  20043_stotter Member Username: 20043_stotter Post Number: 17 Registered: 03-2007 |
Sometimes Bill would be full of himself but he had so much Hollywood lore,he was easy to watch. Not only that, he usually had very good films too. I was sick one day and home from work watching BK. He announced that JFK. was shot in Dallas, so I heard it from Him. One of his sponsors was Mr. Belvedre who used to say, "You can look at it, Love it and take your time paying for it. Bill lived a long time after the show and passed away in Fl. many years later. I think in his 90's. | ||
Detroit_girl Member Username: Detroit_girl Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2003 |
I remember him. My grandma was a fan of him and George Pourreau (sp?). | ||
Leoqueen Member Username: Leoqueen Post Number: 1560 Registered: 07-2004 |
George Pierrot | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1226 Registered: 04-2006 |
I liked Rita Bell's prize movie. | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 263 Registered: 02-2007 |
Wow thanks I was trying to remember all the voices from the past but you left our Milky... the clown out... Bill Kennedy and Rita Bell ...my goodness how many movies did we see with them. George Pierrot...memories. of different time. | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 264 Registered: 02-2007 |
Bill Kennedy, Actor and Newscaster, 88 Permalink Published: February 3, 1997 Bill Kennedy, an actor and a television newscaster, died on Jan. 27 at his home in Palm Beach, Fla. He was 88. Mr. Kennedy appeared in several movies in the 1940's and 50's, including ''Destination Tokyo,'' ''Escape in the Desert'' and ''Unchained.'' In 1945 he starred in a 13-chapter serial, ''The Royal Mounted Rides Again.'' He started his television career as a newscaster in Detroit on WWJ and WDIV-TV and was the star of ''Your Hollywood Host'' in 1952. He also worked at CLKW-TV in Windsor, Ontario, before joining WKBD-TV in Southfield, Mich., in 1969. He soon began a weekly movie show, ''Bill Kennedy at the Movies.'' Mr. Kennedy moved to Florida in 1982 but continued producing one movie show a week for broadcast in Detroit on WKBD. The last one was broadcast on Dec. 4, 1983. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne; two sons, Michael, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Bartley, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; a daughter, Patricia Kennedy of Santa Cruz, Calif.; two stepchildren, Susan Kennedy of Fort Lauderdale and Leslie King of Detroit; a sister, Helen Kennedy of San Pedro, Calif., and four grandchildren. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 858 Registered: 07-2004 |
Cue "Just in Time." | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4219 Registered: 08-2004 |
Thanks for the info Gilbran! I wonder what has become of his movie memorabilia archive. He on occasion mentioned his collection on his show, articles, magazine clips, etc. He would often read an article verbatim on his show from some yellowed scrap of newspaper, using his own unique intonation as he was reading it. (Message edited by Gistok on April 27, 2007) | ||
Carolcb Member Username: Carolcb Post Number: 501 Registered: 11-2006 |
We watched George all the time. I loved to stay home from school, pull the drapes and watch Bill Kennedy! | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 859 Registered: 07-2004 |
http://www.smickandsmodoo.com/ lyrics/justintime.htm | ||
Rjk Member Username: Rjk Post Number: 693 Registered: 11-2003 |
The two things I distinctly remember about BK was his sailor hat and when he announced that Anissa Jones (Buffy from Family Affair) had died of a drug overdose. I can remember very little about BK, but I can recall him talking about AJ like it was yesterday. http://info.detnews.com/histor y/story/index.cfm?id=25&catego ry=life | ||
Walkerpub Member Username: Walkerpub Post Number: 156 Registered: 12-2003 |
Bill Kennedy, Bozo the Clown, Dick the Bruiser, Robin Seymour at the Dawn of Local TV: http://www.walkervilletimes.co m/27/CBC1.html | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 186 Registered: 06-2006 |
There was a rumor that one of the neighborhood kids was walking to church on Sunday and he saw Bill Kennedy's limousine pull over on Moross and stop. The back door opened up and Bill was puking his guts out onto the street. Does anyone remember his famous line in the movie Joan of Arc? "More faggots" Faggots being little wooden sticks of course. | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 1046 Registered: 08-2006 |
Oh yeah! He was on Gramma Ann's weekly must watch list, right up there with Lawrence Welk. | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 616 Registered: 10-2003 |
Gistok, Bill Kennedy donated his "fabulous files" to the Detroit Library. Gibran, Despite what the article says, Kennedy was never a newscaster at WWJ. He was the booth announcer. One of his duties was to announce the correct time and station identification every hour. | ||
Gargoyle Member Username: Gargoyle Post Number: 71 Registered: 04-2006 |
I remember him in the movie "Rhapsody in Blue" and was floored at how handsome he was in his younger days. I was sorry to see him leave the area. I believe it was his son who used to show up at local concert venues in the late sixties in a hearse. Very strange. | ||
D2dyeah Member Username: D2dyeah Post Number: 51 Registered: 09-2005 |
I remember the Supremes on his show, at the begining of their career. He used to have the stars from the Elmwood casino and The Roostertail when they were in town, as well as big movie stars who were just "passing through" Detroit, and stopped by for a visit. He put on a terrific show. because he could always keep up with their banter. | ||
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis Post Number: 269 Registered: 07-2005 |
He use to live around the block from us, so as kids we would ride bikes by his house and say "wow, he is a TV star" We talked about this on a different thread a few months ago. His house was on the corner of Hillcrest and Beaupre in Grosse Pointe Farms. | ||
Buyamerican Member Username: Buyamerican Post Number: 82 Registered: 02-2007 |
Mary Morgan and her little doggie Lepshen(sp?) Was it Million Dollar Movie? Edith Fern Melrose....ahhh the memories. | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 1274 Registered: 01-2005 |
Wiki site if you're interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B ill_Kennedy_(actor) Any videos? I don't remember him at all...we were a Mort Crim family growing up. | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 200 Registered: 01-2007 |
My dad was watching Bill Kennedy when the announcement came that “Kennedy has been shot.” He assumed that they were speaking of Bill and not JFK. In the early 1980’s, Kirk Gibson hit a dramatic home run to beat the Yankees. The next day, Bill Kennedy discussed the home run on his show. Shortly thereafter, Gibson appeared as a guest. The “discussion” between Gibson and Kennedy was “combative” at best. | ||
Ladyinabag Member Username: Ladyinabag Post Number: 241 Registered: 03-2007 |
My mother was a singer. She was "Tabby" with The Sophisticats in the middle to late 30's on WWJ Radio. Bill Kennedy was the host of the show. There is a picture of a young Bill Kennedy in a pile of old pictures over my sister's house. I used to see it over the years when my mother was in possession of it. There are, currently, pictures of Bill Kennedy and my mother on the walls in the outer office over at WWJ Radio. Her real (stage) name was Kay Foster (Best legs in the dance band business, 194?. There is a picture of this as well). She was from Port Huron. I have a picture of my mother singing with The Sophisticats at WWJ. But, sorry, I don't have the one of Bill Kennedy. I have a signed copy of a picture of Milton Berle!!! (Message edited by ladyinabag on April 27, 2007) | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 92 Registered: 05-2004 |
Bill was also the voice at the beginning of the tv Superman, "Faster than a speeding bullet etc." He was a real hambone. | ||
D2dyeah Member Username: D2dyeah Post Number: 52 Registered: 09-2005 |
Was there a connection between Bill and the Actor John Hodiak? I remember my Grandmother mentioning that, like they were cousins or something. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2045 Registered: 12-2005 |
He was a busy guy. Check this out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm044 7930/ | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2065 Registered: 06-2004 |
along the same line, there's never been someone to take Shirley Eder's place either | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 1375 Registered: 01-2005 |
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi- bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=706925 5 | ||
Kville Member Username: Kville Post Number: 8 Registered: 04-2007 |
My dad had a hardware store on Mack near 7 Mile in Grosse Pte Woods. Bill Kennedy came into the store a few times. All I remember about his visits, though, was that he was always taking off & putting on his glasses and every time he took them off, he'd lose them and say, "My God, now where did I put them." I even knew a girl in school who wanted me to get his autograph for her. Betty Barr (sp?) used to come in too, but for the life of me, I can't remember what she did on local TV. | ||
Waz Member Username: Waz Post Number: 20 Registered: 11-2006 |
He sometimes played a movie, "The People's Choice", which he and a friend sunk all their money into. It bombed. I remember him frequently being rude and sarcastic with callers. That I could've done without. Josh White Jr. was always a musical guest whenever he came through town. Bill said he really admired his father. | ||
Buyamerican Member Username: Buyamerican Post Number: 84 Registered: 02-2007 |
Betty Bahr was a weathergirl. | ||
Bongman Member Username: Bongman Post Number: 1472 Registered: 12-2003 |
I always remember George Peirot falling asleep every time Dennis Glenn Cooper was on. I think my Dad watched his show just for that reason after work....zzzzzz. Ole George could really hack up the flem balls when he was on the air. You'd swear his left lung was going to fly out any second. I also remember when George got mugged Downtown. Bill Kennedy would always point out his bit role in "Destination Tokyo". He could stretch a 90 minute movie into a three hour marathon. | ||
Wally2times Member Username: Wally2times Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2007 |
Everyone knows Bill Kennedy, Rita Bell and George Pierrot and if ya don't, well Im sorry u missed great tv | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 222 Registered: 10-2003 |
Many good memories of coming home from school with Bill Kennedy on the television while my mother was busy doing things around the house. He would be on talking about actors and actresses who even today I couldn't tell you anything about--if I remembered their names. Yet, when my aunts dropped by on a weekday afternoon, they would watch Bill Kennedy and spend whole conversations on these stars of the black & white film era. With only a few channels to choose from, it was definitely a quieter experience watching television back then. Bongman, read a George Pierrot interview recently in the Reuther archives where he mentioned getting mugged. The interview was from '76. He just blew the mugging off as no big deal. He said something to the fact that he had to deal with stuff all around the world. The trouble he saw in Detroit at that time was no different than elsewhere. George Pierrot, a fanatic worldwide traveler, who genuinely loved Detroit. (Message edited by xD_brklyn on April 30, 2007) | ||
Carolcb Member Username: Carolcb Post Number: 523 Registered: 11-2006 |
Bongman, thanks for saying the words Dennis Glen Cooper, I was trying to remember him. My mom really liked him. | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 193 Registered: 06-2006 |
Rita Bell was a babe! | ||
Pgn421 Member Username: Pgn421 Post Number: 76 Registered: 02-2005 |
i used to wash his Rolls Royce , when i worked at Standard on the Hill, back in the 70`s | ||
Waxx Member Username: Waxx Post Number: 144 Registered: 09-2006 |
Growing up in the 80s, every Saturday (or was it Sunday?) we'd watch Bill Kennedy @ the movies and if it something good, we'd watch it, if not, we'd see something else-my memory precedes me at the moment-but my parents grew up (in the 60s)watching him and had some stories to tell. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 370 Registered: 01-2007 |
I remember Bill well. Years back, I used to pick his trash on my Monday rubbish route. He would often be standing in his bathrobe on the front porch, smoking and coughing. After he moved to Florida, the house was sold, and included was his guest book that had the autographs and well wishes of many movie stars who stayed there. I helped push his stuck car out of the snow bank once, too. | ||
Eastside_charlie Member Username: Eastside_charlie Post Number: 39 Registered: 02-2007 |
my early brush with detroit celebrity. i remember bill kennedy at krogers; trench coat unshaven, he bought bread, some deli stuff and a bottle of somin somin. never forget it. circa 1975 | ||
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess Post Number: 355 Registered: 08-2006 |
Bill Kennedy to dentist-friend-of-ours: "Just book my appointment as 'Mr. Smith.'" Day of appointment, desk clerk comes back excitedly: "Bill Kennedy just walked in!!!!" Dentist: "No, that's Mr. Smith, my 9 o'clock" Clerk: "It's Bill Kennedy, I swear" Dentist: "What makes you think it's not Mr. Smith?!?!" Clerk: "It's the cape and cane..." | ||
Eric_w Member Username: Eric_w Post Number: 151 Registered: 02-2007 |
Loved Bill Kennedy-spent many days watching him host "Pictures" as he called them on his old show first on old CKLW TV 9 & later WKBD Channel 50. Loved hearing his old stories about the films & Hollywood lore. When he was on Channel 9 he sometimes had notable guests from the old Supper Club circuit that appeared at Windsor's Top Hat Supper Club. | ||
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis Post Number: 273 Registered: 07-2005 |
As a kid staying home sick it was always a big let down at 1:00 that the kids shows were all off and all that was on was old movies. Back then we only had 2, 4, 7, 9, 20, 50 and 56. Wow have times changed. | ||
Paczki Member Username: Paczki Post Number: 23 Registered: 02-2007 |
A girl in my high school got caught skipping school when she answered the phone and it turned out to be Rita Bell calling her house to ask the question of the day. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2082 Registered: 12-2005 |
Help me remember. quote:2: CBS 4: NBC 7: ABC 9: CBC 20: ? 50: ? 56: PBS? | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2083 Registered: 12-2005 |
I may be the world's worst movie fan. I just never cared for movies. Yet recently someone remarked that I had an uncanny ability to identify old movie stars. I recently identified Eve Arden by her voice alone. I owe it all to Bill Kennedy. He made even those old movies interesting. | ||
Kville Member Username: Kville Post Number: 15 Registered: 04-2007 |
Jimaz - 20 & 50 were independents back then (before Fox moved to channel 50 & later channel 2). I guess I go back too far, because when I was a kid, we never got past channel 9. When 56 started (later NET - National Educational TV and then renamed PBS), the teachers in school tried to get us to watch it, but you had to have a converter to get the UHF stations. | ||
Zephyrprocess Member Username: Zephyrprocess Post Number: 359 Registered: 08-2006 |
Channel 50 is "WKBD" because that used to stand for "Kaiser Broadcasting, Detroit"--yes, the Kaiser aluminum folks branched into TV with their own network, for a time. It also used to be the station that carried the Wings and Pistons. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2084 Registered: 12-2005 |
Ah! Thanks for the memories. I too remember pre-UHF. That was our old TV with the electromagnetic tuner. You'd press and hold a button and it would physically sequence the massive channel knob making a kerCHUNK, kerCHUNK, kerCHUNK sound. That was high tech then. | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 1627 Registered: 02-2004 |
Remember when Channel 20 carried ON TV - the first pay station in the area. After 8pm, you could see movies. | ||
Eric_w Member Username: Eric_w Post Number: 153 Registered: 02-2007 |
Help me remember. quote: Back then we only had 2, 4, 7, 9, 20, 50 and 56. 2: CBS 4: NBC 7: ABC 9: CBC 20: ? 50: ? 56: PBS? Jimaz Here's what I recall: 2-WJBK before it became FOX 2 (CBS ) 4-WWJ then became WDIV (NBC) 7-WXYZ (ABC) 9-CKLW then CBET (CBC ) 11- WTOL Toledo-we could get a grainy picture sometimes 20-I believe it was WXON-in the early 80's they had ON-TV starting at 8PM a subscription service. Lots of people bought bootleg boxes to get the signal without paying 50-WKBD then became FOX 50 then UPN.I don't know it's name now. 56-WTVS 62- WGPR-it was the first black owned TV station in the US ( Found it on Wikipedia ) then became a CBS affiliate when TV2 went with FOX. It's call letters are WWJ now. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2086 Registered: 12-2005 |
Yes, yes! I do remember CH 62 also! I believe you're correct about CH 20 being WXON. Thanks. | ||
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis Post Number: 275 Registered: 07-2005 |
Oh I forgot about 62 also. Most likely because their wasn't much on that a kid was interested in. I remember when we had to put tin foil on the rabbit ears to get a better picture. Either that sometimes you had to stand there and hold the antenna otherwise you would loss the picture and just get snow. | ||
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis Post Number: 276 Registered: 07-2005 |
Since we are taking about tv here I have a question to ask. When I was younger I watched a tv movie a couple of times that had people that were living under a glass dome and there was a big eye at the top that watched everybody. A group of people were trying to dig a tunnel out to escape. I have been trying to figure out the name of it for years and non of the science fiction groups have been able to help. Since I watched it on Detroit TV did anyone else see it? | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2088 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote:That was my little brother's job.  CH 62 would have been UHF so it would have used that silly loop antenna, not the rabbit ears. Imagine: Today even our computers have entered Marconi's "wireless" age as if it were something new. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2089 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote:It sounds familiar but I can't remember it specifically. It sounds like a Twilight Zone or Outer Limits episode. If Bill Kennedy were here we'd have an answer.  (Message edited by Jimaz on May 02, 2007) | ||
Paintnprint Member Username: Paintnprint Post Number: 1 Registered: 04-2007 |
There's a nice book out called TV LAND DETROIT which does chapters on all of the area personalities: Everybody from Soupy to nuts. Nobody has mentioned Milky the Clown, Bozo, Jingles, Poopdeck Paul, Capt. Jolly, Johnny Ginger (see his clips from Curtaintime Theatre on UTUBE), The Ghoul, Robin Seymore, Ricky the Clown, nor Sagebrush Shorty. On a sad note, Sir Graves Ghastly passed last week, I believe at 94 years of age. http://www.sirgravesghastly.com/ also http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=25&category=life AND the best for the last http://www.detroitkidshow.com/ Regards, Koko  (Message edited by paintnprint on May 03, 2007) | ||
Kville Member Username: Kville Post Number: 17 Registered: 04-2007 |
Even though I used to watch Captain Jolly & Poopdeck Paul often (I just enjoyed the Popeye cartoons), my wife is the one who goes nuts over them. She's been looking for years for some sort of recording that might have them. She always remembers the limbo contest that Poopdeck Paul used to do. Anybody remember Pinky Lee? (now that's an obscure celebrity). | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 619 Registered: 10-2003 |
Kville, There's some footage of Poopdeck Paul here. http://detroitkidshow.com/Poop deck_Paul.htm Late last year I posted a clip of Captain Jolly at Hudson's Santaland. There's not a whole lot of video around of those guys as their shows were mostly done live. However, I've recently unearthed a rare TV special from 1963 that features Milky, Bozo, Sagebrush Shorty, Jerry Booth and Larry Sands, Johnny Ginger and Ricky the Clown which I'll be posting soon on my website. And yes, I remember Pinky Lee, the precursor to Pee Wee Herman. Thanks for the kind words, Paintnprint! | ||
Lmr Member Username: Lmr Post Number: 21 Registered: 03-2007 |
Channel 11 was WTOL Toledo, also channel 13 was WTVG Toledo (I think 13 may have had slightly different call letters at one time). From downriver you could get them both pretty clear. My dad was from Cleveland and he would sometimes watch the Indians on one or the other of those stations. | ||
20043_stotter Member Username: 20043_stotter Post Number: 20 Registered: 03-2007 |
Harsenis, That was from T- Zone. | ||
Bornthere Member Username: Bornthere Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2007 |
I remember Bill Kennedy and yep, gibran, I remember Milky the Clown. My dad was a Twin Pines Milkman (remember them?) and Milky was their spokesperson. Every year at Christmas they'd have a big party for the workers at Twin Pine Dairy and Milky would be there. That was ages ago; I barely remember where we had it. I think I was about 8, maybe 10! | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 299 Registered: 02-2007 |
Our homes had the milk boxes built into the home....I remember following the milkmen and always remembering their kindness. They and the Good Humor guys were cool. It was sad to see that era go. what we got was strange guys in vans riding around selling ice-cream....not all were strange but in contrast to Milkmen and Good Humor guys it was a transition. | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 622 Registered: 10-2003 |
Clare Cummings, the man who played Milky, was only paid fifty bucks a week for his TV gig. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2095 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote:This has been bugging me. I recall several programs that come close but don't quite match. The movie Slaughterhouse 5 had people trapped in a glass dome but that's not it. There was an episode of Twilight Zone where a neighborhood was trapped within some barrier and everyone became paranoid of each other. There was suspicion of a radio operator, suspicion of someone whose power resumed before the others, suspicion of someone whose car started when no others would. I think it was a criticism of The Red Scare. There was a program about people caught in a box. I think one was a toy soldier and maybe another was a ballerina. There was another about a Brownie camera that somehow trapped people. I could be wrong about that. That was Outer Limits. I haven't tried Googling any of this yet. I don't recall a camera or a tunnel in any of these. We're not thinking of The Prisoner, are we? | ||
Soomka1 Member Username: Soomka1 Post Number: 10 Registered: 02-2007 |
I met Bill and his wife a few times in the late 70's. They were both very nice people. I know he loved being a celebrity and I think he didn't mind putting on a little bit of a show for people so they could have their own Bill Kennedy story. I saw that someone said he lived in the Farms, but I remember he lived in a beautiful white house on Clairview in GP Shores. | ||
Kathinozarks Member Username: Kathinozarks Post Number: 439 Registered: 11-2006 |
In the summer the Twin Pines milkman would give us kids big chips of ice from inside the truck. It's like yesterday to me, watching him chip, chip, chip away at a corner with his ice pick! Yay!!! Is it possible that in the mid-60's the delivery trucks still used big blocks of ice to keep the milk cold? I sometimes feel so blessed! | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 301 Registered: 02-2007 |
there were such simple yet deep memories from that time everything from the civility of the neighborhood milkman to the campiness of Bill Kennedy at the movies. We all played late at night "no ghost in the grave yard" and didn't worry about a thing. When we were really bad we rang a few doorbells and hide in the bushes. We knew our nieghbors and watched Sir Graves on Saturdays with the lights down. We drank fago and for a quarter got a bag of Superior Chips...and had some change for real penny candy. We rode our bikes from 7 and Kelly to the foot of alter to fish and to the city airport to watch the planes come in... that was detroit,,, | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 302 Registered: 02-2007 |
there were such simple yet deep memories from that time everything from the civility of the neighborhood milkman to the campiness of Bill Kennedy at the movies. We all played late at night "no ghost in the grave yard" and didn't worry about a thing. When we were really bad we rang a few doorbells and hide in the bushes. We knew our nieghbors and watched Sir Graves on Saturdays with the lights down. We drank fago and for a quarter got a bag of Superior Chips...and had some change for real penny candy. We rode our bikes from 7 and Kelly to the foot of alter to fish and to the city airport to watch the planes come in... that was detroit,,, | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 303 Registered: 02-2007 |
oops ground hogs day...or senility | ||
Kville Member Username: Kville Post Number: 21 Registered: 04-2007 |
We all had the milk chutes through which we sometimes could send one of the little kids when parents accidentally locked themselves out of the house (I could actually fit through my grandmother's at one time). Besides Good Humor, we had an assortment of other ice cream guys (some of whom were a little bizarre - but we didn't know the difference); and all the vegetable trucks that came down the street in the summer announcing "Strawberries - 3 quarts for a dollar," and other bargains. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1269 Registered: 12-2005 |
Eric_W-channel 50 was part of Kaiser broadcasting, yet another industry by industrialist Henry J.Kaiser, the same man who operated the Kaiser-Fraizer car company. He made his name in shipbuilding during WWII and branched out into Aluminum manufacturing, broadcasting and real estate ventures. | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 308 Registered: 02-2007 |
oops forgot about those vegetable trucks ...that was cool. Could you image that today? how about chasing the helicopters as they sprayed DDT on the trees another summertime treat :}.... Dutch elm got a lot of trees around the city...it was a shame around Denby. | ||
Waz Member Username: Waz Post Number: 22 Registered: 11-2006 |
And to think - we had to watch all that TV without remote controls! | ||
Jman Member Username: Jman Post Number: 51 Registered: 10-2006 |
My Dad had a voice activated remote. He would say "channel 7" and I would get up and change the channel. | ||
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis Post Number: 282 Registered: 07-2005 |
Jimaz, It doesn't sound like the prisoner. In the one I'm thinking of they were digging a tunnel in a shed or small barn, but they had to be careful that the camera or eye at the top of the dome didn't see them bringing out all of the dirt. I was probably 10 or 11 when I saw it a couple of times on tv. It was like a Saturday Special movie. I looked at all of the T Zone episodes, but didn't see anything that stood out. I might never find the answer to it! | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2115 Registered: 12-2005 |
Harsensis, none of that rings a bell with me (sorry) but I would very much like to see that program. I love the theme of righteous people sneaking around to do good deeds beneath the radar of oppression. | ||
Kathinozarks Member Username: Kathinozarks Post Number: 441 Registered: 11-2006 |
OMG! So many great memories, thank you for sharing. We're always talking about following the DDT truck down the street. What the heck were we thinking? And where were our parents? Yikes! Jman - that is so funny! I laughed at the very same memory from our living room. Kville - Thanks for rekindling the milk chute memory. We had a man who came down the sidewalk on Wayburn in GPP ringing a bell. He was the knife sharpener. I remember him just a bit. Mom's like, "oh sure, everyone had him sharpen their knives". I guess you can't really do that nowadays. Too bad, my knives are all real dull. Gibran - your recollections make me think we are the same person. Thanks for being able to put my thoughts/memories into words! | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 312 Registered: 02-2007 |
that guy must of been in great shape because he would walk down my side of Wayburn also.... Remember, during the riots we were supposed to stop playing in the front yard and had to go in the back yards...watched the heavy equoipment roll down the main streets...at the same time watching the war rage on.. How about when the wind was still we could hear all the old guys listening to the Tigers on their radios on their front porches...with a cigarette burning for lights... took some friends from Tulsa to a Dinner (Petra Cafe) on center street, in Fayette ville and it reminded me of simpler times everyone interacting with each other ....talking politics...some of our conservative friends here must of had their ears burning... Civil times can be brought back,,,it just takes pocketing the anger. That we all wished we could win a toy from the Milky the Clown show... Kathy we all grew up at a time where people still were the most important variable of this country. Just think of how much diversity has contributed to our values and it is something we never recognize...all the contributions from Bill Kennedy to the Supreme and Motown...shame we couldn't recognize it when it was there.. | ||
Ray Member Username: Ray Post Number: 881 Registered: 06-2004 |
The great thing about channel 50 was that after school they had all the kid shows: Flintstones, Jetsons, Three Stoges, Gilligans Island and Brady Bunch. I also remember the 4:30 movie that Channel 7 would have, which was frequenlty a Godzilla film. Those were the days. | ||
Kathinozarks Member Username: Kathinozarks Post Number: 443 Registered: 11-2006 |
Hey Gib, What was your address on Wayburn? I'm so happy to hear that you remember him too. This internet thing can be so amazing. You and I were neighbors of sorts! One of my favorite memories (hope no one takes offense, because it is a memory during the Detroit riots) is of being 6 years old, sitting near the corner of Wayburn and St. Paul in the grass between the sidewalk and the street,with my little friend Eileen, also 6, and waving to the army guys in their jeeps. We couldn't have been more excited! It really is so clear in my mind. You know, I remember a sense of excitement, or awareness of danger, but not fear. The adults didn't make a scary deal out of it, and being 6 years old I really didn't understand their conversations anyway. Us kids went to bed pretty early back then and yes, the adults would sit on the porch (4 family flat 1134 Wayburn)listening to Tiger Baseball. I have a memory of lots of smoke above the houses during the riots. I do remember feeling bad for all the kids who lived there. Pocket the anger and civility returns? I love that! Pocket the anger. That seems simple, let's spread the word. Take it easy! | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 314 Registered: 02-2007 |
11494 Wayburn...it was something those summer nights....must of road by your house many of times...I still claim to remember your days at Eastland :}.... You are my sisters age. One of my neighbors used to spy on me and inform my parents of what time I would slip in..as if they didn't know already...thank goodness for the old Clock Restaurant on Gratiot...they took care of late night snacks all through High School. It is really funny I left Wayburn for school in 1977 and to this day I still have such a clear picture of the eastside... Have a nice one yourself Happy Cinco De Mayo watch out fo rthe worm... Way to go Pistons.... | ||
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis Post Number: 287 Registered: 07-2005 |
Now that you brought up the knife sharpening guy, I remember him too. Wow, that was tucked back in my memory! He use to walk down our street in GP Farms ringing his bells. That guy was everywhere | ||
Kathinozarks Member Username: Kathinozarks Post Number: 444 Registered: 11-2006 |
There must've been more than one, don't you think? Could he have had the entire area as his? From GPP into Detroit and all the way to the Farms? What a territory! Mom told me tonight that around 1960 there was a man who had a horse and wagon who would go 'garbage picking' down the alley behind our house. A horse and wagon in the late 50's early 60's? Cool! | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 317 Registered: 02-2007 |
I think his name was "Waldo".. :} Heck in the sixties we would find treasures in "them there" alleys.... Never saw the guy with the horse...our alley was converted into a vegetable garden in the great land grab 1958...when they converted an alley or two into backyards.... My neighbor claimed to find old car parts in their garden since we must of lived on a converted landfill .... | ||
Mtm Member Username: Mtm Post Number: 210 Registered: 06-2006 |
Ed_golick, Am I correct in assuming you're the same Ed Golick whose comments are included in "TV LAND DETROIT", which I'm currently in the midst of reading? It was surprising to see a familiar name in the book. Summer night with windows open, crickets chirping (I haven't heard a cricket in years) and Ernie Harwell on the transistor radio... | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 628 Registered: 10-2003 |
Mtm, That would be me. I also worked with Tim Kiska on his "Soupy To Nuts!" book. | ||
Newport1128 Member Username: Newport1128 Post Number: 15 Registered: 05-2007 |
We called the trash man with the horse and wagon the "Sheeny Man". We had the knife sharpener guy around our neighborhood, too (Chalmers and Jefferson). Anyone remember ice cream vendors with 3-wheel bikes? They had a big freezer box on the front with 2 smaller wheels, and a bicycle seat and one bigger tire on the back. | ||
Newport1128 Member Username: Newport1128 Post Number: 18 Registered: 05-2007 |
Regarding Bill K., didn't he also drive a vintage Thunderbird? I seem to recall the into to his show showed him getting out of a T-bird (55-57). I worked as a custodian at Cottage Hospital in the early Seventies. One Sunday morning about 7:30 a.m., Bill came staggering through the front door. He saw me and mumbled, "Lab....blood?" I pointed him down the hallway toward the laboratory waiting room. Later on, I told my supervisor about it, and she said, "Oh yes, he's a frequent...guest." | ||
Vetalalumni Member Username: Vetalalumni Post Number: 60 Registered: 05-2007 |
Bill Kennedy was able to make a boring or marginal movie seem like an interesting event. He managed to stretch movies into a kind of an event. As a child and teenager, I was fortunate enough to travel the entire world and saw some of the most exciting destinations. These were some of the most interesting times any youngster could have experienced. I owe it all to the wonderful, sometimes boring, George Pierrot. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4402 Registered: 08-2004 |
... and how many of you remember rushing home from school just to watch DARK SHADOWS.... with the beginning of the show showing the waves crashing upon the rocks... with Gothic style Collinwood Mansion lurking in the shrouded fog in the distance... hearing the haunting music... Barnabas, Josette, Angelique, Quentin and of course Elizabeth Collin Stoddard... played by the late great Joan Bennett of "Father of the Bride" fame... | ||
Vetalalumni Member Username: Vetalalumni Post Number: 125 Registered: 05-2007 |
Sir Graves Ghastly really had me scared as a young kid, even though it was the middle of a Saturday afternoon. Then there was The Ghoul on channel 20 WXON. He was sort of scary, sort of hip, odd, and funny to boot. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 515 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thanks for the linkage Paintnprint, and welcome to the forum. Ed_golick, please keep us posted on further development. As far as TV stations went, back in the late 70's and early 80's one could also pick up some UHF stations out of Canada in the high 70 range on the dial. You needed a hi-gain UHF antenna and point it in the right direction (south), but you could pick up un-censored uninterrupted movies that originated from Toronto, on the east side of Detroit. And yes, they would be in French, but who cares when you got full frontal? | ||
Debw858 Member Username: Debw858 Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2007 |
I remember when I was sick and got to stay home from school. I would love to watch Rita Bell and also Kelly and Company with John Kelly and Marilyn Turner. In the afternoons I would watch Bill Kennedy. | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 493 Registered: 02-2007 |
Yes remember getting some obscure Canadian stations...I remember having to climb up on the roof and adjust the antenna while my dad called out the window on the quality of the reception....man I had a strong fear of heights...but we sure got better reception afterwards... Detroit had some interesting characters...remember channel 50 and the old re-runs sneaking to watch the three stooges...the monsters were ok though figure that our. | ||
Capnpeebo Member Username: Capnpeebo Post Number: 5 Registered: 05-2007 |
Alright folks, here it is - the challenge of this board: Tell me the name of Bill's Theme Song - the music used to intro and outro his show. We've got no video, we've got no Bill - Let us at least have the theme that to this day I can still hum but don't know the name. I'm counting on you!!! | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 675 Registered: 10-2003 |
Just In Time. Piece of cake. A harder question would be to name the woman who's picture was on the set for most of Kennedy's tenure at WKBD. | ||
Capnpeebo Member Username: Capnpeebo Post Number: 6 Registered: 05-2007 |
I was directing the question mainly to you, Ed - I knew it'd be a cinch. I wasn't trying to match wits, I'm just trying to put a name to the song I've been humming for 30 years. Thanks - that piece of trivia means one less brain cell dedicated to more pressing things like where my car keys are. Now - name the actual performer who covered the song that was used for Bill's theme... that was part of the house that Jack built. Whew! I could download a vocal interp - but I want THE version used. (Message edited by capnpeebo on June 17, 2007) | ||
Applesauce Member Username: Applesauce Post Number: 37 Registered: 06-2007 |
Are there any video clips out there of his show? | ||
Pgn421 Member Username: Pgn421 Post Number: 85 Registered: 02-2005 |
bornthere? your dad was a Twin Pines milkman? Did or does he know "Dutch"? he is a good firend of mines dad. he was a Twin Pine milkman. | ||
Applesauce Member Username: Applesauce Post Number: 38 Registered: 06-2007 |
What were the names of the scary movie progs during the 70's/80's, Creature Feature...............? | ||
Vetalalumni Member Username: Vetalalumni Post Number: 426 Registered: 05-2007 |
Locally, The Ghoul and Sir Graves Ghastly come to mind. |
