Ron Chapman...as a local TV news anchor???

[BrainDeadPrez]

It nearly happened, as Ron was interviewed to replace lead anchor Ray Walker at Channel 4 in early 1978. Of course, Ron already had TV exposure from "Sump'n Else" and "The Group and Chapman" and a local game show at Channel 8 in the mid- and late-1960s. In fact, part of the reason for Mike Selden's departure from KVIL in March, 1978 was because Ron didn't get the job at KDFW. Selden thought he could wait things out and Chapman would be out of the picture at KVIL.

Think how that could have changed radio history, if Chapman had gotten the job. Sure, lots of folks have made that transition (Michael Rey and Jody Dean come to mind first,) but during that period in the late 70s when stations started retiring their 'real' reporters and bringing in photogenic "talking heads" to deliver the news, surely the balding and aging Chapman would have been put out to pasture at some point. I'd guess that he would have returned to KVIL if that happened, but if Chapman wasn't at the helm of KVIL for a couple of years while he was anchoring, the station might have taken a downward turn and REALLY changed local radio history...who knows?

 

[stinker]

> It nearly happened, as Ron was interviewed to replace lead
> anchor Ray Walker at Channel 4 in early 1978. Of course,
> Ron already had TV exposure from "Sump'n Else" and "The
> Group and Chapman" and a local game show at Channel 8 in the
> mid- and late-1960s. In fact, part of the reason for Mike
> Selden's departure from KVIL in March, 1978 was because Ron
> didn't get the job at KDFW. Selden thought he could wait
> things out and Chapman would be out of the picture at KVIL.
>
> Think how that could have changed radio history, if Chapman
> had gotten the job. Sure, lots of folks have made that
> transition (Michael Rey and Jody Dean come to mind first,)
> but during that period in the late 70s when stations started
> retiring their 'real' reporters and bringing in photogenic
> "talking heads" to deliver the news, surely the balding and
> aging Chapman would have been put out to pasture at some
> point. I'd guess that he would have returned to KVIL if
> that happened, but if Chapman wasn't at the helm of KVIL for
> a couple of years while he was anchoring, the station might
> have taken a downward turn and REALLY changed local radio
> history...who knows?
>
*********************************************************************
interesting stuff...

have listened to chapman since middle school days and
didn't remember the Ch 4. oppurtunity...

thanks

 

[nuzguy]

> > It nearly happened, as Ron was interviewed to replace lead
>
> > anchor Ray Walker at Channel 4 in early 1978. Of course,
> > Ron already had TV exposure from "Sump'n Else" and "The
> > Group and Chapman" and a local game show at Channel 8 in
> the
> > mid- and late-1960s. In fact, part of the reason for Mike
>
> > Selden's departure from KVIL in March, 1978 was because
> Ron
> > didn't get the job at KDFW. Selden thought he could wait
> > things out and Chapman would be out of the picture at
> KVIL.
> >
> > Think how that could have changed radio history, if
> Chapman
> > had gotten the job. Sure, lots of folks have made that
> > transition (Michael Rey and Jody Dean come to mind first,)
>
> > but during that period in the late 70s when stations
> started
> > retiring their 'real' reporters and bringing in photogenic
>
> > "talking heads" to deliver the news, surely the balding
> and
> > aging Chapman would have been put out to pasture at some
> > point. I'd guess that he would have returned to KVIL if
> > that happened, but if Chapman wasn't at the helm of KVIL
> for
> > a couple of years while he was anchoring, the station
> might
> > have taken a downward turn and REALLY changed local radio
> > history...who knows?
> >
*********> ************************************************************
>
> interesting stuff...
>
> have listened to chapman since middle school days and
> didn't remember the Ch 4. oppurtunity...
>
> thanks
>
Wasn't that about the time Channel 4 was looking at "other media types" in the market to beome anchors. Seems that they did on-air auditions with writers from the Times Herald and other media outlets in an effort to get out of the anchor rut.

The station also somewhere in the mid/late 70s inaugurated an hourly two minute news summary and structured an entire promotional campaign around the concept of "look how much commercial time we're giving up to bring you the news you need." No one expected it to last. It was a flash in the pan, and didn't.

 

[BrainDeadPrez]

> Wasn't that about the time Channel 4 was looking at "other
> media types" in the market to beome anchors. Seems that
> they did on-air auditions with writers from the Times Herald
> and other media outlets in an effort to get out of the
> anchor rut.

That was probably around the same time they brought on Dick Hitt to anchor the 5:00 news. He was a popular Times Herald writer and was also doing news on KNUS then. Not very photogenic, but a decent broadcaster in an Alex Burton sort-of way.

KDFW also interviewed Ward Andrews (former Ch 5 anchor 1969-77, who had recently been forced out there due to age...later sued and they settled out of court) and Tracy Rowlett for the same opening Chapman interviewed for. I believe Dick Johnson (great porn name, if you ask me) was promoted from 5PM to the 6 & 10 to co-anchor with Judy Jordan, and that took care of the void. That lasted about 10 months until Clarice and Barry Judge were brought in from Minnesota at the end of 1978.

 

[nuzguy]

> > Wasn't that about the time Channel 4 was looking at "other
>
> > media types" in the market to beome anchors. Seems that
> > they did on-air auditions with writers from the Times
> Herald
> > and other media outlets in an effort to get out of the
> > anchor rut.
>
> That was probably around the same time they brought on Dick
> Hitt to anchor the 5:00 news. He was a popular Times Herald
> writer and was also doing news on KNUS then. Not very
> photogenic, but a decent broadcaster in an Alex Burton
> sort-of way.
>
> KDFW also interviewed Ward Andrews (former Ch 5 anchor
> 1969-77, who had recently been forced out there due to
> age...later sued and they settled out of court) and Tracy
> Rowlett for the same opening Chapman interviewed for. I
> believe Dick Johnson (great porn name, if you ask me) was
> promoted from 5PM to the 6 & 10 to co-anchor with Judy
> Jordan, and that took care of the void. That lasted about
> 10 months until Clarice and Barry Judge were brought in from
> Minnesota at the end of 1978.
>
Great summary of the chain of events. Dick Hitt was the other candidate I was trying to recall. Remember regretting to see Ray Walker leave for--was it Seatle, or somewhere in the northwest? Walker did well for the station, but it seemed the feeling among management was that he was "too reserved, too in control, not show biz enough" for the new direction Channel 4 wanted to go then.