Saturday, September 24, 2011
MacKenzie was one of many KTVU notables; Saturday snippet
Bob MacKenzie, the talented Channel 2 commentator who passed earlier this week, was only one of many great KTVU alumni.
Who can forget "our Claudd Mann?" And George Reading? Don't forget the late, great Gary Park, who was best remembered as the distinct, eternally-tan, well-tailored sports anchor, (people forget Park was a great writer), who actually began in news.
How about the Hambrick brothers, Judd among the most well-known and of course, Dennis Richmond, who retired in 2008.
Let's tip our hats to Pat McCormick, (vaunted weatherman and when I was growing up in the 70's, the voice of "Charlie and Humphrey.") And we mustn't forget "Creature Feature" guy, Bob Wilkins, who made us stay up Saturday night as teens, pre "Saturday Night Live."
Then there's George Watson. Leslie Griffith and Elaine Corral too.
How many of you who remember "Big Time Wrestling" with "YOUR HOST!, WALT HARRIS!", (Take a bow, Pat Patterson!), televised live from the old KTVU studios, "1 Jack London Square, Oakland."
I'm sure I've left a few out. Who do you remember?
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I remember Sunday evening, later Sunday afternoon, Roller Derby. Walt Harris called Roller Derby along with National All-Star Wrestling- what a great voice!
ReplyDeleteBob March..who even after Captain Satellite did many commercials and events that were on ch2.
ReplyDeleteMarcia Brandywine..who's now a life coach on the Wellness Channel.
Then dont forget the Saturday cartoons-Bugs and Looney tunes and Sunday movies of Abbot and Costelo,Ma and Pa Kettle,Francis the Mule,The Stooges. Nobody shows those movies anymore,you can't even see Bugs-too violent and dated offensive humor-now. Then? it was funny. What did we know?
With Jim Wessman from I believe it was Gateway Chevrolet doing the commercials as if he was reading the United Nations Charter and sometimes a wrestler would go after him.
ReplyDeleteI had the great pleasure of working with George Watson before either of us moved on to SF. 1974 KSBW Salinas. He was/is bright, well-read, funny, and makes George Clooney look only okay be comparison. Barbara Simpson was very, very popular as well.. You know Dennis Richmond was not the only reason people watched KTVU..not by a longshot.
ReplyDeleteI was born and raised in Salinas, KSBW's base, and I, too remember George Watson. Indeed, he, along with the many already mentioned by Mr. Lieberman, were and are great reporters. It's too bad news media in general has become political and biased when reporting news. I miss the "old" reporters and the way news was delivered back then.
DeleteBetty Ann Bruno was a great field Reporter that Ch.2, had back in the day too. I remember Betty Ann Reporting when the Oakland Hills Fire occurred, her house also burned down due to the fire.
ReplyDeleteAnd lets not forget my all time Fave growing up as a Kid in the Bay Area...Captain Satellite! I just to run home from School just to see his show Monday thru Friday in the late afternoons.
I seem to remember Jim Weston from Gateway Chevrolet doing his commercials sitting on a ladder, and The Sheik went crazy one night after his match and knocked Weston off his ladder and smashed up a car- that was the last time he toured through here...
ReplyDelete@ September 24, 2011 9:52...
ReplyDeleteI remember Ch.2 also used to show Topper Monday thru Fridays too!
Deacon Anderson, Editorial Director of KTVU? OK, he was probably more important for hiring Dennis Richmond in 1968.
ReplyDeleteHow could I forget to add "The Little Rascals" and " The Bowery Boys" to ch2's Sunday movie staples?
ReplyDeleteI'm a little younger. I remember Hank Renner and Big Time Wrestling on KBHK channel 44. Pat Patterson, Rocky Johnson and Dr. Ken Ramey & his Masked Interns! And last but not least, the big busted lady turning the pages of the upcoming bouts. i remember my dad would glance at it when the big busted lady's appear.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Moondog Mayne!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZkSANv9iZs
Post Captain Satellite I remember Captain Sacko (sp?) It was Mike Cleary dressed in astronaut gear and he'd intro the afternoon cartoons on channel 44 from a spacecraft set. I remember the Banana Splits was a staple. God I loved channel 44!
ReplyDeleteSome time after I had grown more sophisticated (Beverly Hillbillies and Gomer Pyle) I remember channel 2 had the Creature features guy as a super hero. What was him name??? Okay, I cheated and peeked at you tube. Captain Cosmic. Oh, my.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwMQt9LUP5I
You can't leave out local great wrestlers like Kenji Shibuya of Hayward or Haystack Calhoun. Kenji passed a few years ago. Haystack must have left us ..didnt he?
ReplyDeleteRead Kenji's Wiki biography,an accompished athlete.
I was working the registration desk for incoming students at SF State when I looked up and Bob Marshall was at my station. After finishing up the paperwork, I said: "Welcome aboard, Captain!" We exchanged pleasantries and he agreed, he enjoyed the program as much as I did after school. He went on to earn a MA in juvenile counseling.
ReplyDeleteBob and I were of the same age (17) and from Oakland when we met for the first time at a magic shop where I worked part-time after school near the Oakland City Hall.
ReplyDeleteThat day he came up to me. I asked him if was shopping for a specific magic trick. He didn't replied to my question. He pulled out a deck of cards from his pocket and began to amazed me wilt his skill he was good, damn good.
I too was a card guy. I showed him my stuff. He smiled. We were on equal par.
We got together often and shared our card secrets.
Fast forward; he was a news reporter for KTVU and I was photojournalist for KRON. We often came across each other while covering the news in the Bay Area.
I good place he resides now. Dollars to doughnuts he will file a news story from time to time from his location.
When we meet again I will say, Bob I got a new super card trick to show you.
Louis de la Torre
It was Sargeant Sacto ch 44 Mike Cleary. Everyone knows that the Greatest wrestler was The Father of "The Rock " Rocky Johnson with the flying dropkick! Verne and greg gagne ,ray "the crippler" stevens, Baron von radnich,lol.
ReplyDeleteI met Elaine Corral a few years back, OMG that is one fine,genuine..wish she were mine, woman!
ReplyDelete