Roger Meets Jack...

"Camelot to Sand Lot"

By Roger Lee Miller


Jack Benny was walking down the hall toward Studio A. Alone. There was no entourage, agents, make up, hacks or hangers on. Benny didn't look like a star, just another businessman from Waukegan, Illinois. Jack was an hour early for KUP'S CORNER. It was the lunch hour, the studio was dark and no one else was around. I introduced myself as director of Kup's show and asked if I could get him a cup of coffee or anything else. Mr. Benny said, "Just show me how to get to the can, I have to take a leak." That was my introduction to big time television in Chicago.

As a director of programs and commercials at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, I came to Chicago and WMAQ-TV in December of 1964. Chicago advertising agency producer Chuck Sanford introduced me to Harry Trigg, program director. To gain admittance to what I thought was "the network," I agreed to start as an associate director with duties rotating between directing and stage-managing. Trigg assured me that I would get the next upgrade to full director. Lloyd Yoder was general manager, Bob Lemon station manager and Bill Corley served as news director.

Next: The productions and personalities of studio A...

QUICK ACCESS LINKS:
Introduction and main index to this site
WMAQ radio history | "Amos 'n' Andy" | "Fibber McGee and Mollie" | "The Breakfast Club"
Dick Kay | Television at the Merchandise Mart | 1970 television facilities tour | Channel 5 turns 20
The "Chicago School" of television | "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" | Dave Garroway | Mary Hartline
"Lights Out" | Sound effects | 1930 studio tour | WLS | "Empire Builders" | Barry Bernson
Floyd Kalber | The Queen of Love and Beauty | "Today's Children" | Staff announcers | Carol Marin
Ron Magers | Studs Terkel l "Chicago Tonight" | Channel 5 News scrapbooks |Roger Miller recalls
Zoo Parade | Clifton and Frayne Utley | Val Press | Len O'Connor | Johnny Erp | Bill Ray | Daddy-O
Experimental Television: 1930-1933 | Bob Deservi | Kermit Slobb | Ding Dong School | Quiz Kids
Bob Lemon | The Korshak Chronicles | KYW: The Chicago Years | WENR | O.B. Hanson | Renzo
Jack Eigen | Ed Grennan | The World's Best Cup of Coffee | Glenn Webster | Mr. Piano | Hawkins Falls
Chicago Television for Kids |
Radio Hall of Fame |The NBC News Night Report: 23 February, 1967
Audio and video downloads
About the Curator

Comments or suggestions? click here to send them to Rich Samuels

Created by Rich Samuels (e-mail to rich@richsamuels.com)