A Rooftop View
Some things just don’t change in seventy years. If the story calls for it, a photog may be finding themselves and their gear on the roof of their news unit.
Left: Universal Newsreel crew, 1938.
Right: Photo borrowed from and of Rick Portier, WAFB-TV
This is terrific Amanda. I had no idea you had all this material. Seeing all these names of guys I had heard about all my life, some I had met once or twice but were household names my dad mentioned often, particularly after some story he’d coved that day, is a kick for me. It is ironic in a way to be reading this on this day, which is 35 years to the day my dad died. He knew the 21st was my birthday, and I leaned into him in the hospital and said, “Today’s my birthday. Thanks for everything.” I didn’t know at the time if he heard me. The hospital called early the next morning (today 35 yrs ago) to say he had died. I like to believe he waited so he wouldn’t die on my birthday.
I see the name Tommy Craven. He lived in Fairfax, VA and had a son who was named Tom Jr. and was a cameraman also. I have no idea if he is alive.
Bravo, Amanda this is marvelous and my dad would be so proud of what you have done. He was a most appreciative guy and would have said something like, “That gal is doing one hellava job on our the story of our business. Salud!!” I think I told you once, I never have met anyone who loved his job more than my dad loved what he did. It sounds like you do also.
Cheers, Marcia, Chic Peden”s daughter.
P.S. Thanks for answering the question about the letter.
P.P.S.
Have you ever run across a tribute my dad did of Bocky when he died. I will look for it. Bocky burned himself up in a hotel room in D.C. He fell asleep with a cigarette and set himself on fire. A lot of these guys were heavy drinkers, my dad included. A lot of free liquor flowed while they waited for some stories. I can’t remember the details, but I will look for it.
Are you aware that UCLA library houses much of the Hearst Corp, News of the Day film and other material? I sent them a lot of stills.
Marcia (Peden) Miner
Hi Marcia,
I haven’t come across the tribute to Bocky, just a few obituaries from the Washington Post and the New York Times.
Most newsmen (and women) still drink, just outside of work hours today, I think its sort of a given with this profession with the stress and some of the events that get witnessed first hand. One station I worked at in fact had a bar in the parking lot and I remember one day the news director pointing out every place downtown where he had a drink.
Amanda
hi amanda I was looking through the different dates again and really looked atthis picture of the universal cameraman on top of the car. I am not sure but this looks like my father Fred Fordham. I can remember covering parades in New York and sitting on the roof under the camera, having a birdseye view of the parade, I was holding on for dear life afraid I would fall down under the feet of a marching band. Lucky that did not happen. This was one of the many stories he covered that I was able to travel to with hjm, It was a very exciting time Barbara Truncale nee Fordham