12/14/11
Reno, great presentation of photos. I worked with Hank just before he retired. He made those slides from our art work. He was always carrying the camera and talking about the good ole days with Grady Cole at the Coke machine. When I was growing up, our radio dial was rusted on WBT. I remember getting an ad with all of the staff before television and remembering they don't look like what I thought they would. I liked the hairdos of both the men and women. Years later, my cousin brought Pat Lee's house, it was a large ramble, the Park Rd Shopping Center was in her back yard so she could go shopping for the things she sold on TV. Seasons Greetings.
---Tom Hovis, Fairfax, Va.
(Formerly WBTV Art Dept) |
11/9/11
Regarding photo 2 of The Woodlawn String Band on your website. The gentleman, second from left, standing in the back row, holding a mandolin is my great grandfather Miles Albert Eastwood. He was married to Lillie Mabel James Eastwood. They had many children, one of which is my paternal grandmother, Mary Letitia Eastwood (aka Mary Lee). Mary was married to Thomas Marion Stilwell long enough to have my father, Thomas Marion Stilwell, Jr. She later married Ralph Davenport and had 2 sons, Steve and Ronnie Davenport. They were all from Charlotte, North Carolina, and I believe lived on or near Shopton Road.
Mary Lee taught herself to play a piano when she was very young. Even though she is currently suffering from dementia she can still sit down at a piano and play beautifully. The last many years, she played “spoons” in Steve Davenport’s bluegrass band, which I believe is called Deliverance. He is an accomplished banjo player.
Hope this helps. I would love to have any information you have on The Woodlawn String Band as well as a copy of the picture on your website. Is the booklet noted in the photo description available online?
Thanks,
—Kim Stilwell
Houston, Texas
|
10/7/2011
I am still so happy with the pictures you've posted of the [Johnson] family, it brought back so many memories that I can't begin to tell you how I felt Especially of mother and dad and how hard they worked on the farm, and how bringing produce and eggs, and daddy's hunting experience to WBT. Also having the joy of the all the money we had out of all this was stunning. Dad was a visionary, yet he never pushed any of us into doing anything that we didn't like. Yes, we really love singing and we had the contrast of leaving the studio and having that joy, and getting into the car that was parked across from Wilder Building and going home to what many people would think was a below-standard of living. That we rented at the time from Uncle Andy, no electricity, no inside plumbing, no heat except for the pot belly and kitchen woodstove. But it was home and there was not a meal that mother cooked that she didn't serve hot homemade biscuits. What a wonderful memory! I thank you once again.
—Betty Johnson
Haverhill, New Hampshire |
10/2/2011
I am looking for my grandfather, Homer christopher, and grandmother, Katherine (Raines) Christopher, who sang with the Briarhoppers and the Tennessee Ramblers. Do you have any music recordings or photos that would include them?
Thank you.
—Wayne Puckett
Ed. Note: In this gallery, on panel 8, photo 31, the person at left has been identified as Homer Christopher. |
9/23/11
I am a native Charlottean but have been away for many years. As a child, I listened to a radio local program which was a talent show. It was a very popular show that held auditions at the radio station that was located in downtown Charlotte. The host's name was "Colonel Walt" but I do not recall the name of the show.
I have searched the internet but cannot find anything about this program. Can't be sure but I suspect the radio station was WBT as the studio was downtown in the Wilder Bldg. at the time. The time frame would be 1940s--specifically 1948. There might have been other radio stations located downtown but am not sure. Haven't been able to obtain any info on this.
Thank you so much for whatever info or suggestions you can provide as to how I can proceed with my research.
Sincerely,
—Diane Kimbrell
|
9/13/2011
For years I watched The Betty Feezor Show and learned so much from her. I rarely missed a show if I could help it. She was such a delight and so intelligent. I enjoyed the article you have on her. I have often wondered what happened to her husband and children. Also do you have any information on Billie Jean Simpson who filled in for Betty on the days she was unble to do her show, and maybe continued her program for a while? Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so very much.
—Fern Wilcox
Statesville NC |
9/11/11
Hi - I just found the BT Memories site thanks to a friend. My mother, Pat Lee, practically raised me in the halls of "BT," and I have the most wonderful childhood memories of the many entertainers, professionals, and staff who inspired and helped are for me in the 1960s and 70s. What a treat to be able to revisit these great folks through your site!
At some point, I will be scanning in many photos that might be good additions, if you would like them.
Kind regards,
—Bonnie (Lee) Bokman |
9/9/11
[The Johnson Family] moved from West Lincoln County to East Lincoln County in 1941, and to Charlotte in 1942.
To the best of my knowledge, the picture of Dad and me and the animal skins was taken in 1941 in Lincoln County; all of the rest were taken in the "Uncle Andy" House, across the road from what is now the Pleasant Grove Memorial Park. When we lived there, it was the location of
Pleasant Grove Methodist Church.
I happen to have copies of these pictures — truly a "treasure trove" from the camera of Elmer "Hank" Warren, of blessed memory.
—Kenneth M. Johnson,
Eldest child of "Ma" &"Pa" Johnson
Lake Junaluska, NC
|
8/30/11
I enjoyed the memories of WBT radio. My uncle, Claude Wright from Lancaster, SC, had a small Hillbilly band that toured South and some North Carolina towns in the thirties. I don't know what they called themselves, but they had a regular 15 minute morning show on WBT. He died of "the fever" around 1936. Claude was a string vituoso who could play anything with strings. I was in the room one night when a man came to audition for him with a violin. Claude took it after a couple of songs and played the same songs as well as the owner.
—Norman F. Cates CW3 USA (ret)
Ocala, FL |
8/9/11
I recently visited the BT Memories website and was so pleased to see a beautiful picture and bio of my mother, Billy Anne Newman, on page 7. I did want to contact you , however, and correct some errors at the end of the bio. Everything was correct through the story about Dick VanDyke. I've heard my mom tell that story many times. But mom never moved to Raleigh, or sang in jazz clubs in the 1960's. Mom moved to Atlanta in the 1950's because my dad was a pilot with Eastern Air Lines. Her married name was Anne Newman Carson, and she had 3 children and continued to sing in nightclubs in the Atlanta area with her own danceband. She lived in Ft. Lauderdale in the early 1970's, and returned to Charlotte in 1975 where she worked for Nationsbank.
Mom died on July 15, 2009, and we surely miss her. She was vivacious and fun loving right up to the end. I thankfully recorded my mom telling all her stories, and she had some good ones! I hope to compile them so future generations can know her. I have tons of pictures of mom back in the day, including JC Jollies, and entertaining troops during WWII.
Mom married William Riley Price when she was 19, and he was killed in the war. I have her marriage license, and it was witnessed by Mr. and Mrs. Grady Cole, who drove them to South Carolina to get married. It makes me so happy to see that she is remembered in BT Memories.
By the way, mom never spelled her name Billie as most girls do. It was Billy, like a boy.
Please feel free to contact me by email or phone. I live in Black Mountain, NC.
Thank you,
— Cyndi Stanley |
7/23/11
Received the photos in today's mail - all in good condition - thanks. Hope they prove to be useful additions to your btmemories memorabilia.
One of my dad's friends at the station conspired with my mom to surprise my dad on his 39th birthday (1958) with a montage created from these and other milestone moments - I framed one copy each for my brother and me. Recollections of my Charlotte childhood sometimes have the clarity of yesterday, and sometimes shiver with the uncertainty of a mirage. One day showing Tom Cookerly's son, Clay, around our yard; then meeting James Arness (Milburn Stone and Dennis Weaver came over to our house in the late 50s and played ping-pong with my dad and brother - while I was bowling at Coliseum Lanes with junior league keglers George and Pete Pappas - my dad advised me I would regret not skipping the bowling and staying home for a "surprise") and then after the US Air Force, introducing my wife and myself
to Clyde McLean as he was emceeing the highland games competition at Grandfather Mountain in 1974 or '75.
Now, I'm Medicare eligible as of September 1st. Thanks to your website work, however, I get to refresh my memories of a bygone era - I especially enjoyed the section on Jim Patterson with comments from Paul Harvey & Charles Kuralt.
I have noted numerous references to Bob Lacey on the site, and actually listened to Bob and Sheri on 107.9 (the Link). He seems to have enjoyed a very productive career behind the mike and in front of the camera.
—Scott Tredwell
|
7/7/11
My grandfather, J.B. Patterson, told me a long time ago that he performed on the Farmer Gray show. He played the fiddle and guitar. He also played with the Briarhoppers when they would be local. Do you have any record of him? Do you have any archives with him in it? I would love to hear anything that I can. Please email me at dollyhiott@att.net You would find him in the years between 1955-1990. I know its a long shot but well worth the try. thank you. He was from Blacksburg and Gaffney, SC.
— Dolly Patterson Hiott
Ed. Note: Farmer Gray was WSPA Spartanburg's morning announcer, ala Grady Cole. |
7/6/11
I think your website is great. I watched WBTV until 1976 when I left Asheville. When I came back in the mid 1980's, I couldn't pick up the signal very well, and then you left the local Asheville cable system. I worked in TV all the years I was away from Asheville.
I wish our station had something like what you have here. I never worked there, but my time in TV was indescribable.
—Bruce McGee
Asheville, NC
|
7/4/11
Hi..My Name is J.B. Dobkin and I was a longtime resident of Charlotte and a listener to WBT even after I moved away from the area in 1965....I was born April 10th 1922, supposedly the date that WBT began licensed commercial transmission. Some years ago WBT crowed about the date "Pioneer Radio Station of the South".....Just thought this codger would share some memories.
—J. Dobkin |
2/7/11
Reno: York got too slow for me....I've skipped town and have moved to
Charleston, S.C. There is no truth to that heinous story about me and a 14 year old girl! Just viewed BT Memories...let me be serious for a moment...You do one tremendous job on the website. Having been serious, did you hear bout the Siamese twins who moved to England...so the other one could drive!
Tell me, where is Candy Ferrell? I would like to get in touch with her.
Living is good in Charleston.
Now and always,
— Bill Curry |
2/5/11
Thanks for sending this. I have enjoyed looking and listening, although I really am much too young to remember any of it! Ha!
I have especially enjoyed the features on Bill Curry. I think I told you that he trained me in radio while I was in college. He used to tell me about the Belmont Tunnel and I thought he was nuts! My sister is best friends with his youngest daughter and I will send this on to her. I'm sure she would get a kick out of it.
I loved the Betty Feezor footage. I remember watching her with my Mom when I was little.
Thanks so much for taking time out to do this.
—Susan Cody |
2/5/11
Reno, you have done a fantastic job with this web site! You know, the happiest days of my career were when I was at WBT-FM. Broadcasting really gets into your blood! I applied at the TV station in Durham when I moved there, but there was no place for me at that time. That's when I ended up at the telephone company and found that Sid Linton was working there.
One of my fondest memories of our FM station was when you taught me how to record the music tapes. I was sitting in there working on one when Lacy Sellars walked in. He smiled and said, "I wish I had a picture of this!" Secretaries in those days did a whole lot more than shorthand and typing, that's for sure. I loved working with you and Lacy and all the others who followed. I bet you don't remember the nickname you gave me, and I'm not going to tell you now!!
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful, memorable project with me.
—Matilda Massingill Batten |
1/18/11
Hiya! It's Tom Gauger here...
Do you have any idea whatever happened to my old buddy Tom Looney? He was a jock at 'BT in 1965 and was most helpful in getting me away from WIST (high atop Staley's Steakhouse) and onward to WIOD Miami. I later got the call to WMAL.
Anyway, Tom went to WTAR in Norfolk... and then after being fired when AM radio collapsed, I believe he returned to his native Texas.
He isn't mentioned anywhere on your excellent "BT Memories" site. Ideas?
My best,
—Tom Gauger
Followup:
Looney told me many years ago that he was from Corpus Christi, TX. I used Switchboard then and found an address for a "Tom Looney" and sent a snail mail. Never got an answer.
In his last few years at 'TAR Tom seemed to be growing very bitter over what was happening to radio as he knew it. He never made a move to do more talk and I suspect resisted any management effort to go in that direction.
This would have been around 1972 or so while I was at 'MAL. I'd visit Norfolk about once a month and he'd come up occasionally. Eventually by the late 1970's or early '80's he was let go from 'TAR and I abruptly heard no more.
I did get a kick out of remarks made by a colleague of his on the 'BT Memories site.
BTW, that's an excellent web site and beats the hell out of anything ever created for 'MAL. 'BT Memories is your work, right?
I've completely retired and now living near Harrisburg, PA. The ABC family has a group that meets every other month in Washington for lunch. A nice way to keep in touch.
Take care of yourself... and let's US stay in touch. 'BT Memories is my only connection with Charlotte and was delighted to see Crutchfield quoted as saying there were several "powerhouses" in Charlotte, and mentioning WIST in the group. I loved working there even though we took a back seat to Stan Kaplan and Big WAYS. |
His name was Capt. Mike Lane. He was released in late February 1973. I was sent to Andrews AFB to cover his return. It was shot on film by our DC stringer. We sent the film to Charlotte on a morning flight and it got there in time for a noon newscast.