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| Peter Giddings (top left) and Jerry Jensen (above right) Van Amburg bottom right and John Reilly |
THE 70's WERE MY NIRVANA. And growing up in the Bay Area, I was struck --and still am--by its unique media perspective. The local TV news scene was highlighted by Channel 7's vintage newscasts. They were always entertaining, the news presentation, that is. One of a kind, personality galore, a strong identity. The birth of Happy Talk. Appointment TV. Local news and information with a dramatic flair.
I miss those days. Seems we have no personality today. Benign anchors for the most part. Uninspiring, unappealing. Bland tapestries rule the local airwaves. It beckons memories and periods past.
I've marveled at the late Van Amburg who had a definitive style; nobody here comes close. Jerry Jensen was a one-of-a-kind second banana to Amburg's reign. His signature rap-up, human interest story was always cheery and corn, but corny in a good way. A 70's blueprint for the late Pete Wilson's "circular file" but it couldn't match Jensen's cheeky 70's regalia.
Peter Giddings absurd weather presentation was perfect for the times. Weather maps. Analog. Black magic markers and pointers. Pete's "letter from home" and the "little people's fishing program"--Giddings would take under-privileged kids out on the bay to fish. It was sort of poignant and interesting too. Another favorite of mine: the sight of Pete skiing down a Tahoe mountain during the Friday ski reports. Giddings had a lot of power and stature in those days: he was the highest-paid weather anchor in the Bay Area (roughly $300K yearly) and was known to have a huge ego. Big deal, don't some of us all?
Then there was John O'Reilly, sports guy. Unique, funny. Sort of complicated too. But a perfect different personality to Amburg and Jensen's shtick. The "Core Four"? The "Fab Four?" I had a fondness to their local originality and Happy Talk Essence. They made watching the news, SF Style, memorable and clearly, a sight to be seen.
Is it possible to have Happy Talk news in 2019? KGO-TV ABC 7 is trying to build a better bay area.
ReplyDeleteEnough of "Building a Better Bay Area" already. Makes no sense. Just give us some news, and less "features."
DeleteIf they truly want to "build a better bay area" get out of the studio and go clean up the dirty streets. Stop talking and start doing something.
DeleteVan Amburg was questioned by Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" about a story he did regarding a "male member" (words they used in the 70s) that was found on some railroad tracks. Wallace was trying to get Amburg to confess to sensationalism. Van Amburg's retort: "We didn't cut that thing off and put it out there!"
ReplyDeleteA "male member"....Lol!
DeleteA very formal, somewhat dainty way of saying "D*ck" while speaking in mixed company. And no, I don't mean 'mixed' race.
Take a seat and buckle up.
DeleteWe're about to take another trip in the
Hot Tub-Time Machine!
See U @ the Ski Resort!
Yes. I wasn't into the news too much in the 70's, but did like the alternative rock radio stations with music from the Allman Bros., Led Zeppelin, maybe the Who, Journey, and bands who were still alive or together coming out of the 60's like Fleetwood Mac, Jefferson Airplane, the Doors, and Country Joe and the Fish actually disbanded in '70.:) WHAT WERE THOSE RADIO STATION CALLSIGNS AND DJs?
ReplyDelete1:06 You had KSAN, KOME, KMEL, KSJO, KRQR and KQAK. Some of those might be early 80'. Don't remember many of the Dj's though. I just liked the music.
DeleteDon't forget KMPX.
DeleteI liked KQAK. I was annoyed when I woke up one morning and it was replaced by KKCY The City.
DeletePete Giddings ego turned my Mom off to watching Channel 7 news. She was in San Francisco and he walked on to an elevator she was riding. In a few short floors my mom got a severe dislike for the guy. She never told me what happened but he was persona-non-grata in our house.
ReplyDeleteDespite the mythology that San Francisco was a haven for gay people, in the seventies, one of these folks was gay , but couldn't admit it. He would have lost his job.
ReplyDeleteRich: Do you recall a female weather person on KRON who presented the weather behind glass and would have to write the temperatures backwards? Was it Linda something?
ReplyDeleteKarna Small, from not KRON, but KGO in the early 70's--she went on to become spokeswoman for Nancy Reagan.
DeleteI remember it was Terry Lowry on 4. I was little back then!
DeleteLinda Richards was the first, at KRON. Karna Small came next at KRON, as weekend weather girl, then moved up when Richards left. Karna's replacement as weekend weather girl at KRON was none other than Terry Lowry.
DeleteKarna did move on to KGO, and then to DC, becoming an NSC spox for Poindexter during Iran-Contra. Wonder how she'd try to explain away today's scandal...
As for Giddings, I remember once seeing him try to jump the traditional line at Tommaso's, being he was soooo important. Didn't work. For arrogance and ego, Beil got nothin' on him.
Thank you, anonymous, for Linda Richards. She was my first crush. I think Art Brown was the anchor back then.
DeleteYes, Art Brown at 11. And Ed Hart at 530, who got misty saying goodbye to Linda on her last broadcast at KRON, in December 1969 (Karna had already started doing 11 by then).
DeleteThese old Circle 7 news openings sure bring back fond memories of my years working for KGO. First in 1974-1975 then returned in 1978 to 2000. Those were wild and crazy news days. Great holiday parties too.
Delete