This is a full recording of the 6 p.m. "Action News 5," as broadcast over WRAL-TV on May 17, 1979. Charlie Gaddy and Bobbie Battista co-anchor, Bob DeBardelaben does weather and Rich Brenner anchors sports.
Sad to report that two legends of WRAL are no longer with us....The great Rich Brenner who began his career as the top sports anchor at WRAL and also over at WTVD and became the sports director for High Point's WGHP passed away in 2012. The legendary Bob DeBardelaben (was known as the Bob Barker of the weathercenter) was for years the Triangle's top meterologist (long before Greg Fishel) passed away in October of 2014.
stonedog23: I remember when WRAL had World Championship Wrestling every Saturday night that was taped live from Raleigh's Dorton Arena....that wrestling commercial was indeed a bonafide classic featuring Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Rufus "Freight Train" Jones, Rick "The Nature Boy" Flair, and Andre The Giant not to mention Wahoo McDaniel. Speaking of WRAL, just to let you know Charlie Gaddy is still with us but retired from the news business back in the mid-1990's. Bobbie Batista started her career in the mid-1970's at WRAL and by the early-1980's became the top news anchor at CNN and is still with them as a chief news director.
OMG, that wrestling commercial was classic, Ricky Steamboat and Rufus R. Freight Train Jones. Charlie Gaddy was a WRAL lifer, he's no longer with us. I remember when Bobbie Batista went to what was called CNN 2 back in those days, then renamed to CNN Headline News featuring news on a continuous 30 minute loop. And I recall when Rich Brenner left for a national job.
Would I love it if gas got to be 92 cents a gallon again. It is amazing how these vintage WRAL footage has been preserved for over 30 years. This a treat for me to watch since I was born they year RAL and TVD swapped affliates. Great post and keep em comin'!!!. It is cool that you posted this particular clip almost 32 years to the day!!!
At 17:35 the car salesman invites everybody to pound on a 67 plymouth belvedere 2 door hardtop. If he only knew how rare today that plymouth is, he would invite people to wax it instead LOL