WGBH at the Emmys
Skip Wareham shared this photo of a Boston Emmy Award ceremony with McLean Stevenson (from M*A*S*H) front row center. According to Bill Charette, this was in December 1981. Marcus Jones wrote, “WGBH ran the New England/NATAS Emmy Award show production at the Sheraton Boston Hotel on Dalton Street. I believe it was held in January 1982. Actor McLean Stevenson (from MASH) was the host. WGBH rented tuxedos for the male crew members.”
Here are the people we’ve identified thus far. Can you help us identify the few remaining unknown staffers? (You can click on the image to see a larger version.)
Back row (4): John Jenkins, Bob Birkett, Bob Wilson, Unknown, Denis O’Neill, Jay Collier.
Third row: Greg Harney, John Cini, Chuck Esty, Ed Marcotti, Frank Lane, Susan Brennan, Unknown, Chuck Eldridge, Gordon Mehlman, Frank Cunningham, Benny Krol, Karl Lorensic, Julie Peins, Unknown, Unknown, Dick Holden, John MacKnight, Unknown, Bill Charette.
Second row: Jim McKenna, Russ Fortier, Skip Wareham, John Sullivan, Chas Norton, Janice Gomes, Greg MacDonald, Anne Damon, Bunny Olenick.
First row: Gerry Field, David Liroff, McLean Stevenson, Merle Eisman, Raquel Ortiz, Unknown, Rebecca Eaton.
The woman in the third row between John MacNight and Bill Charette is Carole O’Neill, one of the show producers.
I’ve updated the 1981 Emmy ceremony photo with information received to date. Still a few more names to fill in.
Bill has the month and the year right. I was a news assistant for “The Ten O’clock News” from January to December of 1981. Don’t ask me why I debated whether this event occurred before or after I concluded my tenure there.
Marcus Jones
I should have been in this picture as I won for Emmy for editing “Sail on Sorlandet.” I knew I wasn’t going to win as the competition was tough – I mean John Baynard was nominated – no way was I going to get it. I had already had made plans to go to Saint Thomas with my friend Su Yuu for a week of fun in the sun. Cancelling the reservations would have been too expensive. Hey, I was incredibly honored to have been even nominated, but off to St. Thomas we went.
On the evening of the Emmys I called my Mother from the island. She had been watching the Emmy’s but said that editing hadn’t come up. I said that I wasn’t going to win, so I wished her good night and hung up. About a half hour later, I got curious. Really curious, so I called her back. “Debbie,” she said. “Yes,” I said. “You Won!” “No! Really?” I said. “You got IT,” she said. I couldn’t believe it! I was shocked, choked up and then got really dizzy. I made an announcement at the bar that I had just won an Emmy. Even though no one knew Su Yuu and me, they all cheered and we didn’t have to pay for any more drinks that night.
To have sailed on the Norwegian full-rigged Tall Ship, the Sorlandet, in the 1981 Cutty Sark Race from Denmark to Amsterdam was one the great adventures of my life. Actually, sailing the North Sea, known for it’s bad weather, was a little too rough. Even the die-hard Norwegians got sick. Yet, the ship was full of charm. One day when we had a break in the “bad weather,” I found Andrew Anderson Bell on deck. I never really quite knew why he was on board. Standing by the railing donned in his yellow foul weather gear I asked him, “Andrew, is that a velvet collar on the inside of your jacket?” “Why, Yes it is,” he said. “One must always look their best at sea.”
“Sail on Sorlandet’ was Produced and Directed by Lisa Schmid who gets high Kudos as we really worked out the edit together. I loved working with her – she was so funny! I would call her “Contessa” and she called my “Veeeky.” Bill shot the program and it was aired on La Plaza. Fabulous, fabulous adventure!
That was my first job as a freelancer and as Debby said, a great adventure never to be topped in the following thirty plus years of my shooting career. Absolutely amazing experience. Debby actually came to the rescue when we were far out to sea and our battery charger/power supply died. She tore it apart, found a blown fuse and saved us from what could have been a disaster. I was on a handheld floor camera the night of the Emmy’s when they announced Debbie the winner. Lisa Schmid accepted.
Nice story Bill
I have a copy of this photo. One of my favorites. Noted on the back, “Emmy’s Dec. 1981”
Looks like John Cini from High Output between Greg Harney and Chuck Esty.
I would suggest that the person to the left of Greg MacDonald is Janice Gomes, to the right is Anne Damon.
I believe the woman sitting next to Bunny Olenick (camera left) is named Ann. Last name starts with an H, I think. Heche?
Is the Black woman in the second row between Chas and Greg, Janice Gomes?
This looks like the year WGBH ran the New England/NATAS Emmy Award show production at the Sheraton Boston Hotel on Dalton Street. I believe it was held in January 1982. Actor McLean Stevenson (from MASH) was the host. WGBH rented tuxedos for the male crew members. They even rented one for me – Marcus Jones – (not seen in this photograph – I didn’t even know one was being taken). I was a news assistant for “The Ten O’clock News” at the time.
Thank you, Marcus!
I think the woman in front of Frank Lane might be Susan Brennan. She had amazing hair!
I played in the band in the balcony for that I think. My recollection was Chet and Natalie being hosts as well? I also think Big Bird was there. Unless there were two broadcast Regional Emmy’s. It was on WGBX, no commercials. Lasted a long time.
Hi Marcus! TOCN had the best interns!!
Second row on the right laughing is my mother. Bernice Olenick
Thank you, Steve. Yes, I remember her! I’ve updated the list.