I’ve been meaning to get in touch with you since July, when I made an extraordinary discovery. I learned that I had worked under your direction as a child of ten on a Boston Gas TV commercial, recorded on May 3, 1966. Eleven years later I was hired as a classical music announcer for WGBH-FM. Over the years I heard your name many, many times without recognizing it from my earlier history, but although I worked for WGBH, off and on, over a span of nearly 30 years, I don’t recall ever meeting you. While looking online for some record of my (only) TV commercial, I was amazed to find that, according to Google AI, “The spot was produced in coordination with prominent Boston television figures, including legendary WGBH producer and director Fred Barzyk, who frequently handled regional commercial work, creative television shorts, and local public utility programming during the mid-1960s.” One of the other participants was “longtime Boston-area actor, radio announcer, and film critic Frank Dolan, who played one of the friendly Boston Gas servicemen arriving at the home.” The report concluded, “ Because this piece of media was recorded straight to broadcast film reels rather than preserved for national syndication, it remains a rare piece of hyper-local Boston broadcasting history.” I have only very vague memories of that day. For 60 years I’ve been quite unaware of our “professional” connection.
Frederick F Barzykon September 28, 2026 at 10:58 am
SO SORRY WE DID NOT CONNECT EARLIER. WOW, THAT TAKES ME BACK. I ONLY DID ONE COMMERCIAL IN MY ENTIRE CAREER I HATED HAVING THE PR FIRM DICTATING WHAT AND HOW THING SHOULD BE DONE. DON’T YOU WISH WE HAD A COPY OF THIS… I WONDER WNT IT LOOKED LIKE. I USED FRANK DOLAN MANY TIMES IN MY DRAMAS. A GOOD GUY AND A NICE ACTOR. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT I HAVE DONE SINCE WE LAST MET… GO TOE FREDBARZY.COM. THIS IS MY VISUAL ARCHIVE THANKS AGAIN FOR RREACING OUT. FRED
Celinet Stumphauzeron October 30, 2025 at 10:08 am
Dear Mr. Barzyk, I hope this message finds you well. My name is Celinet Stumphauzer, and I had the pleasure of appearing in your television film “A Matter of Principal (1990) starring Loretta Swit (may she rest in peace), where I played the role of Juanita.
I have been hoping to locate a copy of the film for my personal collection, but it has been quite difficult to find. If there is any way you could assist me in obtaining a copy- or direct me to someone who might be able to help. I would be deeply grateful.
Thank you so much for your time, your work and for any assistance you can provide.
Frederick F Barzykon September 29, 2026 at 9:57 am
SORRY IT HAS TAKEN SO LONG TO RESPOND. THERE IS A 3/4 INCH COPY OF THE SHOW AT WGBH ARCHIVE. YOU WILL HAVE TO CALL THEM AND GO TO THE STUDIO TO VIEW THE RIGHT CONTACT IS P;ETER HIGGINS. HE WORKS IN ARCHIVE… GIVE HIM A CALL AT THE WGBH STATION PHONE LINE. THANKS FOR PURSUING. FRED BARZYK
Hi Fred…..we had some wonderful moments…..way back when ( you were the Director):
>I rolled over a set piece being the second camera on a Live Folk Music USA, 1965…..I ( with my Masters done with “Vanished Fleets” hosted by John Hemming 1964) drove south to WOR-TV to be camera on the NY Mets….then jumped into the HBO boom and came home to have you direct Pretzels, with Jane Curtin for HBO in 1974…..but your wonderful sense of humor and unflappable focus on all things “show time” resonate with me to this day…..Thank you, my friend.
SO GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!! STILL HANGING IN, TRYING TO LAY OUT MY AND WGBH HISTORY FOR THE AGES. SET UP THIS ARCHIVE ON MY WEBSITE FOR RESEARCHERS 2100. OH, I REMEMBER THOSE GREAT DAYS PAST. WE WERE LUCKY TO BE PART OF THE STATION IN IT GROWING YEARS. PLEASE KEEP UP THE CORRESPONDENCE AND STAY WELL. MUCH LOVE, FRED ACTUALLY I DID THE BOB AND RAY SHOW WHICH WAS WONDERFUL AS WE BECAME FRIENDS AND I USED THEM IN THE KURT VONNEGUT DRAMA “BETWEEN TIME AND TIMBUKTU”
Yes…the Bob and Ray Show was HBO’s first step into co-productions with you and GBH….then came Pretzels, I think….helped us grow our eastern network before Satellite took us westward!
Wow! what a great era we lived in….and one which you helped shape!
Hi Fred, Remember me? George Sullivan who used to work at GBH in the mail room? After the fire it was all hands on deck. I worked on your Parlons Francais shows as a crew member and “casting director” at HDH. I Fondly remember our booth at the Crossroads where we’d hang out and talk Film and TV with Frank Brady, John Henning and my friend Hal Ralston. I just discovered the alumni forum and glad some of us are still around!
Jack Gill here. Let me tell you a story. You were, I believe, a member of the class of ’58-’59. I came along the next year. One evening, which will live in infamy, I came into studio A. It was to be a live production of a pianist from the New England what-cha-ma-call-it. Don Hallock was on camera and I assumed I would be #2. You had set up a window with water running down it, as part of one of the pieces. You came up to me, gave me a brief description of the program to be (why me, Lord?), then said I was the director. Then you walked out of the studio, 15 minutes to air time.
I clutched, I panicked, all I could say was “Holy s__t!!!” I then did a magnificent job of crucifying the program. I remember saying to Don “Do your thing.” which he did with his usual aplomb.
I have agonized over that evening ever since, year after year after year, after . . . . It dawned on me a few years later that this was perhaps an audition, since Greg Harney, I learned, was watching. Was it? As an afterthought I should have declined, or at least asked for a second chance. Ah, what might have been.
First, so glad to hear from you. It must have been something like that. I never walk out so it had to be Greg seeing what you could do. Hey, we both had Hallock to save our asses. Hope all is well with you. Merry, Merry. Fred
Fred, and all: Thank you very much for all what you have done for me. The Last of the Morro Castle was just what I was looking for. Nice to see a young John Goodman.
Sorry I didn’t back to you sooner. Send me your address to my email. It will take a couple of weeks to get transferred to DVD> I am recovering from surgery so I will get to it when I am up and around.Thanks for the interest.
I understand that you were involved with “Frames of Reference”—“Lulu Smith: The First Interactive TV Drama” in the early ’80s. I am a patent attorney researching interactive TV technologies. Would really appreciate an opportunity to talk to you for a minute regarding “Lulu Smith”: 801-533-9800.
I understand that you directed the tv series/documentary “The Mystery of Morro Castle” in 1980. I am trying to find a copy as I am friendly with one of the survivors who is now 97 years old and living in Wrentham. He had seen it years back and wanted to view it again. Have searched all over to no avail. Was hoping you might be able to help. Thank you!
This was done for HBO in a series called “Flashback” I can make a DVD (which legally I didn’t make) but it would cost $15. I have to buy the blank DVD and rent the equipment to transfer. I am very busy right now and could not complete before July 1. Let me know if you want me to go ahead. Fred
Fred, re making a dvd of Morro Castle: it’s easy for us here if you would like me to help. I assume you do NOT have it in a digital format, but on a tape of some kind. I’d have to digitize it and then making the dvd is the piece of cake. I’m happy to just support your efforts. bob
hi all – i would still like to secure a copy of this program. let me know how to proceed. thanks!
Fred Barzykon August 7, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Please send me your address. Mail the check for $15 to Fred Barzyk, 12 Brook Street, Chelmsford MA 01824. I hope to have the DVD available sometime next week. Fred
Fred, I’m going to be in Boston in April and would love to catch up with you. I don’t have current contact information for you and thought I’d try through this. I’m going to be staying at Anne Marie Stein’s place. Best, Don
Hello Fred, Peter… I hope you were able to go to the VanDerBeek opening at MIT.
Amazing to suddenly see all this interest in Nam June (show in Liverpool, UK) and Stan (at MIT etc.). I hope to be able to catch it on my annual visit, alas it might have to be in Houston.
Peter H… I don’t know if you remember, but you were a great help, support when I had a problem in the Art Dept. I have never forgotten your kindness. Thank you.
Dear Mr. Barzyk,
I’ve been meaning to get in touch with you since July, when I made an extraordinary discovery. I learned that I had worked under your direction as a child of ten on a Boston Gas TV commercial, recorded on May 3, 1966. Eleven years later I was hired as a classical music announcer for WGBH-FM. Over the years I heard your name many, many times without recognizing it from my earlier history, but although I worked for WGBH, off and on, over a span of nearly 30 years, I don’t recall ever meeting you. While looking online for some record of my (only) TV commercial, I was amazed to find that, according to Google AI, “The spot was produced in coordination with prominent Boston television figures, including legendary WGBH producer and director Fred Barzyk, who frequently handled regional commercial work, creative television shorts, and local public utility programming during the mid-1960s.” One of the other participants was “longtime Boston-area actor, radio announcer, and film critic Frank Dolan, who played one of the friendly Boston Gas servicemen arriving at the home.” The report concluded, “ Because this piece of media was recorded straight to broadcast film reels rather than preserved for national syndication, it remains a rare piece of hyper-local Boston broadcasting history.” I have only very vague memories of that day. For 60 years I’ve been quite unaware of our “professional” connection.
SO SORRY WE DID NOT CONNECT EARLIER. WOW, THAT TAKES ME BACK. I ONLY DID ONE COMMERCIAL IN MY ENTIRE CAREER
I HATED HAVING THE PR FIRM DICTATING WHAT AND HOW THING SHOULD BE DONE. DON’T YOU WISH WE HAD A COPY OF
THIS… I WONDER WNT IT LOOKED LIKE. I USED FRANK DOLAN MANY TIMES IN MY DRAMAS. A GOOD GUY AND A NICE ACTOR.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT I HAVE DONE SINCE WE LAST MET… GO TOE FREDBARZY.COM. THIS IS MY VISUAL ARCHIVE
THANKS AGAIN FOR RREACING OUT. FRED
Dear Mr. Barzyk,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Celinet Stumphauzer, and I had the pleasure of appearing in your television film “A Matter of Principal (1990) starring Loretta Swit (may she rest in peace), where I played the role of Juanita.
I have been hoping to locate a copy of the film for my personal collection, but it has been quite difficult to find. If there is any way you could assist me in obtaining a copy- or direct me to someone who might be able to help. I would be deeply grateful.
Thank you so much for your time, your work and for any assistance you can provide.
Kind Regards,
Celinet
SORRY IT HAS TAKEN SO LONG TO RESPOND. THERE IS A 3/4 INCH COPY OF THE SHOW AT WGBH ARCHIVE.
YOU WILL HAVE TO CALL THEM AND GO TO THE STUDIO TO VIEW THE RIGHT CONTACT IS P;ETER HIGGINS.
HE WORKS IN ARCHIVE… GIVE HIM A CALL AT THE WGBH STATION PHONE LINE.
THANKS FOR PURSUING.
FRED BARZYK
Hi Fred…..we had some wonderful moments…..way back when ( you were the Director):
>I rolled over a set piece being the second camera on a Live Folk Music USA, 1965…..I ( with my Masters done with “Vanished Fleets” hosted by John Hemming 1964) drove south to WOR-TV to be camera on the NY Mets….then jumped into the HBO boom and came home to have you direct Pretzels, with Jane Curtin for HBO in 1974…..but your wonderful sense of humor and unflappable focus on all things “show time” resonate with me to this day…..Thank you, my friend.
All my best, Fred to both you and Cosel.
SO GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!! STILL HANGING IN, TRYING TO LAY OUT MY AND WGBH HISTORY FOR THE AGES. SET UP THIS ARCHIVE ON MY WEBSITE FOR RESEARCHERS 2100. OH, I REMEMBER THOSE GREAT DAYS PAST. WE WERE LUCKY TO BE PART OF THE STATION IN IT GROWING YEARS. PLEASE KEEP UP THE CORRESPONDENCE AND STAY WELL. MUCH LOVE, FRED
ACTUALLY I DID THE BOB AND RAY SHOW WHICH WAS WONDERFUL AS WE BECAME FRIENDS AND I USED THEM IN THE KURT VONNEGUT DRAMA “BETWEEN TIME AND TIMBUKTU”
Great to hear back from you Fred!
Yes…the Bob and Ray Show was HBO’s first step into co-productions with you and GBH….then came Pretzels, I think….helped us grow our eastern network before Satellite took us westward!
Wow! what a great era we lived in….and one which you helped shape!
Peter Frame
Hi Fred,
Remember me? George Sullivan who used to work at GBH in the mail room? After the fire it was all hands on deck. I worked on your Parlons Francais shows as a crew member and “casting director” at HDH. I Fondly remember our booth at the Crossroads where we’d hang out and talk Film and TV with Frank Brady, John Henning and my friend Hal Ralston.
I just discovered the alumni forum and glad some of us are still around!
I love Fred Barzyk!!!! His bottomless well of humor, creativity, and connectivity continues to amaze me — it’s only been about 50 years!!! Bob Nesson
Fred,
Jack Gill here. Let me tell you a story. You were, I believe, a member of the class of ’58-’59. I came along the next year. One evening, which will live in infamy, I came into studio A. It was to be a live production of a pianist from the New England what-cha-ma-call-it. Don Hallock was on camera and I assumed I would be #2. You had set up a window with water running down it, as part of one of the pieces. You came up to me, gave me a brief description of the program to be (why me, Lord?), then said I was the director. Then you walked out of the studio, 15 minutes to air time.
I clutched, I panicked, all I could say was “Holy s__t!!!” I then did a magnificent job of crucifying the program. I remember saying to Don “Do your thing.” which he did with his usual aplomb.
I have agonized over that evening ever since, year after year after year, after . . . . It dawned on me a few years later that this was perhaps an audition, since Greg Harney, I learned, was watching. Was it? As an afterthought I should have declined, or at least asked for a second chance. Ah, what might have been.
First, so glad to hear from you. It must have been something like that. I never walk out so it had to be Greg seeing what you could do. Hey, we both had Hallock to save our asses. Hope all is well with you. Merry, Merry. Fred
Fred, and all: Thank you very much for all what you have done for me. The Last of the Morro Castle was just what I was looking for. Nice to see a young John Goodman.
Hello Fred,
I was wondering if it would be possible to get an educational copy of your Collisions piece?
Best,
Steven
Sorry I didn’t back to you sooner. Send me your address to my email.
It will take a couple of weeks to get transferred to DVD> I am recovering from surgery so I will get to it when I am up and around.Thanks for the interest.
Fred,
I understand that you were involved with “Frames of Reference”—“Lulu Smith: The First Interactive TV Drama” in the early ’80s. I am a patent attorney researching interactive TV technologies. Would really appreciate an opportunity to talk to you for a minute regarding “Lulu Smith”: 801-533-9800.
Regards,
Joseph Shapiro
Sorry I have n’t got back to you sooner. Have been neglectful of my emails. I will give you a call later this week. (Feb. 19, 2013.)
I understand that you directed the tv series/documentary “The Mystery of Morro Castle” in 1980. I am trying to find a copy as I am friendly with one of the survivors who is now 97 years old and living in Wrentham. He had seen it years back and wanted to view it again. Have searched all over to no avail. Was hoping you might be able to help. Thank you!
This was done for HBO in a series called “Flashback” I can make a DVD (which legally I didn’t make) but it would cost $15. I have to buy the blank DVD and rent the equipment to transfer. I am very busy right now and could not complete before July 1. Let me know if you want me to go ahead. Fred
Yes! I would be forever grateful if you could do this at any time convenient for you. Thank you!
Fred, re making a dvd of Morro Castle: it’s easy for us here if you would like me to help. I assume you do NOT have it in a digital format, but on a tape of some kind. I’d have to digitize it and then making the dvd is the piece of cake. I’m happy to just support your efforts. bob
hi all – i would still like to secure a copy of this program. let me know how to proceed. thanks!
Please send me your address. Mail the check for $15 to Fred Barzyk, 12 Brook Street, Chelmsford MA 01824. I hope to have the DVD available sometime next week. Fred
excellent! thank you fred!
Fred,
I’m going to be in Boston in April and would love to catch up with you. I don’t have current contact information for you and thought I’d try through this. I’m going to be staying at Anne Marie Stein’s place.
Best, Don
Hello Fred, Peter… I hope you were able to go to the VanDerBeek opening at MIT.
Amazing to suddenly see all this interest in Nam June (show in Liverpool, UK) and Stan (at MIT etc.). I hope to be able to catch it on my annual visit, alas it might have to be in Houston.
Peter H… I don’t know if you remember, but you were a great help, support when I had a problem in the Art Dept. I have never forgotten your kindness. Thank you.
Ruth in London.