BELVA DAVIS and DON SANCHEZ RETIRING--
Belva Davis and Don Sanchez, both Bay Area TV veterans are retiring.
Davis spent over four decades reporting for various SF TV News outlets. In 1966, when, racial barriers began to fall, she became the first black woman hired as a television news reporter in the western United States.
Her work landed numerous awards and she garnered universal industry acclaim. Davis had stints at KRON, KPIX, and most notably, KQED.
Sanchez began at KGO-TV in 1972 and has worked the gamut across the board. A general assignment reporter, he later added the duty of sportscaster on the weekend newscasts as well as the news at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
We wish both of these giants good luck in the future.
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Don Sanchez
Belva Davis
KGO-TV
KPIX-TV
KQED-TV
Channel 9
Channel 7
Circle7
KDIA
SF Bay Area Television--
KRON-TV
I love Belva Davis. She is so sweet. Don will be missed, too.
ReplyDeleteA couple of weeks ago by chance my TV turned on tuned to "Eye on the Bay" on Ch. 5, which would normally cause me to flip to another channel, but my attention was held by a story on the Bay Area TV Archives at SF State. They showed a few of Belva's first reports from the early '60s, and interviewed Belva as well. I've only watched a tiny portion of the archives so far, but it is fascinating stuff and I highly recommend it :
ReplyDeletehttp://www.library.sfsu.edu/about/collections/sfbatv/index.php
I recently found this website. It's great, and time well spent for those of us who remember and enjoy SF television of earlier times. There are a lot of old clips there. For instance, I had completely forgotten about such people as Pat O'Brien--not the reprobate tabloid TV host but the late 60s era KPIX reporter. And KTVU's Carlton Cordell.
DeleteFor another treat go to the flickr photo-sharing site and type "Belva Davis" into the search box. That golden, gorgeous lady has a photostream there that is worth seeing.
When I was living and working in the Bay Area, doing Restaurant Talk on KGO (before Gene) I got to know Don a little -- one of the nicest and most genuine guys in the local media biz. I'm glad he could stick around as long as he wanted... also glad he could get out when he wanted. The media biz in general has become a pretty crappy place to work. Sigh...
ReplyDeleteOther then "Don Sanchez" not being his real name or ethnicity-right Bob?..he's been the bay area's version of Dick Clark( pre stroke of course).
ReplyDeleteRetiring to Palm Springs?
Listening to Ed 'n Rosie and reading about Belva and Don. Life's good. Will someone get both of them a drink, please? "Nice job" to both Belva and Don. 'Twas a good day for The Bay. Our President was here with a gleaming tech-rich 747, no earthquakes yet, and we might get some showers. Thanks to Rich Lieberman for networking press news for all of us.
ReplyDeleteI have had the great privilege to have worked with Belva Davis at KRON and KPIX. I first met her in 1971 over at Ch. 5. She is absolutely the consummate professional. Writing, reporting and delivering, all in one package.She has done it all and is probably one of the best interviewers on the planet. Straight-forward, No B.S. Just like Jack Webb, just the facts Man! What is curious about her illustrious career is that more young reporters have tried to emulate her style. There are plenty of video of her TV career to studied by upcoming reporters. Can you imagine how much better TV could be if young reporters had the Belva Davis Book on TV writing and reporting? Now she can spend her time with her husband, Bill, a teacher at Hayward State and one of the best cameraman on the planet! Bill was at KTVU for many years.
ReplyDeleteI believe it's "Just the facts, ma'am"
DeleteLa creme de la creme! both of them
ReplyDeleteTwo real pros. Belva was a pioneer; one of the first African-American women on local TV news, and a terrific reporter, anchor and commentator. Plus she loves journalism, has integrity, and is a good person.
ReplyDeleteSanchez has always been versatile and could do it all. Don was also a very likeable guy, and made a point to get to know everyone on his beat by name.
Bay Area TV will certainly poorer be after their retirements, as local management will probably replace both with young, cheap, loud-mouthed talent. That's the way of broadcasting these day; young, dumb and cheap!
I'll always respect Belva Davis for talking with reporters as her house burned down during the Oakland Hills fire. Had to think many of the prima donnas would have asked to be excused...
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm....Betty Ann Bruno, who worked for KTVU ch.2 during the Oakland Hills Fire, reported live on TV while her house burned down to the ground, but I never heard that about Belva's house...
DeleteCongrats to the both of them, Belva & Don! You both will be missed!
DeleteYou sure that was Belva? I thought that was former KTVU reporter Betty Ann Bruno whose house in the Oakland Hills caught on fire.
DeleteLate... but I concure and am pretty sure that was Betty Ann Bruno who reported while her own house burnt down during the Oakland hills fire. Still no less props to Belva Davis. Never been a fan of Don Sanchez- mainly because I've only recently began paying attention to KGO-7- and only at 9 on KOFY for convenience. Behind KTVU, KPIX and later (1991-2000) KRON, I just never watched KGO.
DeleteDon's movie reviews had more over-acting then the films he was reviewing. . .
ReplyDeleteHave to admit.... As solid and successful as their careers have been, the first thing I thought was, "Good! No more insipid movie reviews".
DeleteAs a kid, I kind of gravitated to the blood and guts stories on the news, fires, crashes, general mayhem. But when Belva Davis came on, it was like hearing my grandma saying something. And that is not a dis at all since both Belva and my grandma were journalism pioneers in California. Belva's work was never frivolous. When she said something or reported on something it was important - it was the vegetables of the news menu when you were a kid. It made the Bay Area a stronger community.
ReplyDeleteI figure Don Sanchez is the last of the Van Amburg era at KGO. Always thought he'd be a great radio guy with that voice.
Thanks for the decades of making the Bay Area better to both of you.
Yep,many a time I would see Sanchez and in wonder that he's still in his ch7 blazer long,long,after Van and Pete and Jerry and John had faded DECADES ago..and here he was doing his same 1972 shctick. Instead of watching him on a Sear's tudor counsel and phonograph TV circa 1973,its now HD flat 3-D.
DeleteI first remember Don Sanchez on the folks' Sony Trinitron console (late 1970s; a beautiful piece of furniture). I think he endured for so much longer than his contemporaries because of his versatility. He did everything from sports to Fourth of July festivals to daily anchoring--and did it well. A local treasure in my opinion. Yes--truth be told Don could star in his own "That '70s Show"; the hair and the mustachio, I guess.
DeleteAlso--anyone remember when KGO anchors stopped wearing Circle Seven pins? I know LA's KABC 7 kept up the tradition much longer.
Don is one of the nicest guys in the business.
ReplyDeleteThe news of Don's retirement deserves 1/4 bucket of popcorn.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite memory of Don Sanchez is from the 70s, when he interviewed wrestler Pat Patterson. He made the mistake of asking Patterson THE QUESTION (Is wrestling fake?), and was stuffed in a garbage can for his trouble. Probably a staged shot (ya think?), but funny nonetheless...
ReplyDeleteBelva's a legend. She covered many events and issues over the years. Her, Ben Williams and Ed Arnow really worked it in the 60's and 70's. Her round table discussion show on KQED was a must see for solid analysis of State and Local issues. Don had a hell of a career as well. He did it all with a light sprinkle of humor. Enjoy retirement!!
ReplyDeleteWERE IS DON SANCHEZ,IS HE STILL ALIVE?
ReplyDelete