The top-rated TV shows in the ’60s were Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In and the original Hawaii Five-O. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PR0KpHt4is Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, and the first Woodstock concert took place. A gallon of gas would have set you back 35 cents. Fashion? We were groovy, baby. Yours truly graduated from high school […]
The top-rated TV shows in the ’60s were Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In and the original Hawaii Five-O.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PR0KpHt4is
Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, and the first Woodstock concert took place.
A gallon of gas would have set you back 35 cents.
Fashion? We were groovy, baby.
Yours truly graduated from high school in 1969.
And in 1966, Elliot Toole started his TV career at WESH in Orlando, Fla., and in 1969, he moved to the CBS affiliate in Tallahassee, WCTV, now owned by Gray, where he spent the past 46 years as a commercial producer/editor.
“Through the years,” says Elliot, “I have directed live news programs, public affairs programs, Romper Room, 23 years of the Bobby Bowden Show including “Great Moments with Burt Reynolds”, musical programs, parades, countless promotions and commercials both in-studio and on location. [I’ve] produced live basketball games for the metro conference, met a lot of interesting people and for the most part, had a great time. I might have had to work for a living.”
I asked Elliot how TV has changed in that time.
“Quality of video has certainly improved through the years. There was still a lot of black and white around when I started and certainly no high definition or 3D. I have seen TV go from film to video tape to digital media.
“The influence of computers has changed the way we edit and increased our ability to use effects. Building a video presentation is less “hands on” than it was 46 years ago.
“Computers have also changed the way we record and store our product. The Internet has changed the business of a television station by making it an electronic newspaper in addition to broadcasting news and entertainment.
“A lot of (probably most) local stations have gone from being an independent locally-owned business to being a part of a national corporation.”
His advice for the young and foolhardy considering a career in TV?
“Get a good, well-rounded education because television touches on all walks of life and the more understanding a person has of many different vocations and avocations, the better presentation one can make of the situation at hand. Understand computers better than I do.”
Retirement plans?
“I studied music at Florida State University. I still play the trombone and lead a big band called Tallahassee Swing. I hope to increase my opportunities in music, travel with my wife Bonnie and find new interests I haven’t even thought of yet.”
Here are just a couple of commercials he has produced over the years. Amazingly, Toole says he stopped keeping copies of any of his work, so he has no demo reel, nothing.
I got these examples and the story idea from Michael Karmanos, WCTV’s creative services director.
Congrats to Elliot and thanks for your service.
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