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Published on Thursday, 15 April 2010 12:07
The Museum of Broadcast Communications, nationally headquartered here in Chicago, will be presenting the its first-ever salute of six decades of Chicago television icons this summer. "A Salute to Chicago Television" will honor Chicago's television personalities, producers, directors, writers, executives and industry leaders -- from current to classic to historic. The event is both a reunion of local television stars and a fan celebration of them.
Proceeds from this huge event will go on to benefit the final phase of construction of the new state-of-the-art Broadcast Communications' Museum, which is being built in downtown Chicago at State St. and Kinzie St.
So far, a very impressive list of confirmed attendees for the MBC benefit is already assembled. Participating in "A Salute to Chicago Television" are Lee Phillip Bell, Jim Conway, Jorie Lueloff, Warner Saunders, Merri Dee, Jack Taylor, Harry Volkman, Frank Mathie, Jim Tilmon and second generation pioneers Bill Kurtis, Walter Jacobson, Rich Koz, Bob Sirott, Joan Esposito, Roy Leonard, Robert Jordan, Roger Ebert, Teresa Gutierrez, Linda Yu, Scott Craig, Ron Weiner and executives Howard Shapiro, Bill McCarter and Sheldon Cooper. Current local on-air television personalities attending include Tom Skilling, Cheryl Burton, Alan Krashesky, Marion Brooks, Anna Davlantes, Alez Perez, Amy Freeze, Kevin Roy, Corey McPherrin, Dick Johnson, Leah Hope, Mark Saxenmeyer, Dean Richards and Bill Zwecker.
"The tri-generational reunion will provide contemporary Chicago television personalities with an opportunity to honor those pioneers who paved the way and also give fans a chance to meet their favorite local TV personalities in person," said MBC Founder and President Bruce DuMont.
One of the three brother co-owners of Walter E. Smithe Furniture, Tim Smithe, the middle brother and head of the company's sales and marketing, and co-star of numerous famous Chicago television commercials for his company, will serve as General Dinner Chairman of the event.
"My brothers and I grew up watching Chicago Television like
Bozo's Circus, Ray Rayner, and
Kukla, Fran and Ollie," said Tim Smithe. "We watched the late news with our parents to feel more grown up. Today, it's hard to imagine that we only had five channels to watch. But these channels enriched our lives and painted a picture of our world. I am thrilled to chair 'A Salute to Chicago Television,' and look forward to the grand opening of the museum."
The Nielsen Company, the marketing and advertising research company best known for their TV ratings collecting & distribution, is the lead sponsor of the historic gathering. Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, Senior Vice President of The Nielsen Company said in a statement, "Keeping a television audience's attention is no easy task, and yet the Chicago broadcast community has delivered engaging content that keeps people tuning in decade after decade. Because of the rich and unique history The Nielsen Company shares with this community, we're especially excited to be a part of an evening that promises to be exciting and memorable."
"A Salute to Chicago Television" will be held on Friday, June 11th at the Hilton Chicago's Grand Ballroom, located at 720 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago. The reception begins at 6:00pm, with dinner served at 7:00pm, followed by the main program at 8:30pm.
Tickets can be purchased online at the MBC website at this link
HERE. Individual tickets are $350, with three different packages available for purchasing a table of ten. Anyone purchasing a table of ten will be seated with a Chicago TV personality.
