Radio/TV "Oldtimer" Lee Jordan has died

[mikekav]

A note about the passing of another one of Atlanta radio and TV’s “oldtimers” – Lee Jordan.

Lee grew up in Hawkinsville and attended Emory University. He was a classmate and fraternity brother with a young man we now know as UGA’s Dr. Worth McDougald (former director of the Peabody awards). Lee Jordan had an absolutely "golden" voice and was hired at WSB Radio by Marcus Bartlett. He worked at the Biltmore Hotel studios with folks like Bob Watson, Roy McMillan, Walter Paschal, basically as an announcer, during the 1944-1948 era and was among the first to be chosen, along with Elmo Ellis, to move to WSB-TV when it opened in fall 1948as WSB Channel 8.

WSB-TV originally went on the air on Channel 8 from what is now the small engineering building behind the White Columns site. Lee did a variety of jobs including basic booth announcing, and may well have been the first 'weather man' in the South. Not sure, but we think the sponsor was Eastern Air Lines and most of the graphics were done on a felt-board with little felt cut-outs. He was not weather-trained but got daily briefings from the weather guys at Atlanta Airport (Hartsfield-Jackson) He appeared on a variety of programs on the station, and in many remote broadcasts they did. I do not recall him ever coming back to radio.

One of the more popular programs was one called Strictly For The Girls. He and WSB-AM morning show legend Bob Van Camp shared duties on that TV program which aired at 1pm on Fridays. The show is mentioned in notes on a website http://atlantatv.blogspot.com.

At some point (I believe it would have been around 1953 or 1954) he went to New York to work for CBS-Television and Radio and became a drama-film critic on the air. Later, this evolved into a daily (?) stint on WCBS Radio, and he became quite well known in the theater district for his reviews. In recent months, after retiring, he and his wife Patti returned to live in Hawkinsville. Lee was on hand for the first WSB Oldtimers reunion in 2003. I have a picture of Lee and other historic radio figures which I will be posting soon at www.wsbhistory.com

Visitation for the late Lee Jordan will be at Clark Funeral Home in Hawkinsville Friday night 5-7, funeral services Saturday the 26th at 2PM at Hawkinsville First Methodist Church.

Thanks to WSB great Mike McDougald (yes, brother of Dr. Worth) for the historical information on Lee Jordan.

Mike Kavanagh
Curator for www.wsbhistory.com <P ID="signature">______________
Mike Kavanagh</P>

 

[BIGSTICK]

> A note about the passing of another one of Atlanta radio and
> TV’s “oldtimers” – Lee Jordan.
>
> Lee grew up in Hawkinsville and attended Emory University.
> He was a classmate and fraternity brother with a young man
> we now know as UGA’s Dr. Worth McDougald (former director of
> the Peabody awards). Lee Jordan had an absolutely "golden"
> voice and was hired at WSB Radio by Marcus Bartlett. He
> worked at the Biltmore Hotel studios with folks like Bob
> Watson, Roy McMillan, Walter Paschal, basically as an
> announcer, during the 1944-1948 era and was among the first
> to be chosen, along with Elmo Ellis, to move to WSB-TV when
> it opened in fall 1948as WSB Channel 8.
>
> WSB-TV originally went on the air on Channel 8 from what is
> now the small engineering building behind the White Columns
> site. Lee did a variety of jobs including basic booth
> announcing, and may well have been the first 'weather man'
> in the South. Not sure, but we think the sponsor was
> Eastern Air Lines and most of the graphics were done on a
> felt-board with little felt cut-outs. He was not
> weather-trained but got daily briefings from the weather
> guys at Atlanta Airport (Hartsfield-Jackson) He appeared on
> a variety of programs on the station, and in many remote
> broadcasts they did. I do not recall him ever coming back
> to radio.
>
> One of the more popular programs was one called Strictly For
> The Girls. He and WSB-AM morning show legend Bob Van Camp
> shared duties on that TV program which aired at 1pm on
> Fridays. The show is mentioned in notes on a website
> http://atlantatv.blogspot.com.
>
> At some point (I believe it would have been around 1953 or
> 1954) he went to New York to work for CBS-Television and
> Radio and became a drama-film critic on the air. Later,
> this evolved into a daily (?) stint on WCBS Radio, and he
> became quite well known in the theater district for his
> reviews. In recent months, after retiring, he and his wife
> Patti returned to live in Hawkinsville. Lee was on hand for
> the first WSB Oldtimers reunion in 2003. I have a picture
> of Lee and other historic radio figures which I will be
> posting soon at www.wsbhistory.com
>
> Visitation for the late Lee Jordan will be at Clark Funeral
> Home in Hawkinsville Friday night 5-7, funeral services
> Saturday the 26th at 2PM at Hawkinsville First Methodist
> Church.
>
> Thanks to WSB great Mike McDougald (yes, brother of Dr.
> Worth) for the historical information on Lee Jordan.
>
> Mike Kavanagh
> Curator for www.wsbhistory.com
>
He was a good man. Rest in Peace...........

 

[retrothoughts]

I'm thinking this could be the same Lee Jordan who was a staff announcer for CBS-New York, where he did the station breaks, as well as announced a New York-originated program or two. [During the late 1970's, he announced "Face the Nation" when they did an episode in New York one Sunday.]

During that time, Lee also hosted a 5-minute weekend entertainment feature called "In the Spotlight" for CBS Radio.

 

[mikekav]

Thanks retro for sharing your thoughts. I suspect this is indeed the same Lee Jordan.
See below the official obituary for Lee Jordan from the Macon Telegraph this morning. Sadly, it does not mention his years at WSB -- mentioning only his work at CBS in New York.
Lee Augustus Jordan, 80, of Hawkinsville, GA, Atlanta and New York City died Sunday, November 20, 2005 of a sudden illness. Funeral services will be held at 2P.M. Saturday in the Hawkinsville First United Methodist Church with Rev. Bill Jackson-Adams and Dr. Gary Abbott officiating. Burial will be in Orange Hill Cemetery, Hawkinsville. -Mr. Jordan was a native of Pulaski County. He was a member of the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City and a member of the Hawkinsville Rotary Club.

Mr. Jordan was a retired CBS Radio and TV announcer. He was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Merchant Marines and was a graduate of Emory University and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. -Survivors include his wife, Patricia Holliday Jordan of Hawkinsville, GA; daughter, Holly Jordan of New York City; cousins, Martha Johns Hawk of Atlanta, GA, Kathleen Bailey of Tallahassee, FL, John Goette of St. Louis, Missouri, Thursley Gordon of Macon, GA, Ellen Jelks Finklestein of Macon, GA, Adrian Jelks of Taos, New Mexico, Albert Jelks III, Atlanta, GA, Sam Way and Ramsey Way, both of Hawkinsville, GA. -Donations may be made to the Katharine P. Carnes Lecture Series, Wesleyan College, Macon, GA or the McDonald Chair in the study of Jesus and Culture, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. -Pallbearers will be Dan Fears, Bob Way, Ramsey Way, John Way, Bert Way, Cole Woodroof and Don Chandler.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday evening at Clark Funeral Home. -The family can be contacted at 301 McCormick Avenue, Hawkinsville, GA. -Clark Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

> I'm thinking this could be the same Lee Jordan who was a
> staff announcer for CBS-New York, where he did the station
> breaks, as well as announced a New York-originated program
> or two. [During the late 1970's, he announced "Face the
> Nation" when they did an episode in New York one Sunday.]
>
> During that time, Lee also hosted a 5-minute weekend
> entertainment feature called "In the Spotlight" for CBS
> Radio.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Mike Kavanagh</P>

 

[tlyle]

Does anyone have an aircheck of Mr. Jordan at either WSB or for CBS in New York. I am trying to place and remember his voice.