Remembering the BU Scholars

In our youth, nothing seemed insurmountable. We approached every challenge with the old Mickey Rooney “Let’s put on a show!” enthusiasm.

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The foundations of WGBH: 84 Mass. Ave.

From Don Hallock: Many extraordinarily-gifted figures and luminaries of the day — in the arts, science, politics and education — found their ways into the halls and studios of the original WGBH-TV/FM studios at 84 Massachusetts Avenue.

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A stranger in a strange land

From Fred Barzyk: Bill insisted I try to get into the scholarship program. You studied for your graduate degree at Boston University and worked three days a week at the Educational Television station. Free tuition and you got $600 to live a year in Boston!

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A tribute to Dave Davis

From Don Hallock As I remember, a 30 year old Dave Davis came to us at WGBH-TV from the University of North Carolina campus TV in 1957. That was the same year I, at 19, began in the scene shop as assistant to Peter Prodan. Dave was a musician and veteran television Producer-Director. He succeeded…

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Class of ’58 (circa 1985)

From Vic Washkevich Here’s a shot of the entire BU class of 58 (those who completed the year, there were a couple who didn’t) at our next to last reunion, back about 15 years ago. Back – Left to Right: Bob Moscone, Bill Heitz, Don Mallinson and Bob Hall (guest visitor). Front – Left to…

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Prospects of Mankind (1959–61)

From Paul Noble Preparing for a taping of “Prospects of Mankind.” Left to right, Bob Moscone, Dave Davis, Virginia Kassel (behind Dave), Paul Noble, and Eleanor Roosevelt, at Slosberg Music Center, Brandeis University, fall 1959. Mrs. Roosevelt and her staff. Henry Morgenthau, Eleanor Roosevelt, Paul Noble, and Diana Tead Michaelis, fall 1959. Edward R. Murrow,…

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Ruth Anne’s Christmas Show (1950s)

From Brooks Leffler Ruth Anne’s Christmas Show. Not the parody Christmas show, the real thing. Staff was invited to be the campers for the day, and Ruth Anne led them in a kids’ song, the name of which escapes me. Note: this pic is a Photoshop marriage of two pics that didn’t quite match. Visible:…

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Discovery (1955-56)

Photos from John “Rocky” Coe — March 2002 Don Hallock: Thanks to “Rocky” Coe’s persistence in weeding through his collections of old slides, here are some of the best images we have from the first year or two in studio A at 84 Massachusetts Avenue. We believe they’re from Discovery‘s 1955-56 season, and seem to…

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Stories and photos From Studio A (1955)

Images From John (Rocky) Coe Bob Larsen in Studio A Control Room (with Judy Larsen in the background) — August 1955 Story by Michael Greenebaum Performance — String group — Nov. 1955 The photo of the chamber orchestra … is of the first televised concert of Harvard’s Bach Society Orchestra, conducted by me. For all…

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The 1961 WGBH Fire

From Don Hallock In the early morning hours of October 14, 1961, a raging fire at the 84 Massachusetts Avenue studios of WGBH completely destroyed the facility. WGBH FM and TV were located in the second and third floors of a three story roller former skating rink. The fire, which began in the studio-A area,…

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Discovering Discovery (1956)

From Don Hallock This 1956 film about the making of Mary Lela Grimes (Sherburne’s) kinescoped NET series on science for children was resurrected for the reunion. It is a show within a film, showcasing the 84 Massachusetts Avenue facility and many of our best remembered WGBH friends. A teleprompter mounted on the front of Frank…

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The ’58 Scholars Are At It Yet Again

From Vic Washkevich The WGBH Scholars class of ’58 is having yet another reunion. Gray haired and gimpy, we’re all going up to Newport, RI where classmate Don Mallinson and his lovely wife Eileen will host the group. Of the ten who started out in ’57, eight stayed the course. Sadly, since then we’ve lost…

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The Party XXII – Class of ’58

BU Class of 1958

Those irrepressible and beloved BU scholars who tore through the station in 1958, like a strong dose of Intest-o-cleanse, returned for the Reunion, bringing with them their particular brand of irreverent chutzpah (and hats especially designed for the occasion by Vic Washkevich). For the uninitiated, they are (from the left) Bill Heitz, Vic Washkevich, Don…

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The original dream factory — Mass Ave. Studio A (1950s)

For years, the original Studio A at 84 Massachusetts Avenue was a truly magical place. So many careers were launched, or at least nurtured, its environment. It’s magic blossomed from the drive to produce programming that one could feel pride in, with the ongoing and exhilarating drive to overcome obstacles, with the almost mythic experience of being forced by necessity to achieve the impossible through sheer persistence and ingenuity.

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Murray Yaeger – in memory

Former Professor of Broadcasting, Boston University; former liaison for student interns between Boston University and WGBH; directed World Affairs Council series. From Murray Yaeger – 2/23/2000 My involvement with the station began in 1956 when I became a professor at what is now the College of Communications at Boston University. I served as a liaison…

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One Way to Run a Railroad (1946-59)

From Ray Wilding-White: The station was made reality by a bunch of dedicated, overworked and underpaid young maniacs who hardly knew a microphone from a zebra when they started on radio. I know. I was there.

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