When Hartford was declared an "All-American City" in 1961 (for the second time) WTIC producer Paul Gionfriddo created a documentary that captured the voices of its people, from the vivacious Kathryn Hepburn who turned Hollywood on its ear with her screen magic to one of Hartford's Finest whose life was forever changed by the horrific circus fire of 1944.
Hartford – All
America City
Broadcast: May 6, 1962, WTIC, Hartford
Host: Bob Steele
Gerta Schwartz: Narrator of “Daughter of the House”
by
Evelyn Ames
Announcer: Dick Bertel
Interviews with: Albert Van Dusen, Connecticut State Historian, The
Reverend Harmon Rockwell Potter, Minister, First Church of Christ,
Hartford, J. Bard McNulty, Professor, Trinity College, Harvey
Lippincott, Connecticut Aeronautical Association, Ned Allen, President,
Sage-Allen & Co., William Glynn, Hartford Mayor, Catholic
Archbishop Henry J. O’Brien, Armando Perretta, Author
“Take
a Number”, Dr. Henry David Gray, Pastor, South Congregational
Church, Beatrice Fox Auerbach, President, G. Fox & Co., Allen
M.
Widem, Hartford Times theater critic, William Brawley, Hartford Civic
Orchestra, Detective Lieutenant Thomas Barber, Hartford Police
Department, and others.
Engineer: Bill Lobb
Written and Produced by Paul Gionfriddo
"Silas Deane, Improbable Hero"
This epic drama traces the historical events which led up to the seizure
of Fort Ticonderoga during the early days of the Revolutionary War.
The broadcast is narrated by the distinguished actor Robert Vaughn
and features more than three dozen students from Wesleyan University's
acclaimed Theater Department.
Written and Produced by WTIC alumnus Paul Gionfriddo
The program was aired on Connecticut Public Radio.
New Haven – Last Stop
Broadcast: 1961, WTIC, Hartford
Narrator: Dick Bertel
Announcer: Bruce Kern
The New Haven Railroad went into bankruptcy on July 2, 1961.
Later that year WTIC, Hartford produced the documentary "New Haven - Last Stop."
Featuring: George Alpert, outgoing Chief Executive Officer of the New Haven Railroad, Norman Whitley, veteran conductor, John F. Doolan, Executive Vice President, New Haven Railroad, Patrick B. McGinnis, former President of the New Haven Railroad, Tom Frederick Kelly, Connecticut Legislative Representative for the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, George Cahill, General Chairman of Railroad Trainmen, New Haven System, Fred Waterhouse, President, Connecticut Manufacturers Association, Frank Reinhold, Retired Vice President, Connecticut Light and Power Company, Gardiner Caverly, New England Council, Eugene Lockland, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, Harry W. Dorrigan, Operating Trustee, Member of the Trustees, New Haven Railroad, Richard J. Smith, Trustee
Engineer: Bill Lobb
Written and Produced by Paul Gionfriddo
Date with Decision (School Dropouts)
Broadcast: 1963, WTIC, Hartford
Host: Dick Bertel
Donna Leavitt of East Hartford High School reads her poem “Decision.”
Interviews with: Britton Hickcox, Psychologist for Hartford Elementary Schools, Wallace Lornell, Chief Social Worker, Hartford Board of Education, Sister Mary DeLord, Child Study and Elementary Education Expert, St. Joseph College, Anne Bashand, Family Service Society Case Worker, Alfred Sessa, Jobs Placement Coordinator, Stamford Schools, Clarence Nordstrom, Teacher, Dr. Garland Fitzpatrick, State Department of Education, John Dewhurst, President, National Tool, Die and Precision Machining Association, Thomas Coe, Probation Officer, Hartford Juvenile Court, Normal Morgan, Superintendent, Connecticut School for Boys, Meriden, Kenneth Meinke, Superintendent, Hartford Schools, F. Wesley Sunderland, Guidance Coordinator, Albert E. Prince School, Tom Yousik, Director, Department of Apprenticeship and Training, State Department of Labor, Richard Kelly, Director, Hartford Adult Education, William Saunders, Connecticut Commissioner of Education, Bernie Shiffman, Program Director, Community Progress Incorporated, New Haven, Joe Gordon, Work Experience Program, Weaver High School, Lester Silverstone, Guidance Director, Bridgeport Schools.
Engineer: Bill Lobb
Written and Produced by Paul Gionfriddo
The Oscar and Ed Begley
Broadcast: 1963, WTIC, Hartflord
Narrator: Bruce Kern
Announcer: Franz Laubert
Interviews with: Estelle Baggish, colleague, Martin Begley, brother, D. Hayes Murphy, Chairman, Board of Directors, Wiremold Company, Paul W. Morency, President, WTIC, George Bowe, Public Affairs Director, WTIC, Irwin Cowper, Director, Sales, WTIC, Ralph Klein, writer, Eunice Greenwood, colleague, Floyd and Bette Pattee, WTIC daily Women’s Program, Leonard J. Patricelli, General Manager, WTIC.
Featuring: The voice of Ed Begley and excerpts from The Guy Hedlund Players
Engineer: Bill Lobb
Written and Produced by Paul Gionfriddo
See also: WTIC's 38th anniversary program: The 20s.