Randy Scalise has died. From his obituary:
Randy’s career as a television soundman began in the early 1950’s at Channel 6 (now WTNH, channel 8 in New Haven) and then at WFSB, Channel 3 in Hartford, Connecticut. He traveled the world as a part of WFSB’s PM Magazine production team and was shop steward for NABET (The National Association Of Broadcast Employees & Technicians). While at Channel 3, he volunteered to climb their transmission tower in Avon, Connecticut and even saved one man’s life once, by helping him down the tower when his lung collapsed.
Our friend Dick Ahles tells us that among Randy’s experiences as an eyewitness to history was running the camera at then-Channel 6 in 1954 when Abe Ribicoff delivered his “American Dream” speech.
Randy was not only smart and talented, he was the epitome of cool. The Sinatra of soundmen.
When Dick Ahles sent a 27-year-old newbie to Cuba in 1980, he had the good sense to send along Randy and John Dwyer, two experienced hands, to calm a boy reporter on his first major assignment. “Have a cigar and a mojito, boy. Everything’s gonna be just fine.”
There is too much concentration on the people in front of the cameras when we look back on the history of television in this market. Think more about masters of their craft like Randy, and you’ll be on the right track.
vX1XN3 Kewl you should come up with that. Excellent!