gibson Auto Sales commercials, Dick Bills and programs brought to you by "Joe G. Maloof and Company".

Loved the Civic Auditorium! Went to a number of events there including the Ice Capades! Loved eating at Village Inn Pancake House on Central, Sambo's on Menaul, and Wyatt's at Coronado Center.

Yes.. and Jane... She does the news each day now on the FOX News Radio Network... Was with Don Imus for a while as well. Remember Jan Black on KGGM Radio? I listened to her on KCBS Radio in San Francisco when I worked radio there in the late 70's.

I love Albuquerque and could write pages about it... thanks for putting this forum here!

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Permalink Reply by jack on June 6, 2008 at 3:36pm

I always loved the village Inn as well. They beat the heck out of Ihop. And I remember the Uncle Roy show. I was on the Capt Billy show and it was a blast!! m Also, my mom would take us to Wyatts every Easter; and she has some god awful photos of my sisters and I on Easter sitting in front of the outdoor foutains at Coronado center. Years latter at the same Coronado center I worked at the vips big boy; I was in high school and needed the cash. Thanks for the memories!!

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Permalink Reply by Rita on June 10, 2008 at 6:23pm

The Village Inn on Central just west of Old Town used to have a clown that gave out balloons on Saturday or Sunday mornings. It was always fun going there.

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Permalink Reply by gsollars on July 1, 2008 at 7:31pm

I remember almost everything you discussed in your reply. I especially remember Tom Dunn (good up, smell the coffee cooking! -- remember that?). I loved to listen to Tom Dunn.

I used to work at the Village Inn Pancake Houses. I started on the west side as busboy ($0.80/hour). Very quickly I got "promoted" to dishwasher, a $0.20/hour raise ($1.00/hour). Later I learned to cook ($1.25/hour), worked at both restaurants and later ended up up working exclusively at the East side Village Inn. I ultimately became the kitchen manager which was a decent job for a high school graduate with few skills.

I remember Ben Bronstein who owned the Village inns. He was a character. VERY nice dresser. He bought a small bar across the street from the Village Inn East (The El Cid?) and gave employees a tab. Periodically I saw some cooks and dishwashers have to pay their tab from the bar and it wasn't a pretty sight. I personally never went there because I couldn't afford to drink in bars. Hell, I was making only $125/week as the kitchen manager and still working 100 hour weeks. I had to stand in for any of my cooks that didn't show up. And cooks are notorious for not showing up or quitting on the spur of the moment.

Ben Bronstein always told us that he won a Gold Medal in the Olympics in Greco Roman Wrestling. I actually tried to verify that by looking up Gold Medal Winners but I could never verify that he had actually won that Gold Medal. Anybody know for sure?

Ah................. it's someimes nice to reminisce

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Permalink Reply by Scott on June 6, 2008 at 9:44am

Sandy Beach on Q106.

Real name, Pam. Through a freakishly odd case of 'small world', we ended up roommates in Long Beach, CA. for a year. She met a software guy and I think they live in NYC now. The last I saw and spoke to them was 14 years ago at my wedding. Wow, talk about a Flashback.

Holy crap, I have been married for....and I am old and ......Brain Freeze!!!! Ok, better now.

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Permalink Reply by Pat Kagan Tobias on July 1, 2008 at 5:12pm

Yes, I loved Captain Billy who actually was the alter ego of Stretch Sharer(?) on Channel 13. Never got to be on his show, but I wouldn't have missed being home in time for his " ahoy shipmates " as he docked the ship at port on the Rio Grande complete with ship's bell. He started my obsession with Popeye. I do remember the day Captain Billy was killed./ Friend who grew up in Santa Fe that I met years later here in TN remembers it as the day his childhood ended. Poor Captain Billy. Uncle Roy had his own kiddie show on KOAT (ABC ) wore a bowler hat and referred to child guests as The Peanut Gallery. Does anyone know if he actually owned Toys by Roy in Winrock? He always asked "How are you? Is everything Copasetic?" I got to go with my Campfire girl group twice to K Circle B, that was really my favorite TV show because of the western movies. We girls were in awe of Dick Bills; he was handsome and could sing too. My brother Tom and argued for years over whether the lyrics to the theme song were " saddlebags all filled with beans and turkey"or "beans and jerky". The Valentino de la O show was a staple of Saturday TV ; Val was another great looking host and his brother ran the Mariachi Band. The band was Ok but looked mahvelous in their elaborate costumes and sunglasses--the studio lights were too bright, I guess. The show also had a comedian who was a Cantinflas look a like. He was always dancing around and in danger of losing his pants if you recall! Now his pants would fit right in with the hip-hop culture. Dr. Gerald Fishback came to our elementary school and gave us autographs. a drawing of a fish with "back" across it's back. He made science fun! Wow, I feel like a kid again just talking about all this. Uncle Howdy had a kids show too.He wore a straw hat and a striped jacket. As Howard Morgan he was the weatherman with the big smile who could draw Thermo, a little boy cartoon character who shivered when cold and sweated big drops in summer! Howard drew wonderful illustrated cold fronts instead of using weather radar, now which do you think is more fun? My Mom said Uncle Howdy was too good looking to be a kids show host but he was a good weatherman. What other shows do you remember? anybody remember a local Tv dance show kind of like American Bandstand?

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Permalink Reply by Molly McCoy Brack on July 5, 2008 at 10:28pm

(I'm replying to a post that says it was from today, but for some reason it's showing up back on page three of this thread, sorry if it seems out of context but I wanted to respond to the man who mentioned Shock Theatre)

Shock Theatre was also hosted by my dad, Bob McCoy. I have lots of the scripts, pictures and his Gatekeeper costume. I'll try to attach a couple of pictures. Unfortunately, I wasn't born till 1962 so I was too little to remember that show so I love to hear from people who watched it!

As I posted earlier, he was the first weather man in New Mexico and was the weather man on KOB for 25 years. He also hosted channel 4's Dialing for Dollars show, did tons of local commercials and local theatre. He died in 1971, but I have lots of great memories of hanging out in the studio while he did the weather or filmed ads for American Furniture. His best friend was Tom Doyle who did the news for many years with my dad. Before TV came along they had a radio show that I have some recordings of on 78-speed albums.

Attachments:

• THE_GATEKEEPER_web.jpg, 832 KB
• DOING_THE_WEATHER.jpg, 827 KB
• BOB_AND_TOM.jpg, 454 KB

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Permalink Reply by Westman on July 5, 2008 at 11:02pm

Thanks Molly!!
Your Fathers role of the Gatekeeper added to one of my favorite memories as a young boy.My brother,sister and Mom could hardly wait for Shock Theatre to come on.We would take turns on who slept with Mom as the other two slept on the floor.No going back to our own rooms for fear the Gatekeeper would come for us.No kidding.
Life then was so much simplier than today.As I look at your Dads picture I can hardly believe that he could come on in any way that would be even close to scary in todays form but then our imaginations took us way beyond fear itself.
The kids today have become too lazy to let their imagination go to work.They need all of the special effects.The way in which your father acted was all of the special effect we needed to freak ourselves out.
I applaud his abilities to draw this from us.
thanks for the great pictures!

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Permalink Reply by My Mom's Daughter on July 27, 2008 at 12:05am

Molly, as another daughter of an "old" ABQ icon, I'm right along side of you! I'm sorry that I don't remember your dad but, at the same time, I was a kid!! YES, George Fishback did sign his name with a fish with "back" on top of it. I have a couple of those. As he and my mother were doing similar shows at KNME, our families were close. Unfortunately for him, he was at a party at my parents' house when I was little. I was sitting on his lap and he made me laugh --- uh, well, so -- yes, I pee'd George Fishback's pants. Going to the (KNME) studio on Roma was such a treat. It was a very small building. I remember the directors and probably most of the people who worked there. Not necessarily by name but just because they were all so very nice to a little girl. When "TV Kindergarten" needed real, live kids, my mom would recruit me and my friends...... things like knocking on the piano for "Trick or Treat" at Halloween, etc. When she did Romper Room, there were about 4 kids always there sitting at little school desks. I remember the Creamland Dairy cart coming to deliver them all milk. I was too young to remember much else about that show. I don't think that there are any Romper Room clips available, although my Mom got a Golden Mike award and was featured in McCalls Mag. (I have an issue, thank goodness!)

KNME does have a couple of clips from TV Kindergarten -- I saw then on their last anniverary special. Back then (as you probably know!), the film was broadcast then used again. (Nope, I don't know the technical details other than knowing that the film was VERY expensive and, once it was aired, it was recorded over.

I remember the director, Dr. Wayne Bundy at KNME -- again, a wonderful man. He most likely directed TV Kindergarten as well as George's science show. I used to sit in the control room, as quiet as a mouse, watching everything happen! Live broadcasts were a hoot so many times!

We were all so fortunate to grow up when we did. I vividely remember Howard Morgan's little bubble-drawings with the weather forecast. I don't remember if Dr. George did drawings when he was doing the weather... ???

One other thing that I distinctly remember/know is that networks oftentimes send up-and-coming news people to Albuq. -- kind of a training camp before they move on to places like LA/ SF -- or pick your other big city. Albuq. offers an accent-free atmosphere where they can learn how to pronounce very strange names (............. oh, like "Pojoaque" , etc.) then move on to larger markets.

The ABC affiliate's prime time meteorolgist is from Albuq. (James Quinones.) His brother is on (ABC?) Network news -- John Quinones.

Ahh well, those WERE the good old days!!

Thanks for the memories!

To whomever mentioned the Hebenstriets (sp) --- oh yes, I remember them at KGGM! VERY nice people!!

Yes, I also remember Howard Morgan's little "bubble faces" on the weather. (Did "Uncle George" also draw things when he was doing the weather? I think so ...?)

Uncle George is retired from doing the weather on KTLA in LA but is still a docent at one or more museums.

Oh yes, I DO remember Cap'n Billy. I think that I was on his show too. (I did NOT inherit my mother's grace/charm in front of a TV camera. I was one of the "frozen face" kids!)

Dialing for Dollars --- well, didn't we all think that EVERYONE in the WORLD was watching Dialing for Dollars? I remember the phone booke being cut up

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Permalink Reply by Danny Ray on July 5, 2008 at 11:54pm

Good Golly Miss Molly! Thanks for the cool pictures! I do not remember your Dad, but I remember Tom Doyle. We lived in Espanola (yes, we had TV) and I remember my Dad watching Tom on KOB. Your pictures are so cool and they bring back what TV used to be... Black and white, no electronic graphics... a white board with the weather info hand written on it! It is good to be taken back to where everything was before all the technical stuff we have today.
While we are on TV people, remember Rex Monger? Channel 7 weather guy. Used to be on KOB Radio before the TV thing. And the guy I was trying to think of the other night was Hartzel Crib (sp?) at KGGM-TV, channel 13. That guy did everything there at one time or another. He was the news anchor in like 1961, then a weather guy for years, then dialing for dollars, then weekend news. I think he pretty much stayed there until he died. Last time I saw him was about 15 years ago pumping gas in his car at Circle K on San Mateo.
Again... thanks so much for the pictures! Dan in Las Cruces

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Permalink Reply by Pat Kagan Tobias on November 8, 2008 at 1:02pm

Hi again, Yes , I do remember Hartzel Krib or Crib. We wondered if that was really his name but it was ---everybody had such funny names trying to be distictive. Hartzel had what I would call, Great Voice. Nowadays he could be voiceover man " In a world, where you get your TV from towers on top of a 10000 foot mountain" etc He would do well.

Does any one remember the local ads that would run at Christmastime.on TV during local programming? There was this one businessman named Gus Patterson, a men's clothier, who always did a spot at the holidays. He was originally from the country of Lebanon, I think. He surely reminded us of Uncle Tanous on the Danny Thomas show. Anyway, Gus would somehow work in an ad for his store while talking about Christmas and how much America meant to him. He looked very nervous but on he went. Our family was very touched by Gus and his sincerity. What a nice guy! Gus had a column that ran in the Albuquerque papers called "Gus Says ". Kind of like " Well, the weather is getting cold now. Fall is finally here. Maybe its time for a better raincoat? Come see us at Gus Patterson." Then he wouild have some philosophy in the column too. We couldn't wait to hear the next "Gus Says" column read out loud by my sister who could imitate anyone to a Tee.

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Permalink Reply by Michael J aka Kirk C on November 8, 2008 at 3:49pm

Hi, Pat -- I vaguely remember Gus Patterson...but more vividly remember a husband and wife TV tag team whose names I can't remember at the moment. He was a round, balding, VERY fast-talking east coast native who was owner/manager of a discount furniture store called "The Hub." The funny thing was, every commercial always featured bedroom "suits" or living room "suits" that came "complete wid da picture on da waaaalll!" HENRY MARX. That was his name. And his wife Ann was on TV fronting for a business called "The Wig." They sounded and looked identical. As a matter of fact, it never occurred to me before, but they could have been siblings! BTW...I think Hartsell's last name was spelled Hartsell Cribb. Does anyone remember a REALLY mellow-voiced announcer for Piggly Wiggly named Bob Watson? WOW, what an amazing voice he had.....

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