WMAQ-TV/NBC CHICAGO

WMAQ-TV was my professional home for most of the 70's.  Two shows I produced, other than the Emmy Winning Special, "NBC Salutes Chic Chicago", were "Chicago Camera", a 90 minute weekly LIVE telecast hosted by Jerry G. Bishop and Linda Alvarez.  And "Small World" (yep we got the rights for the title) hosted by Paula Gordon. 

Paula Gordon, center above with Britta Ebert Fayette (who worked with us both in production and as a performer - wonderful voice!) and Me on the right.  "Small World" was dedicated to celebrating every possible ethnic event in the Chicago area, and as you may know the Chicago area is known for it's diversity.  Most of these pictures are from "Small World" because.. these are the ones I have! Paula and DP Russ Divin (pictured below) and a variety of Directors and I experienced eating almost every ethnic food imaginable ... stories we would tell for many years because you really couldn't say 'no thank you'.  We were in these people's homes and it would have been terribly rude to not at least taste their favorite dishes!  So we did.  Paula was particularly adept at acting enthralled by the food while on camera.. bless her!

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Above with superb DP, (Russ Divin).  We called him cameraman in the EJ (electronic journalism days) and very talented Director, Allan Kartun, who we often 'upgraded' to Director from his staff position of Associate Director.   The other gentleman may be crew member Billy Kidd or someone from the event.. not really sure.  

And here in the field with our extraordinary Associate Producer,  Barbara Popovic.. this was her first TV job and she went on to run the Chicago Public Access Channel for many years!   

Another note about "Chicago Camera".  It was Live on location Sunday's for 2.5 years.  We went everywhere and amazingly because of a dedicated technical staff and good planning we were never rained out.  Associate Producer Anne Wendell and PA Joyce Rubin were the talented "Chicago Camera" staff working with an awesome technical crew at WMAQ-TV often led by Gene Cartright and Rick Cortright.  These were pre satellite days and it's amazing what they did with our microwave dish trucks being the only way to get signals.   Most of us remember those days very fondly and to this day Barbara tells me there is nothing that covers the positive activities in the Chicago area like "Small World" and "Chicago Camera" did!