By far the best of the WMHT Capital Region documentaries is Remembering Downtown. As Albany, Schenectady & Troy are transforming into the hubs of the new “Tech Valley” it is definitely worth a trip down memory lane to see the Tri-Cities in their prime. I’m not sure if this is still part of WMHT’s programming line-up, but I think they might have videos available if you contact the station.
I caught this documentary by WMHT last weekend on PBS on Demand (channel 1007 - Time Warner Digital). A great job by WMHT (as always) in researching and presenting photos and memories of the movie and drive-in theaters we all remember. A special nod to a couple of ommissions…the Fox Theater on Wolf Road where I remember standing in line FOREVER to see the first Star Wars when it came out. And also the Tri-City Twin Drive-In in Menands, they had 2 screens and you could watch 2 movies simultaneously if you wanted. Fun stuff.
Some of Albany’s best musical acts recently collaborated on a series of songs written about Albany for the Times Union’s 2007 Annual “Best of” issue. The music ranges from the Bluegrass stylings of the “Kurver Kreme Song” by Aged In The Hills, to Jazz infused “Nipper’s Dream” by the Lee Shaw Trio to the Rockabilly sounds of “Ale House Style Tonight” by the Lustre Kings. A special nod goes out to the up & coming Saratoga songstress, Sarah Pedinotti for her song “I Remember You” who unknowingly wrote my blog’s new theme song…It’s nicely produced musical tribute to the Capital Region…check it out here…
The Best of Albany: the Musical
Not to be outdone, WNYT Channel 13 hired former Broadway performer, Betty George in the mid-1970’s as their TV “Weather Girl.” Betty was always vivacious and very affectionate towards her omnipresent mutt, “Moo”. She had a memorable little jingle she would sing… “Any weather, we’re together…” I had the pleasure of meeting Betty at the grand-opening of the Uncle Sam Atrium Mall in Troy in the late 70’s. It was quite the event with plenty of red, white and blue, Betty’s jingle blaring loudly on the loudspeaker and actual crowds of shoppers in Downtown Troy.I also spotted Betty (sans Moo) numerous times partaking in the all-you-can-eat, peel & eat shrimp buffet at the old “Beefsteak Charlies” on Wolf Road. (Currently the Macaroni Grill). She had a very emotional TV farewell for her little dog when he passed away in the mid 1980’s. Wish I still had that old autographed photo of Betty & Moo…watching the weather was never so much fun.
Updated on 11/18/07:
Sad news this morning, as it was reported that Betty George has passed away at the age of 81. After over 20 years, Betty & Moo are finally reunited in the big “TV station in the sky.” Farewell Betty, you were one-of-a-kind and in our collective memories we will miss you.
This was more my time-period. In the early to mid 1970’s or so, WTEN Channel 10 News Anchor, Ralph Vartigan, would don a Navy officer’s uniform and doubled as Kid’s show morning host of “The GoodShip News” It was on weekdays somewhere between Popeye and Captain Kangaroo and early enough that it wouldn’t make you late to catch the bus to school. Ahh yes… Cocoa Pebbles and Commander Ralph…what a great way to start the day…
Ok, I gotta admit I am too young to have experienced the Freddie Freihofer show, but I have heard tons of stories from people that have great memories of watching or appearing on this show. From 1949-1966, WRGB, Channel 6 this 15 minute kids show that was our own Capital Region’s version of “Howdy Doody“. “Uncle Jim Fisk” was the host (ala Buffalo Bob) and it was a genius marketing attempt by the local Bakery Company, Freihofer’s that made their bread a staple in every Capital Region household. (Sorry about that Wonder Bread.) Since I never experienced the show first hand… I’ll include Don Rittner’s take on the show from the website The Mesh.”…how many baby boomers can remember watching, or being on, the Freddie Freihofer “Breadtime Stories” television show on WRGB, Channel 6 from 4:45 to 5 PM? Host Jim Fisk would create a “Squiggle” from some kid’s doodling tacked onto the side of a cutaway Freihofer wagon (was it a real wagon cut in half?). The show, which was the first to be broadcast in color in the Capital District, was built around your birthday and celebrated with other kids your age sharing a cake, hats, and a group photograph (any of you have one?). The show ran from 1948 to 1966.”Sounds like it was a good time…
Update on 11/18/07:
Uncle Jim Fisk was the Grand Marshall of the Annual Schenectady Christmas Parade last night.
No matter where I go or who I talk with, there are always number of common bonds between those of us who have lived in Albany, New York’s Capital District for any period of time. The people, places and things are always the first subjects to come up. It’s usually “Hey remember that place we used to eat? The old nightclub we used to go dancing? Remember that guy/girl on the news? What about that old Drive-in Theater we used to hangout at? During my lifetime as a resident of the region, one of the biggest issues I find with Albany residents is that they have always had an inferiority complex about the area that they live (hence, the unflattering nickname “SmAlbany”). It’s close enough to NYC & Boston to feel small-time and has just enough bedroom communities to allow for multiple “personalities” to boot. But just go ahead and leave the area wearing a Saratoga Race Track T-Shirt (or any other type of apparel indicating you are from the area) and you are bound to run into someone who says “I know Saratoga, that’s near Albany…” And they rattle off tons of places and things that they once loved about the area and that you almost forgot. Whenever this has happened to me, I always leave the conversation thinking to myself I guess ‘ol Albany isn’t so bad after all. I hope this Blog brings back fond memories of Albany’s “days gone by” and all things Albany for you too.
