COMING IN 2009 DETROIT TV DOCUMENTARY SOUPY, SONNY AND MORE by John Smyntek, Detroit Free Press
Michael Collins has had a radio and TV career where he has bounced around: morning man on WRIF-FM (101.1) in the 1970s, stints at WXYZ-AM (1270) and occasional weekends at WWJ-AM (950). On the TV side, he worked at WJBK-TV (Channel 2) in the '90s and toiled in communications for Ford.
Now, he's knee-deep producing a 90-minute special for Detroit Public Television (WTVS-TV, Channel 56), putting together the ultimate reminiscence of Detroit television from the 1950s, '60s and '70s. That's before satellite transmission technology largely put an end to much locally produced daily and weekend production.
We're talking Sonny Eliot, Bill Kennedy, Milky the Clown, Soupy Sales, Rita Bell, Robin Seymour and even Channel 7's "Lady of Charm" Edythe Fern Melrose. Also in the mix: Van Patrick, Bill Bonds, Lou Gordon and many, many more.
Because the TV stations themselves have relatively little archival video from the era, Collins and producers Tim Kiska, Ed Golick and Bill Kubota are pitching the public -- and perhaps former station employees -- who might have interesting video material for the show. Collins may be reached at detroittvhistory@gmail.com.
He's hoping for long-lost jewels like an entire "Auntie Dee" show from 1957. Said Collins: "One of the contestants in the talent contest was Ursula Walker. Today she's a local jazz legend, but back then she was a 12-year-old schoolkid singing 'Over the Rainbow.' "
The show is set to air in the first quarter of next year.
Plans are in the works for an anniversary party tentatively slated for January 12, 2009, the same day in 1959 that Barry Gordy founded Motown's Tamla Records. At least, that's the word on the street. We won't know for sure until Mr. Gordy, who will turn 79 in November, finalizes the plans.
According to a September 17th article in the Lansing State Journal, projects in the pipeline include a series of compilation albums and a definitive Motown documentary
In preparation, the Motown Museum, known as "Hitsville USA," is being renovated and will reopen October 1, 2008.
A BBC television crew will be in Detroit this month to shoot a documentary. (Interestingly, Motown continues to enjoy a large following in Europe.)
WWJ Newsradio / Detroit Yep, he's still doing the weather...and he's wonderfully wacky as ever!
A sampling of Sonny's humor: "Tonight it's going to be as cold as a metal chair in a nudist colony" "So hot today that the people stealing hubcaps are using oven mitts"
FROM THE BOOKSTORE Sonny Sez! Legends, Yarns, and Downright Truths BY SONNY ELIOT
Well known for his weather segments on WWJ-TV (now WDIV) and for hosting a variety of programs including At the Zoo and the annual Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast, Sonny Eliot's unique weather presentation can currently be heard on WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit. The stories included in this volume were carefully selected from over 750 that Sonny broadcast on his syndicated radio show over the years and concern the strange, the humorous, and the useless.
FROM THE DETROIT MEMORIES EMAIL INBOX Occasionally I receive emails I feel would be of interest to our Detroit Memories Newsletter subscribers. With the permission of the authors, I'll publish them.
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SOUPY SALES
Hi Eileen,
I'm a 66 year old native Detroiter. I enjoyed your site, especially the part on Soupy Sales.
The one thing no one seems to remember is his nighttime show. I was old enough to be able to stay up until 11 pm to see it.
Can you find info and clips on this show?
~~~~ To answer Chuck's question, I deferred to my friend, Ed Golick, webmaster of www.DetroitKidShow.com. Here's his response:
Only one 16mm kinescope of Soup's On! has survived. Soupy rediscovered it a few years ago in a storage locker when he was looking for film clips for the A&E channel.
I am currently producing a 90 minute documentary on the history of Detroit television for PBS. We are working with Soupy and will most certainly use clips from Soupy's On! as well as 12 O'Clock Comics, his noontime show.
I am also coordinating the new Soupy Sales exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum, which will feature the original puppets from the show as well as other Soupy memorabilia. The show will run from March to August 2009, and Soupy will be at the opening ceremony, health permitting.
~~~~
For those of you who haven't seen it on his website, Ed has posted the famous uncensored blooper clip of Soupy and the Naked Lady (when his program was televised from Los Angeles). Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Soupy's picture. WARNING: Be sure to read the disclaimers first!
OK, so I'm a few years late posting the link below. Still, it's always fun to see our favorite DJs again -- the ones who entertained us way back when as we drove to and from work, or cruised around Detroit on a weekend night.
Our thanks to Art Vuolo Jr., "Radio's Best Friend" for posting these photos of the Detroit Radio Reunions.
You'll catch glimpses of folks like Dick Purtan, Bill Bonds, Mort Crim, Lee Alan, Jim Davis, "Shotgun" Tom Kelly, Casey Kasem, Dusty Rhodes, Jo Jo Shutty-MacGregor, Heywood Banks, Joey Reynolds, Pat St. John, Tom Shannon and many, many, many more. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WHAT'S GOING ON? DETROIT MEMORIES DISCUSSION GROUP Didn't know Detroit Memories had a Discussion Group? We sure do! It's nearly 5 years old and 500 members strong. Everyone is welcome to join!
Here are a few of the topics we've been discussing recently:
Detroit / Motor City / Mt. Clemens Dragways Cruising Woodward New Era Potato Chips Gratiot and 7 Mile Eastwood Park The Detroit Times Detroit Lions Edgewater Park Metropolitan Beach Dunkenburger Better Made Potato Chips Scotch and Sirloin Montomery Wards
In the August issue of the Detroit Memories Newsletter, we published a survey asking:
WOULD YOU BE SUPPORTIVE OF DAVE BING IF HE DECIDED TO RUN FOR MAYOR OF DETROIT? Of the 25 people who responded, 100% would support Dave Bing for mayor of Detroit.
EVENTS The following will be held at the Museum and include book signings by local authors and scholars ~~~~ Detroit Remember When I - Film Series Saturday & Sunday, October 11 & 12 * 1 p.m. FREE with regular Museum admission ~~~~ Vernor's Ginger Ale - Author Series Wednesday, October 15 * 6 - 8 p.m. FREE - Society Members $10 - Guests Advance RSVP is requested.
TOURS $20 Detroit Historical Society members / $30 Guests ~~~~ Behind the Scenes at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House Saturday, November 1 * 11 a.m. JOIN THIS TOUR
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