Television, some people say, is American culture. And when TV began, a lot of it was purely local. Next time we'll remember some of favorite local TV and personalities. And discuss how TV has changed since the early days.
Jack talks with Tim Kiska, author of "From Soupy to Nuts" and Michigan TV legend Sonny Eliot.
I hope that Jack will have Dr. Simon back in the future. The people of the State of Michigan are rarely afforded the opportunity to ask questions of our university presidents in this fashion. This was a particularly good show.
Posted by: Tom Elyot | October 13, 2005 at 02:30 PM
Delightful! Thanks.
Posted by: Cat Chew | October 14, 2005 at 01:40 PM
I have worked in television for 32 years. white fang was my union stewart,my co workers created not only wonderful tv but also the lone ranger on radio! the reason i got into tv was because of the soupy sales show and ricky the clown. I thought if only I could be there in person! we loved doing all those shows, kelly and company, good afternoon detroit,hot fudge, daedle doors. did you know that madonna danced on daedle doors??? she got her start on detroit tv! It was wonderful to know that we were working so hard to create the best that we could do! now it is just entertainment, not news. we dont cover our own legislature...have you asked yourself why the news is not covering the earthquake which was many more times worse than katrina.....??? its because there are no cameras there... there is no "good" video! do you ever ask yourself why you are watching a truck accident in minnesota??? because those flames are good video... not news! we are more visual and less content. I think that is why people have turned away from local news. they want local weather and sports.... but, I agree with Sonny... we have no news! and this is just my opinion.. I know that I am old fashioned... i dont want to be entertained by news... i want to be informed.. that is why I listen to NPR
thanks for the show... it was wonderful!
Posted by: suzanne goodman | October 14, 2005 at 02:08 PM
I was born & raised in Detroit, had lunch with Soupy each weekday (when I walked home from elementary school. Loved Johnny Ginger too.) These were real talents--they "honed" their acts to perfection much like Fred Astair. It is my belief we've become lazy and accept lesser than 100% effort from entertainers. Between investors dictating what shows will have air-time (based solely on a profit margin) and the lack of IMAGINATION seen in this country today--I yearn for the old days of entertainment as it was back then. Weathermen included! (By the way, IF you find enough people that think like me--I have a REAL and SPONTANEOUS entertainer waiting for just such a "revival" to begin! He could be the next Soupy or Johnny.E-mail me if you'd like to hear more!
Posted by: Angel | October 14, 2005 at 04:06 PM
as a small child i remember meeting jingles the clown at the romeo peach festival peach queen pageant where he was the mc that year. i was with a small group of kids on stage with him and i asked him why one half of his suit was yellow and the other was red. i guess i was surprised that it wasn't gray like it was on the black and white tv we had. the answer stumped him so the crowd laughed. i got my first taste of what it would be like to be in front of a crowd of people and i liked it so i went on to play music for a living around the detroit area.
i also remember going to the detroit zoo with the cub scouts and meeting sonny eliot while he was doing his at the zoo program. i asked him why they would call such an old guy like him "sonny". years later, i ran into him at a sales kick-off the company i work for was putting on. i went up to him to say hi and caught him with his mouth full. he exaggeratedly mumbled something and smiled because of the situation and the next thing i knew somebody else had caught his attention. he's one of the best in detroit. i always listen to his weather report in the afternoons on the wwj, it takes me back.
and congratulations to jack on a well done LOCAL show (although i have to listen to it on the web cause i'm in an office building in troy). i've enjoyed them all (as well as his pieces in the metro times).
Posted by: scott blackett | October 15, 2005 at 11:02 AM
as a small child i remember meeting jingles the clown at the romeo peach festival peach queen pageant where he was the mc that year. i was with a small group of kids on stage with him and i asked him why one half of his suit was yellow and the other was red. i guess i was surprised that it wasn't gray like it was on the black and white tv we had. the answer stumped him so the crowd laughed. i got my first taste of what it would be like to be in front of a crowd of people and i liked it so i went on to play music for a living around the detroit area.
i also remember going to the detroit zoo with the cub scouts and meeting sonny eliot while he was doing his at the zoo program. i asked him why they would call such an old guy like him "sonny". years later, i ran into him at a sales kick-off the company i work for was putting on. i went up to him to say hi and caught him with his mouth full. he exaggeratedly mumbled something and smiled because of the situation and the next thing i knew somebody else had caught his attention. he's one of the best in detroit. i always listen to his weather report in the afternoons on the wwj, it takes me back.
and congratulations to jack on a well done LOCAL show (although i have to listen to it on the web cause i'm in an office building in troy). i've enjoyed them all (as well as his pieces in the metro times).
Posted by: scott blackett | October 15, 2005 at 11:04 AM