Alton Broadway Craver Passes

By Jerry Gaudet

Alton Broadway Craver

Mr. Craver, 82, passed away May 15, 2018. He was born December 22, 1935 in Charlotte, a son of the late Alton and Margaret Pitt Craver.

Alton was a graduate of Central High School. He and his wife Jane owned and operated Long Cove Yacht Club in Lake Wylie, NC as well as Automotive Marine, Inc. He was also a licensed real estate broker.

Alton is survived by his wife, Jane Hart Craver; children, Alton, John and Connie; and brothers, John Carroll Craver and Robert Whitney Craver.

Funeral services and burial will be private for the family.

Condolences may be offered at www.harryandbryantfuneralhome.com.
Published in Charlotte Observer on May 20, 2018.

First Stop, Cinncinatti

(This story is about my attempt leave WSOC-TV  in 1961 and  gain employment in a larger TV market.

-Ed)

The Cincinatti TV executives were gathered in the studio control room....waiting to see if this kid from Charlotte  (me) was worth considering for a job at their station.
I began to get nervous as I realized that my life could completely change direction....depending on how I performed during the next 5 minutes.
I
The "floor director" handed me a piece of paper...on which was a 60 second commercial for an automobile windshield repair shop "The Glass Doctor"  I was told to look it over, then read it as if I were actually "on the air"...…..although the signal was only being sent to  the executives gathered in the "control room."

So, I cleared my throat a couple of times.....and....in my best "announcer's  voice began reading  about how …"If your car's windshield is broken or cracked...NO PROBLEM...let the "Glass Doctor " make it all well again!  Drop off your car  in the morning..any day of the week.....and a few hours l later.....it will be completely like new again.....and if you need  a ride to work....NO PROBLEM...we'll drive you there.....and if you don't have a ride back.....NO PROBLEM....we'll come and pick you up....and even if your credit is not the best...NO PROBLEM....

(I thought I did pretty good.  Heck, it should have been...I had been reading commercials since high school.....beginning in 1951 at WGIV radio.)

Then......a voice from the control room said, "Now, drop the copy to the floor.....and ad lib the commercial."

Do what?   I wasn't expecting this.  I suppose they wanted to see if I was "really into "The Glass Doctor"....or only "reading" the words on paper.

Whatever, a future for me in Cincinatti was starting to look dim..

I dropped the copy  and bgan to "ad lib" what little I remembered about "The Glass Doctor"

I was kind of pleased with myself...as I rambled on..about "If you don't have a ride to work....and 
"if you don't have..(.this or that.)...and if you don't have a car...….."

"if you don't have a car...?   did I actually say that?

Well, there's an old saying among announcers that says....if you make a mistake or bobble a word....don't try to correct it....that will just bring more attention to it....simply ignore it...and keep on going!

Well, that's what I did..."Yes, I continued...."That's right, if you don't have a car....."  ("Holy Mackerel," I thought..where do I go from here ?.............I  continued "they will sell you one from their huge collection of used cars from their lot next door......crack the windshield and  repair it.;..while you wait."

They were not smiling in the control room....apparently they weren't thrilled over some young whippersnapper from Charlotte North Carolina making light of their commercial.

So, with Cinncinatti in my rear view mirror, ...I headed for my next targeted city, Washington, DC.

(to be continued....)

Jake Barnardt Passes

Another of our popular classmates in the class of 1954  has passed.
Jerry Gaudet sent me news...……..

This is Jake's obituary from The Charlotte Observer.

Jacob Charles Barnhardt Jr.

Obituary Send Flowers Jacob Charles Barnhardt, Jr. (a.k.a., Jake, Dad, ole Granddad and others) died peacefully on Saturday, May 12, 2018. His legacy of 82 years will live on through his many wonderful contributions to his family and community.  Those who were fortunate to know Jake had the opportunity to be entertained by his many stories. He particularly was known for his "brevity of and quick speech." No one could tell a story with as many details for as long as he could which was one of his special signatures.  Jake was a long-time avid sailor and a member of the Lake Norman Yacht Club in Mooresville, NC. He provided the opportunity for his children and grandchildren to learn how to sail and race. After his retirement, he began building wooden boats. He was self-taught and the first ones that he built were for his grandchildren to learn how to sail. Each boat afterwards became more refined and classic. The last one was a stunning Herreshoff Coquina.  Community service and helping those in need were very important values to Jake. He was a proud Eagle Scout which influenced him for the rest of his life. Jake was a board member, advocate and supporter of the Children's Hope Alliance in Barium Springs, NC. He also served on the Missions Committee at the First Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, NC as well as volunteered with the Mooresville Soup Kitchen until his death. In addition, he was a long-time donor to the United Way. At the end of each meal blessing, he would pray "please help us be mindful of the needs of others," another wonderful signature of his.  What brought Jake the most joy and pride was his family: his loving wife, four children, eight grandchildren, three step-sons and 10 step-grandchildren plus more family in-laws. He lived for family gatherings at his Lake Norman home, especially the food, music and entertainment that always ensued. At some point during a gathering, each grandchild had to explain their goals in school and life and received a good 'ole Granddad' lecture. He provided each a compass of his values and expectations. It was his way of passing down his legacy and all his grandchildren adored him despite the lecturing. Jake was extremely proud of his grandchildren and wanted the best life for all.  Jake was born in Charlotte, NC, to Jacob Charles Barnhardt, Sr. and Sara Johnston Barnhardt and was the older of two sons. He graduated from Central High School in Charlotte in 1954, then majored in textile engineering at the George Institute of Technology graduating in 1958. He served in the United States Navy from 1958-1960, then began his career at the Barnhardt Manufacturing Company in Charlotte, NC. In 1964, he was transferred to Mount Airy, NC, and worked at North Carolina Foam Industries (NCFI), a subsidiary and division of Barnhardt Manufacturing Company. He rose to serve as President at NCFI until his retirement in 2001. He then lived by Lake Norman with the love of his life enjoying sailing, building boats, helping others, family gatherings and telling many stories.  Jake is survived by his wife, Amy Pitser Barnhardt, her three sons and their families; his children, Gwynn Barnhardt Sullivan, Virginia (Jennie) Johnston Barnhardt (Rodney Clay Sutton), Jacob McIntyre (Mac) Barnhardt (Kristina Von Cannon Barnhardt) and Caroline Barnhardt Stuart; grandchildren, Victor James Sullivan, Evan Gwynn Sullivan, Clay Barnhardt Sutton, Kelsey Barnhardt Sutton, McIntyre Lynn Barnhardt, Jacob Paul Barnhardt, William Meier Barnhardt, and Jesse Kuykendall Stuart; and his brother Jack Barnhardt (Patsy Barnhardt). Jake is preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law Trevor George Stuart.  A memorial service to honor Jake's life will be held Saturday, May 19, 2018, at the First Presbyterian Church, Mooresville, NC, at 11 am. Visitation with the family will begin at 10 am in the church parlor and following the service, a light reception will be held in the fellowship hall.  In lieu of flowers or other gifts, memorial donations may be made to the Children's Hope Alliance, Post Office Box 1, Barium Springs, NC, 28010, or www.childrenshopealliance.org.  Cavin-Cook Funeral Home in Mooresville, NC, is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.cavin-cook.com. Funeral Home Cavin-Cook Funeral Home 494 East Plaza Drive Hwy 150 Mooresville, NC 28115 (704) 664-3363

Mamas, Don't Let Your Boys Grow Up To Be On TV

Jimmy Kilgo and I both knew....when we learned..around  1959 or 60, I believe,  when the original owners of Charlotte's second TV station, channel 9 sold it to the Cox organization out of Atlanta...we knew that sooner or later,  our days at the station were numbered.

That's what they teach in TV management class 101:  "When YOUR guys take over a station.....get THEIR guys the HELL out of there.

The first thing the new owners did.....was to install a "Time Clock." 

This was to obviously discourage friendships from developing among staff  members, so as to avoid such topics as..."Guess what these new management Bozos are doing now!"

The next  thing the new owners did was to give the WSOC-TV  building.....still sitting prominently on the left hand side of Tryon Street....as you're going North....was to give it a NAME.

They made it quite clear that they DID NOT want any input from "any of the old...soon to be fired....staff members.
\Hence, they wound up naming the place....get rready for rthis....GREEN ACRES.

….which any of us could have told them was already the well established name of  THE OLD FOLKS HOME.
Someone must have told them that later,  because they canceled the planned big announcement party.

I left for vacation a few days later....and proceeded to look for employment elsewhere...which was what 95 percent of young radio and TV announcers did back then, and probably still do.
My first was Cinncinatti, a larger market....presumably paying more money than I was making in Charlotte.

I walked into the station cold....and simply asked for an audition.

Lo and Behold, an hour later...I was standing in one of their studios....reading copy in front of 5 or 6 executives of the station.

(to be continued)

Watergate

Ah.....what wonderful memories!  

Beautiful Spring evenings like we've been e having  here in Northern Virginia lately remind me of those "heady" days when I was the official radio voice of the United States Air Force Band (The Airmen of Note....which was originally "The Glenn Miller Band in the 1940's.)   

The band was stationed here in Washington and every Spring they would perform on weekends at the Watergate.. 

That was the original Watergate.....at ther Potomac River's edge....not the Hotel...after which the scandal was named.

This was BEFORE  there was any scandal ....by the same name....

(Speaking of names, what a damn shame I had to change my name....when I went on the air in Washington, because of  another "Ed Myers".....who was already "on the radio up here when I arrived in 1961.)

For seven wonderful years I had the honor of being the host of the band's national radio show, "Serenade in Blue." (Also Glen Miller's theme song) The weekly show was aired not only Nationally, but "worldwide" (wherever US troops were stationed) as well!

According to the Internet,  "...In 2004, Washington Post writer John Kelly argued that the name was most directly linked to the "Water Steps" or "Water Gate," a set of ceremonial stairs west of the Lincoln Memorial that led down to the Potomac.^[21][22][23] The steps had been originally planned as a ceremonial gateway to the city and an official reception area for dignitaries arriving in Washington, D.C., via water taxi from Virginia, though they never served this function.^[21] Instead, beginning in 1935, the steps faced a floating performance stage on the Potomac River on which open-air concerts were held.^[21][22] Up to 12,000 people would sit on the steps and surrounding grass and listen to symphonies, military bands, and operas. The music venue was depicted in scenes in the motion pictures Houseboat ^[14] and Born Yesterday (1950).^[24] The barge concerts ended in 1965 when jet airliner service began at National Airport and the noise impaired the venue's viability."

What Great memories!  What Great Music!

-Ed

PS

Regarding the Burma Shave story I posted the other day...
I learned recently that the Burma Shave Company made good on two of its signs that were really not meant to be taken literally.....

One of the signs read:  "FREE OFFER  "rIP A FENDER OFF YOUR CAR...MAIL IT IN...FOR A HALF-POUND JAR...BURMA SHAVE.

According to the story I read on the internet, A large number of fenders were received by the company.....and....they made good on its promise!


Another sign read,  "A TRIP TO MARS....FOR 900 EMPTY JARS....BURMA SHAVE"

The article went on to say that one respondent, Arlyss French, who was the owner of a Red Owl grocery store, did submit 900 empty jars; the company at first replied: "If a trip to Mars / you earn / remember, friend / there's no return." Then Burma-Shave, on the recommendation of Red Owl's publicity team, withdrew the one-way offer and instead sent Mr. and Mrs. French on vacation to the town of Moers (often pronounced "Mars" by foreigners) near Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.^[7][8]

May LDL

Jerry Gaudet
t

On Tuesday, May 8, the Central High School class of 1954 had the opportunity of participating in the 115th "LDL" held at Jimmy's in Mint Hill.

​

Attending were: Marlene Ritch Beaty, Vic Brawley and Sylvia, Clyde Burnett (husband of the late Mary Sue Banks Burnett), Johnny Culp, Jerry Gaudet and Pat, Anna Lynn Smith-Peterson Kearse, Jo Anne Stone King and Joe, Gene Moore and Shirley, Betty Rose Templeton Palomba, Willis Rimmer, Al Selby and Nancy, and Charlie Willis.

Conversation included word of Anna Lynn Kearse's recent Mediterranean cruise and an imminent trip for Shirley and Gene Moore to China.

"LDL" (Let's Do Lunch) is held on the second Tuesday of each and every month and is always held at Jimmie's Restaurant in Mint Hill.  There is always plenty of room.

Burma Shave Signs

Remember These?
Enjoy!

Courtesy of my old CHS and WGIV friend, Bill Poole!

REMEMBER THE ADs BY ROADSIDES ? another oldie……….  

A man, a miss,

A car, a curve.

He kissed the miss,

And missed the curve.

Burma Shave

  I'm sure that Burma Shave actually saved some lives. People laughed and they were more careful!  It was a REAL "service" to America, even though it was an advertisement and it was one of the RARE "really useful" ones!

 To My Old-As-Dirt Friends ………

DON'T STICK YOUR ELBOW

OUT SO FAR

IT MAY GO HOME

IN ANOTHER CAR.

  Burma Shave

TRAINS DON'T WANDER

ALL OVER THE MAP

'CAUSE NOBODY SITS

IN THE ENGINEER'S LAP.

  Burma Shave

SHE KISSED THE HAIRBRUSH

BY MISTAKE

SHE THOUGHT IT WAS

HER HUSBAND JAKE.

Burma Shave

DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD

TO GAIN A MINUTE

YOU NEED YOUR HEAD

YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT.

  Burma Shave

DROVE TOO LONG

DRIVER SNOOZING

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

IS NOT AMUSING.

Burma Shave

BROTHER SPEEDER

LET'S REHEARSE

ALL TOGETHER

GOOD MORNING, NURSE.

Burma Shave

CAUTIOUS RIDER

TO HER RECKLESS DEAR

LET'S HAVE LESS BULL

AND A LITTLE MORE STEER.

  Burma Shave

SPEED WAS HIGH

WEATHER WAS NOT

TIRES WERE THIN

X MARKS THE SPOT.

  Burma Shave

THE MIDNIGHT RIDE

OF PAUL FOR BEER

LED TO A WARMER

HEMISPHERE.

Burma Shave

AROUND THE CURVE

LICKETY-SPLIT

BEAUTIFUL CAR

WASN'T IT?

  Burma Shave

NO MATTER THE PRICE

NO MATTER HOW NEW

THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE

IN THE CAR IS YOU.

  Burma Shave

A GUY WHO DRIVES

A CAR WIDE OPEN

IS NOT THINKIN'

HE'S JUST HOPING

  Burma Shave

AT INTERSECTIONS

LOOK EACH WAY

A HARP SOUNDS NICE

BUT IT'S HARD TO PLAY.

  Burma Shave

BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL

EYES ON THE ROAD

THAT'S THE SKILLFUL

DRIVER'S CODE.

Burma Shave

THE ONE WHO DRIVES

WHEN HE'S BEEN DRINKING

DEPENDS ON YOU

TO DO HIS THINKING.

  Burma Shave

CAR IN DITCH

DRIVER IN TREE

THE MOON WAS FULL

AND SO WAS HE.

  Burma Shave

PASSING SCHOOL ZONE

TAKE IT SLOW

LET OUR LITTLE

SHAVERS GROW.

  Burma Shave