OH, IT'S A LONG, LONG TIME

BY DAN MILLER
(originally posted September 30, 2005)

September 30th is a date that had a big impact on my life.

And no, it's not because on September 30th, 1960, I happened to be watching the final episode of Howdy Doody on TV when -- for the first time -- Clarabelle the clown actually spoke. He uttered the words, "Goodbye kids".
That was purely coincidental.

September 30th is significant because, for one thing, this year (2005) it marks the 55th birthday of this TV station, WSMV, which has been my professional home for the majority of my career.

Channel 4 signed on with regular broadcasting (as WSM-TV) on September 30th, 1950.

I first came to work here in August of 1969, shortly before WSM-TV celebrated its 19th birthday.
Wow! Channel 4 was still a teenager when I came here!
With the exception of a 6 year adventure in California, I've worked here ever since.

Anytime I feel the need to conjure up wonderful memories, I just reminisce about the remarkable people I've walked these halls with over the years.... former WSM/WSMV employees.
You may remember some of them:
Jud Collins
Teddy Bart
Dave Overton
Bob Olsen
Lonnie Lardner
Sir Cecil Creep
George Goldtrap
Huell Howser
Pat Sajak
Paul Eells
Mike Bohan
John Tesh
Maria Beale Fletcher
Bob Jordan
Bill Hall
Charlie McAlexander
Carol Marin
Dave Daughtry
Joe Fisher
Boyce Hawkins
Elaine Gannick
Jeff McAtee
Virg Jacques
Bill Williams
The Noon Show Band
Charlie Chase
Ralph Christian
Carolyn Lawrence
Tony Lyons
Grant Turner
Floyd Kephart
Bill Markham
Faith Fancher
John Siegenthaler
Sharon Puckett
Lamar Alexander
Jeanne Downey
John Bibb
Ralph Emery
Al Voecks
and many, many more.......

So you can understand why the birth of this TV station on September 30th, 1950, is so significant to me.

Oh.... and in a cosmic coincidence, September 30th is also my own birthday, though the year is not the same. One of us is an itsy, bitsy, teeny, weenie bit older.

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