By Sharon Oliver
Contributing Writer
BOSTON – Before there were streaming services or cable with its many platforms and networks, there were foil-wrapped rabbit ears for better television reception, only a handful of channels to choose from, and a wrench to turn the broken channel knob instead of the all-important remote. It was the days of UHF and VHF and a simpler yet equally entertainment-filled time.
Hosts became local celebrities
Local television shows that were broadcast from the 1960s through the 1990s were not only enjoyable for their content, but viewers also tuned in to watch some of the hosts. Take, for example, Dana Hersey on WSBK-TV 38. Many people loved “The Movie Loft,” a pioneer in hosted movie shows, as much as they did Hersey’s commanding voice while he deftly introduced them to unedited movies.
MervinGriff reacted to a video posted on YouTube with:
“AH! DANA HERSEY, I watched him host tons of The Movie Loft on TV 38 in the 1980s.”
Photo/Courtesy of WBOQ-FM
Host Tom Bergeron of “People Are Talking” and the hosting team of “Evening Magazine” are other examples from back in the day. Boston can proudly boast about its inspiration for future programs as well. “Good Day!” first aired as “Good Morning” in 1973 until 1991 and is credited with being the inspiration behind ABC’s “Good Morning America.” One of the mid-morning talk show’s former hosts included the legendary Janet Langhart. Of course, Frank Avruch is another beloved personality known for his many contributions to television including playing host and providing commentary for “The Great Entertainment,” an anthology series featuring classic movies.
Before there was “Cheers”
“Park Street Under” was a sitcom set in a fictional underground Boston bar known to locals, but the premise would soon become quite familiar to the nation. Episodes focused on the bar’s staff and patrons and were taped in Needham in front of a live audience. The cast included local performers like stand-up comic Steve Sweeney as the bartender. Karen MacDonald was cast as the kindly waitress, and Brad Jones played the role of a shrink. Sound familiar?
The Boston Globe called the series “the freshest, funniest sitcom in town,” and the press praised the production crew for giving Boston actors a place to perform. With hopes of reaching a national audience, a tape of the show was sent to ABC. However, the people at WCVB never heard back from anyone but believed their series had been seen by those affiliated with Paramount, which co-produced “Cheers.” NBC and “Cheers” denied the allegations.
“The Baxters,” another WCVB-produced seriocomedy that ran from 1977 to 1979, also employed local actors. The series had an unusual format where the first half was an original performance, but the second half featured a dialogue between the audience and panelists about the series.
First legal issues show
Hosted by Harvard Law Professor Arthur R. Miller, “Miller’s Court” also aired on WCVB (1979-1988). This mock-trial show dramatization was the first American television show dedicated to exploring legal matters. NYU paid tribute to Miller twice. First with a “South Park” style spoof entitled “What Would Arthur Miller Do?” and a hip-hop tribute called “A. Milley” based on Lil’ Wayne’s “A Milli.”
“The Scarlet Letter” was America’s challenge to the UK’s dominance in costume period dramas. Based on the 1850 novel of the same name, the short-lived miniseries aired on WGBH from March 3, 1979, to March 24, 1979, with many of the exterior scenes having been shot at Sachuest Point, near Newport, Rhode Island.
Streaming services may be all the rage right now, but there was a time when equally entertaining programs were produced locally, starred locals, made a national influence, and will forever hold a place in the hearts of those born and raised in Massachusetts.
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