WPVI-TV sign off June 1986 re-uploaded in HD. WFIL-TV became WPVI-TV on April 27, 1971 when the station was purchased by Capital Cities. The sign-off seems to be from then as it appears to be Spring. Check out the old cars on the Schuylkill and the pre-Amtrak train! They broadcast it for two decades. Aircheck date: June 20, 1986, 2:50 a.m.. Source: VHS SP mode. Locally recorded.
Paul Louis Norton, 79, longtime broadcaster
By Gayle Ronan Sims
Inquirer Staff Writer
Paul Louis Norton, 79, a venerable WPVI-TV Channel 6 (ABC) broadcaster for nearly 40 years, died Thursday of a stroke at Christiana Hospital. He had retired to Lewes, Del., in 1997.
Mr. Norton came to Philadelphia in 1959 as a disc jockey and producer for WFIL-AM radio. The next year he was hired by Channel 6, where he worked in entertainment, news, public affairs and as station announcer.
Mr. Norton reported on-the-air news, sports, and weather and hosted the game shows, The Money Movie, The Morning Movie, and Racing Time. He cohosted The Street Where You Live with Larry Ferrari; Dolls and Dollars with Al Meltzer, and a morning show with Connie Roussin.
Beginning in 1972 and for the next 20 years, Mr. Norton produced and hosted several Perspective programs covering human-interest stories for Channel 6. He reported from many countries and once conducted an interview while donating a pint of blood on the air, his son Michael said.
Mr. Norton's guests included senators, governors, authors and educators. He also broadcast the station's religion programs, for which he interviewed clergy of all faiths. He produced People to People and the popular Sunday morning show Inside Story with Marc Howard
Mr. Norton was the third of six children born in Olean, N.Y. in 1929. As a young man, he set his sights on being a broadcaster and never strayed far from that goal.
Mr. Norton began his 50-year career in radio and television broadcasting in 1946 while a senior in high school with an on-the-air job at the local radio station. Within four years, he was announcer and disc jockey for radio stations in Schenectady and Albany and made three daily newscasts for WKBW-AM radio in Buffalo.
Mr. Norton was drafted into the Army in 1950 and shipped to Korea in 1952. A forward artillery observer, he penetrated enemy territory to radio in coordinates for artillery fire.
"He fought in some of the war's most savage conflicts, including Old Baldy, Arrowhead, and Pork Chop Hill," his son said. Mr. Norton was discharged in 1953 as a second lieutenant.
Mr. Norton resumed his broadcasting career in Buffalo with WGR-AM radio as a newscaster, disc jockey, and co-host of the nightly game show A Shower for the Bride. He became the company's first TV announcer.
"In an era when broadcasters were expected to do everything," his son said, "my father was weekend weatherman, newscaster, co-host on a cooking show, the clown Tommy Tucker, and announcer for live commercials."
Mr. Norton's first appearance on national TV began with local cut-ins for NBC's Today Show.
In 1956, Mr. Norton married Nancy Bieger, and the couple had five children. They moved to Washington, where Mr. Norton earned a bachelor's degree in English from Georgetown University. While going to college, he worked full time as a local disc jockey and television weatherman, a CBS network announcer, a newscaster for the Voice of America's worldwide English-language division, and a weekend host for its jazz program, Music, USA.
Mr. Norton retired in 1997 in Lewes. In 2000, the Delaware House of Representatives honored Mr. Norton with an achievement award and in 2001 he was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.
Mr. Norton somehow made time for civic duties. He was president of the Glenside (Pa.) Kiwanis; president of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia in 1986 and writer of its newsletter for more than 20 years, including the publication this month; named to the Delaware Board of Elections by Gov. Ruth Ann Minner; and president (2002-04) of the Military Officers Association of Southern Delaware.
Mr. Norton taught communications at Delaware Technical and Community College, was a member of the Ad Hoc Radio Theatre Group of the Possum Point Players, and served on the board of the Sussex Family YMCA and the Rotary Club of Lewes/Rehoboth.
In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Norton is survived by sons Paul, Bob and Mark; daughter Lisa Kerrigan; three grandchildren; a sister; and three brothers.
7 апр 2024
