Birthday Bash at ABC30
ABC30 in Fresno threw a party for itself at the station this past Thursday, and it was quite a bash, indeed.
The station turns 70 years old this coming Sunday. To celebrate, station employees — and a few of us “old-timers” — were invited to an afternoon of champagne, birthday cake, other sweet treats — and indelible memories.
The highlight of Thursday’s party was the preview of the station’s 70th celebration special broadcast that will air this coming Sunday night at 6:30.
Station executive producer Tim Sarquis has put together a fast-paced, not-to-be-missed look at how tiny little KFRE-TV, Channel 12 — the third station to go on the air in Fresno and Number 3 in the ratings in those early years — morphed into the absolute ratings powerhouse it now is.
The special highlights how the station’s move from Channel 12 to Channel 30 in 1961 — its purchase by Cap Cities in 1971 and call-letter change to KFSN-TV — and the creation of Action News soon after — all played major roles in the creation of today’s ratings juggernaut.
Today, 30 is owned by the Disney Corporation — which also owns the entire ABC-TV network.
Yes, ABC30 is what is called an O-and-O — owned and operated by its network.
That means it has more money to spend for people and equipment and news coverage than any other station in the market.
And it spends it.
The TV special has plenty of black-and-white photos of the early days — along with commentaries by long-time station weather anchor Angelo Stalis — long-time station engineer Tom Moscatelli — and myself — about those early days.
And, of course, there are video clips of some of the major stories that Action News has covered so well.
And there are wonderful clips of unforgettable on-air promos that highlighted the great young anchor team of John Wallace and Nancy Osborne, weatherman Angelo and sports director Mark Barash.
But Thursday’s party was about much more than the upcoming special.
It was a true celebration of the people who work there.
Station president and general manager Martin Ortiz praised them all — and raised a toast to “30 people” past and present (right).
Ortiz was kind enough to ask Angelo and me to speak to the crowd about our old days at 30. We both started there in 1970 — Angelo, full-time as an announcer-director — and me — part-time as a floor director.
Angelo soon became 30’s weather-caster and stayed until 2013.
My tenure was much shorter. After becoming what I believe was the youngest TV reporter in Fresno history at that time — I was 23 — I left in 1978 to explore other cities and other TV jobs.
Ange and I had some funny stories to tell about TV back then — how hard it was to do TV back then — and the audience seemed to like them. At least, they did not throw any of those sweet treats at us.
Afterward, plenty of photos were taken with current anchors and producers and directors. The current folks made a point of praising us “oldsters” for starting 30 on its road to dominance.
Let me try to sum up what Thursday meant to me.
Going to that party was a highlight of my life. I was humbled and honored to be there.
As Sharon pointed out, it marked a kind of “full circle” in my career.
I started my TV career at Channel 30 in 1970.
And there I was, this past Thursday, 56 years later, telling stories about life and times way back then.
Amazing, I think. And, yes, I’m grateful to still be around to tell those stories.