Thanks SO much, Kate … actually losing the competitor (WCBS!) really hit me hard…it was my calling card to my adopted city (NY) all my time at CBS and around the world! SO sad …..
Thanks for the fascinating background history on WINS. I had just finished a year-and-a-half tour with the US Army in Vietnam in 1969 and went back to Saigon hoping to land a freelance gig. I had gone up to Ben Het, a Special Forces camp that was under attack with an offer to shoot photos for AP and 16-mm newsfilm for UPI television. I was wounded in an ambush and went back to AP with my fatigues in tatters and covered with dried blood. I said, "I got the story!" In fact, I had nothing. I found it difficult to concentrate on photography when people are shooting at you. Of course, that is the business. Horst Faas, out of pity, said maybe we can use one photo for atmosphere. The next day, Ron Milligan, who was reporting for WINS told his bosses that he couldn't take Vietnam anymore and he was leaving immediately. WINS told him to go to AP and see if they could recommend someone to stand in until they sent a regular correspondent. AP said,"Why don't you try Dowell. He seems serious." Ron wrote four lessons on being a radio foreign correspondent: No Passive Verbs, Don't use any numbers, and file four stories a day, no matter what happens.... Then he left. The next day, Nixon flew into Saigon. WINS paid $10 a spot. I filed 80 stories a month, just to be able to eat. Two years later, I was working for NBC and a decade or so later for TIME. It's been a long, improbable road, but somehow we all got there. WINS didn't pay much, but there was nothing to lose and in the end it was an amazing experience.
That is indeed a wonderful story, too, Greg! We were both blessed with wonderful mentors & teachers on our way up. I still remember his signoff: "Paul Harvey...goodDAY !!!
Resonates even here 36,000 feet over the Atlantic !!
Reading how you came up and how important mentors and role models were to you David, I looked back on my own career and thought about my first real mentor: Paul Harvey, of "Stand by for news!" fame. He was the biggest voice on radio back in those days. For two-and-a-half years near the beginning of my career, I was his editor-- having gotten there, like you, thanks to a trusting superior and a lucky break. Paul's politics weren't mine, but he was a good guy with an open mind who taught me something about writing... and there was no finer writer than Paul Harvey. He never wasted words (obviously a lesson I've since forgotten) and he always made his stories compelling and entertaining. You and I were both very lucky to get in the door!
Thank you for sharing your experiences of the early days. You brought back so many memories for me. I came into this world in 1953. As you were telling us about the early days of television it reminded me of my childhood in New Milford, Ct. We had a black and white television and only 3 watchable channels. I grew up a Yankees fan watching shadows of players on WPIX channel 11. The day my dad installed our antenna rotor was a big day for me because I was able to see the Yankees although it was still snowy.
You might find this interesting. ?!
https://casetext.com/case/general-broadcasting-sys-v-fed-radio-comm
This has some details on Astoria as the transmitter site !?
https://broadcasting.fandom.com/wiki/Chronology_of_call_letters_WGBS
Delighted you are a subscriber !!!
Wondering if you had any info on the location of the Gimbel's WGBS station, studio, or broadcast tower in Astoria, Queens?
thanks so much, Thalia!
you should join us for our zoom call tomorrow at 1 pm EDT !!!??
David- A great piece here. I particularly enjoyed the vintage photography documenting the journey. Hope you're well this week? Cheers, -Thalia
Thanks SO much, Kate … actually losing the competitor (WCBS!) really hit me hard…it was my calling card to my adopted city (NY) all my time at CBS and around the world! SO sad …..
That IS a wonderful yarn, William ... and indeed you have had a fabulous career (tho as I tell everyone who suggests that .... it's not over yet !!!)
But bravo & thanks so much for passing it along ..... it's what makes SubStack so GREAT !
;-)))
Thanks for the fascinating background history on WINS. I had just finished a year-and-a-half tour with the US Army in Vietnam in 1969 and went back to Saigon hoping to land a freelance gig. I had gone up to Ben Het, a Special Forces camp that was under attack with an offer to shoot photos for AP and 16-mm newsfilm for UPI television. I was wounded in an ambush and went back to AP with my fatigues in tatters and covered with dried blood. I said, "I got the story!" In fact, I had nothing. I found it difficult to concentrate on photography when people are shooting at you. Of course, that is the business. Horst Faas, out of pity, said maybe we can use one photo for atmosphere. The next day, Ron Milligan, who was reporting for WINS told his bosses that he couldn't take Vietnam anymore and he was leaving immediately. WINS told him to go to AP and see if they could recommend someone to stand in until they sent a regular correspondent. AP said,"Why don't you try Dowell. He seems serious." Ron wrote four lessons on being a radio foreign correspondent: No Passive Verbs, Don't use any numbers, and file four stories a day, no matter what happens.... Then he left. The next day, Nixon flew into Saigon. WINS paid $10 a spot. I filed 80 stories a month, just to be able to eat. Two years later, I was working for NBC and a decade or so later for TIME. It's been a long, improbable road, but somehow we all got there. WINS didn't pay much, but there was nothing to lose and in the end it was an amazing experience.
That is indeed a wonderful story, too, Greg! We were both blessed with wonderful mentors & teachers on our way up. I still remember his signoff: "Paul Harvey...goodDAY !!!
Resonates even here 36,000 feet over the Atlantic !!
Thanks for thinking of us !!!!
Reading how you came up and how important mentors and role models were to you David, I looked back on my own career and thought about my first real mentor: Paul Harvey, of "Stand by for news!" fame. He was the biggest voice on radio back in those days. For two-and-a-half years near the beginning of my career, I was his editor-- having gotten there, like you, thanks to a trusting superior and a lucky break. Paul's politics weren't mine, but he was a good guy with an open mind who taught me something about writing... and there was no finer writer than Paul Harvey. He never wasted words (obviously a lesson I've since forgotten) and he always made his stories compelling and entertaining. You and I were both very lucky to get in the door!
Ha !
Thanks , Bern, for being such a great, loyal & attentive reader !
Indeed both seem to be wildly popular !!
;-))
A fine post indeed. Dunno what was more fun to read – the Massive Cockroach Disaster or the Kid With a Stick Causing the Blackout Caper.
2 marks for the whole thing.
Precisely my reason for posting !!
To bring back memories or telling those younger (most are!!) how we got here !!
Thanks, Keith & Bravo !!
Thank you for sharing your experiences of the early days. You brought back so many memories for me. I came into this world in 1953. As you were telling us about the early days of television it reminded me of my childhood in New Milford, Ct. We had a black and white television and only 3 watchable channels. I grew up a Yankees fan watching shadows of players on WPIX channel 11. The day my dad installed our antenna rotor was a big day for me because I was able to see the Yankees although it was still snowy.
A great read, thank you.
Thanks ever so much, Leah !!!
Spread the word !
Thanks !!!!
Thanks ever so much, Doug … that means a lot to me !
Fabulous story!