Dear Les,

 

I have a question that you can pose to the retirees both via email and post it on the retiree web site.   Back in the early 1980's the IBEW-CBS Seniority List was in a shambles.  Two people undertook the task of correcting the seniority list after the deaths of Vito Granikas and Ed Benford.  Who were they?  Les, I respect your ability to keep my anonymity.  Thanks in advance.

Note: from Les, I am aware of who these two people were, please send an email of who you think these two people were.   Send the email to me, just click on my name as webmaster and it should give you the form to send your thoughts to me.

From Elliot Gordon  9/9/2000   I'm in tears

Thanx for all your work, Tony. It's interesting to see and hear that we're all mortal. Will stay in touch by way of the web site.
                        My best,                         Elliot 

From George Gray  9/9/2000

re: Arnold King

Sorry Tony, it's George Gray.

From Harold Deppe  9/9/2000    Where are they?

As of this E Mail The Retired C.B.S. Engineers Webb Site has been clicked on 1 K 250 times We have only heard from a few of them .I am sure we all would like to
know how They are doing Today .And not that they just Passed away.  P.S . It would be nice to hear from all of you.
Best Regards, Harold Deppe  E. C. ..49....73.

Received Sept. 10-11, 2000:

From Al Consiglio  9/10/2000

Hi Ted, (cc to Tony Cucu)
Here's some spam for you from my son thru me. First however, have you logged unto the CBS Retirees Web Page yet? I did and was shocked to learn that CBS plans to cancel our medical insurance in about 2 years. I assume this is not a joke. The report further reads (from Fred Schutz) that the Retires group has already checked with lawyers and was advised that CBS is within their rights. The group is looking into an alternative plan with a private insurer insuring our group as a package deal. 
 As I see it, our insurance has not done much for us as long as we are under Medicare.
The non-duplicating bailout saves the CBS insurer a lot of money. We probably will only need extra insurance if we go abroad or some catastrophic illness that Medicare doesn't cover adequately. In other words, I think, we, for the most part, will not need extra coverage since the CBS plan hasn't provided any extra coverage after Medicare's coverage.

What has been your experience? Am I missing something? Regards   Al C.

NOTE TO AL. I  HAVE SPOKEN TO MIKE DEIESO. WE WILL HAVE TO CLEAR SOME THINGS FURTHER AFTER THE LUNCHEON. I WILL REPORT WHAT I FIND OUT.  TONY C.

From Lee Levy  9/10/2000

LEE, VERY SORRY TO READ THIS. I HOPE IT WORKS OUT BETTER THAN YOU HAVE TOLD US.
YOU COULD BE SAVING SOME ONES LIFE WITH THIS STORY.  I ALSO SUGGEST THAT YOU E-MAIL THIS TO ANN LANDERS. I AM SURE SHE WILL RE-PRINT THIS.
TONY C

Subj:   A MUST READ. CAUSE I CARE...
Date:   09/10/2000 10:59:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:   LynnLeeR1

This message is true and factual. Burn doctors have seen this injury on more than one occasion. Also remember not to microwave a sealed natural or artificial item such as a whole egg or a tightly wrapped and sealed package.  When disturbed, they may suddenly "explode". Also be careful in that microwaves are frequently elevated and when taking micro-waved food out it may tilt or spill onto you. I have seen all three types of these accidents in just the past month.

W A R N I N G : W A T E R  I N  M I C R O W A V E

Guess I  didn't know this. I heat water in a mug often in the microwave.  Never  thought of it as being too dangerous.
I feel that the following is  information that anyone who uses a microwave oven to heat water should be  made aware of.
About five days ago my twenty-six-year old son decided to have a cup of instant coffee.  He took a cup of water and  put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before).  I am not sure how long he set the timer  for but he told me he wanted to bring the water to a boil. When the timer  shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup he noted that the water was not boiling, but instantly the water in the  cup "blew up" into his face.  The
cup remained intact until he  threw it out of his hand but all the water had flew out into his face due to  the  build up of energy. His whole face is blistered and he has first  and second degree burns to his face that may leave scarring. He also may have  lost partial sight in his left eye. While at the hospital, the doctor who  was attending to him stated that this is a fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be heated in a microwave oven.  If water is heated in  this manner, something should be placed in the cup to diffuse the energy  such as a wooden stirrer stick/spoon, tea bag, etc.  It is however a much safer choice to boil the water in a kettle.
 NOTE:  Subsequently, on  reviewing the above I have consulted a set of Microwave Operation  Instructions and under the heading Liquids it states: Liquids  that have been heated by Microwave can suddenly erupt.  This is due to layers  heated to higher temperatures being trapped under the surface  To avoid  this happening to any  liquid, e.g. coffee, custard, gravy etc.:
1)  Stir the liquid thoroughly before heating in the microwave.
2) Stir the  liquid at least twice during the heating time.
3) Stir the liquid again  at the end.
    NEVER OVERHEAT LIQUIDS.
   Always use a suitable sized  container, at least one third larger, than the volume of liquid to be  heated. If in doubt use conventional methods, kettle, etc.
Please pass this information on to friends and family. Have a  safe day.

From Tony Cucurullo  9/10/2000

Harold, I think that Les, might be on OVERLOAD. I am feeding him material, Ted, is also sending him stuff and pix.  We just have to wait until these stories appear on the WEB.  As to Bob Vernum, I replied to him. He happens to be one of the good guys.  But, I am sure he will tell you that there were some TD's that do not merit,
remembering. That is as KIND  as I will state.  Let's get on with all the great, and I mean GREAT  people in our CBS family.  Keep punching, I think some people may start to contribute.  Regards  Tony c.

From Tony Cucurullo 9/11/2000

I'm off to visit the Luncheon, in NJ Sept.13th.
Sept 12th is the birthday of Dwight Temple, and myself.
Happy birthday Dwight.
Happy Birthday to Myself!
The calendar now spins faster than the clock.  I will spread the word about the WEB site.  I hope that more of you contribute to the page. It doesn't have to be very personal. You can keep your police records out of it. This isn't Catholic confession, or Jewish guilt. There isn't any penance, or forgiveness, if you reveal a secret or two.
CBS, won't come after you for all the 5u4's, and 1B3's that you stole. You can keep those.
You also, don't have to light candles to Bob Hammer anymore...sadly, he's gone. So fess up, and send some little story. We will make fun of your grammar, and spelling, "no matter", what you write. So, who gives a s--- if you can't spiell.
And if you don't send any thing in, we will call you all illiterate bums for not writing.
Don't, make Howie Purnick, right. He thinks, we as seniors still wet our pants, and dribble a lot. I don't dribble any more???
C-U when I get back. Tony C

Note: I only noted one word misspelled on purpose, however, I was able to correct quite a few more misspellings.   

In reference to the OVERLOAD, I hope that you realize that I do not sit at the computer all of my waking hours.   I enjoy fishing and there is the number of tropical fruit trees that must be tended to, the assistance that I give to other people here on Pine Island.  Plus the fact that my wife gets highly PO'd if I spend too much time at the keyboard.  I had an agenda for time and purpose of retirement, that takes first priority.   I will get to the photos in due time.  Not only do I have Ted and Tony's contributions but Joe Janovsky and John Wells have also contributed to help with the enrichment of our site.  Again I would like to make sure that the credit for this site is the work of Myself, Adrian Ettlinger, Bob Zagoren, Fred Schutz, Tony Cucurullo and those who have sat at their keyboards and offered their thoughts, remembrances and feelings.   I would surely welcome your comments, it really is a simple matter to click on my name on the homepage which should bring up an email form and you can just begin typing.   I will as usual try to correct the errors that I am able to see with my tired eye.
***Addendum from Adrian: I'm currently in California, and will return home Thursday. I've been able to keep up with the text material, and I now have a backlog of eight photos which Les has sent to me. I may have some free time tomorrow (Tuesday) to do some work on the photos, maybe even get all eight posted. The photos take much longer to process than the text, and can be done most efficiently if I do a row of five at at time. That's not working well right now, and I see a couple of photos just received don't fit in either the "Group" or the "Individual" section, so I'm thinking I'll need to add a "Miscellaneous" section. What's the opinion out there as to whether photos should be left on the site indefinitely, or perhaps removed after they've been posted for, say, a month? It occurs to me that anyone who'd like to save the photos can copy them and archive them in his/her own computer.

Received Sept. 16, 2000:

From Pierce Evans  9/16/2000

FYI and, if you are in the path, FYA.

BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES!!!
HERE COMES GORDON.
..

For everyone else, get out your pens and track this one.

From Fred Schutz  9/16/2000

We had 140 at luncheon..Still trying to figure out exact number..Had a large number of last minuet attendees and that screwed up the count..Not sure if the count will ever be exact as have no way of telling who was missing..
We had two major traffic tie-ups in the area...Took me , had Jim Martens and Bob Wilson with me , a hour just to get to the city and than we had to get to the GW bridge..
Russ Gainor came in totally destroyed took him two hrs. just to make bridge...He was fine once he got a drink..Russ looks great.........
Notice no E mail from Tony...he was at luncheon and gather not home yet.
Hope you're getting in some great fishing.  Best regards          Freddie

From Les Burkhardt  9/16/2000

In response to Pierce, Yep it sure looks like Gordon is headed this way.  Will wait for the 5 PM update before deciding what to do.  I figure it takes about 2 hours to put up the storm panels.  Then the only way to go would be to the east coast.  For those who do not know Pine Island is in the window of the projected path of the Storm, and the projected northern path of the window leaves no alternative but to "GO EAST OLD MAN, GO EAST"  We  are already feeling out flow winds and rain.  Maybe back to you later.

Received Sept. 17, 2000:

As I start toddy's comments I can hear the wind howling outside.  The storm shutters are down, and the boat (most importantly) had been tied down.  Thus far about 6 1/2 inches of rain has fallen here in Saint James City.   Hurricane Gordon has passed by and was either 100 or 170 miles off shore, CBS affiliate gave the greater distance.  I took a look out a while ago and cannot see Sanibel (normal view from property) and the fruit trees are taking a beating from the wind.  Reports on the TV say a tornado touched down on the Matlacha area of Pine Island early this morning, it did create damage to about 9 buildings including the Sandy Hook restaurant.  Fred D., and Cliff R, that is just west of the place where we had lunch.  I also did a quick scan of the email messages and found one error in Tony's epistle (see second article below) about me.  I did not retire at the age of 59; that has not taken place yet, but I did leave CBS at the age of 57 (sans buyout).

From Joe Kulin  9/16/200

 Just a comment.  Aside from the canes, limps, hearing aids, and thick glasses, I think the group at the luncheon yesterday was a pretty good looking bunch of GUYS AND GALS.  Best wishes, Joe Kulin

From Tony Cucurullo  9/17/2000

Another wonderful time was had by all, at the CBS Retirees Luncheon. It could have been better if you were there.
Everyone asked about you, but, you know what?. We had a good time with out you. So don't bitch that you weren't invited.  That wonderful lady, Doris Reardon, went about taking her notes, of which I am sure we will read about when the next newsletter goes to print.  The food was very tasty, (I had the chicken Marsala). Some of the people get there early enough to enjoy the 'horse ovaries.  (hors d'oeuvre, for you French aficionado's) and drinks.  Ted Perzeszty, used his new digital Sony Camera to take pictures of most of those in attendance. We hope to see most of them on the WEB site.  The podium ceremonies were performed by Fred Schutz (our genial host, and Maitre'd, and Master of Ceremonies).  He read the names of those who have past on to high planes of evolution (They died). Then he introduced a lady that spoke about the problem we seem to have with 'Medical Insurance'. She explained that there are alternatives,...but....they cost, ...a lot.  When the mood of the assembly was finally down to near depression, then he asked me to come and speak about our WEB Site. I don't think Bob Hope could have gotten a laugh, after that crowd warm-up. Maybe the next time I speak, Fred will have a demonstration of a lethal injection for a serial killer.  I made a few personal observations. Following is the text of what I
said,........    Thank you for letting me speak.
Some of you may not know about the WEB page, that is available to you on your computers.
The CBS Retirees Association, now uses and sponsors it.  I want to take this time though... to thank the people that did the actual design... and implementation ...of the WEB page... its' self.  They are Adrian Ettinger, Les Burkhardt, Bob Zagoren.... These men are the guiding force... behind this project.      I would like to offer some insight to these men and some others.

ADRIAN ETTINGER:
    I never met the man, ....but he is the guiding genius behind the Web page.  He is an engineer in every way....  Just recently he took his entire family to the shore of NJ.... Grandchildren included.  They went each day to enjoy the beach,... and the water, the children played in the sand, with their toys.... But..not Adrian!  He didn't waste his time starring at the... bikini clad beauties. He sat quietly using his laptop computer.. to figure out ..our web site problems.  His wife...knows enough not to bother Adrian, when he is in his engineering mood.
    She should know about these moods,... because after all... he doesn't call her by her name, ...he referees to her as,  DELETE KEY...IF SHE DOESN'T DO WHAT HE ASKS .....WELL YOU FIGURE THE REST OUT.

Then there is...LES BURKHARDT:
    H e tells me that he has planned his life out perfectly.  He worked at different jobs, until he came to CBS. He labored, long and hard in maintenance,... moving into a quasi management position. ....There he stayed, gathering his acorns...and bushels of money, ....and stolen tubes and parts,... until he had enough to retire at the age of 59.
    He moved to Florida, ...on the west coast,... where he has a house, ...and a boat... that he goes fishing in most every day.  As he does with most everything,... he figured.. if the apostles of Christ, .....Peter, Andrew, James, John, and,  Howie Purnick, ...were fishermen, ...and they made it into heaven,...well...he would follow in their footsteps.  Les,..you should realize,.... that just by having worked in CBS all those years, ....you automatically go to heaven, ...because ..you have already been in hell!

BOB ZAGOREN:
This is one smart cookie. ...He is one of the naturally intelligent and gifted people.   He was born so smart, ...he cut his own umbilical cord,....and , ..he slapped the doctor.      He was the first person to tell me to take his name off my mailing list.  It wasn't because my sophomoric material was to simplistic for him.  It was because he is a direct descendant of Zeus, and all GODS ....like everything chiseled in stone.  But, a BIG thanx goes out to Bob for starting the ball rolling and coming up with idea for the WEB site.  Now when I write...I don't just embarrass him.... I now spread my incompetence to everyone.

Then there is the loveable...FRED SCHUTZ:
    The Andy Rooney,...or the curmudgeon of our CBS group.  He likes the idea of the web,... because now he and his wife Agnes... do not have to lick so many stamps and envelopes,.. for the mailings to all of you.  Agnes.. was using that as a wifes-weapon.... When Fred talked to much.....She insisted that he lick another fifty or so envelopes and stamps.....This caused his mouth to stay glued shut.  He has swallowed so much glue, that he is constipated because something else is glued shut.
    Perhaps now... with less glue in his system ,... things will start to flow better... and he can DUMP some of that weight.....

My friend TED PERZESZTY:
    WHAT-A-GUY!....He can do most anything... help anyone... fix anything......Except his name of course...it reads like a broken eye chart.
    He is married to the lovely school teacher, Patricia Welsh. They just celebrated their first wedding anniversary.  TED, is a walking medical miracle,... he has so many electrical devices implanted in his body,... a pace-maker,... a defibrillator, ...an on-and-off vasectomy switch, ...he has more equipment in him...  than the crib has in
the plant.  If he and Patricia want to have sex she has to be degaussed first.

DORIS REARDON:
    Doris is married to a CBS'er. Ed Reardon.... He was an actor, and he sings great. ......They get along wonderfully...except Doris wishes he would just come straight to bed at night..... and not act out the part... of Don Quixote,.... tilting his lance, ...while standing in front of the bathroom mirror.
    And as Doris goes around the room at these luncheons getting her tidbits for the next news letter. She hears lots of personal gossip,...if she ever printed what she hears, ...we would have to hold the next luncheon .....on Payton Place...or in Hugh Hefners kitchen.  She should call her next News letter, "The Valley of the Dolls and Dopes"

ME:
    I now want to take a moment to thank all of you for making my summer in my new home, most enjoyable.
    I am pleased when you write or answer some query that is posed to you..... I wish that more of you would send some dialogue or make some comment about what is posted.
    I am sure you all have some memories about CBS... and all it's glories.  The wives,... that are here, .....let me appeal to all of you.  Please...write and tell some story...or background... about this guy of yours... or gal,... as the case may be.
    I started writing these little bios,.. because I read about one of our own that passed on.
The e-mail notes we get are sad to read... but it is too short of the mark.  There is so much more to know about each of you, and it makes for interesting reading,... so why not do it now, ..while we are alive ..and can enjoy...these little vignettes... in our lives

    For instance, I never thought that Big Bob Dailey, would ever write to me.
 I mean Bob is one of the GODS of the television world.   I can recall doing an occasional golf remote with Robert.
    One time after the match,.... the crew was in the phase of breaking down the remote.
Bob was sitting in his personal golf cart, parked under a huge Oak tree, on a slight hill. ....And looking down at us from Mt. Olympus.      I went up to him, with head bowed to the waist of course.  I asked him what he thought of my performance during this event...........And would he consider using me again?.......He was most gracious of course,..and, said to me .."Tony.....(it was nice to hear him use my first name)... you did fine,...BUT..I'm only allowed just so many Italians for each remote, ..and right now I'm on  MAFIA overload, with D'ONFRIO, AND ROMEO QUARANTA."      So I kissed his ring, and slinked away.

Let me tell you a little about my self. I am married to a Sicilian-Scots-Irish woman for the last 49 years.  I can't do anything without her.
    I call her Moses, because she leads me everywhere. Yup, even to the bathroom.
 I feel Old Age sucks..... I don't remember the little things like, is it the zipper that gets pulled down,.... and the toilet seat is up, ....do I put a spoon full of food in my mouth ...and another on my shirt.
    I dribble, I leak,... I need a gas meter installed in my stomach.
    I sit at the computer all day, and I call TED every time I hit a wrong key....  "Ted-how do you spell cat,"..... "use spell check"..... he answers...then he yells, "read the book."
Thank GOD for spell check, without it I couldn't write my name.
    I told TED that I don't understand Les, and Adrian, they are too technical for me to understand.  He tells me to forward the message they wrote to me ...to send it to
him,...I do.. then he replies..."don't worry that's not technical, ...it was only  today's date..You might think I'm kidding,.... I'm on an intellectual level with Howie Purnick....I interpret for his wife Vida.
    When Howie talks to her about CBS... she thinks he is reading from the Torah.
Actually all he is doing is still... trying... to figure the overtime sheets from Telecine.

Lots of people have asked about Gayle DePoli Gayle Depoli, is a sweetheart. A former technician.   She is in Australia at this moment doing some business for her own
company..... The name of the company is  'Pink Slip Productions'
    I asked her to change the name of her company, because just the thought of a pink slip... makes me horny...
. And that's a  no-no with Paula. ...If that happens, too often, she takes away my milk and cookies.
    Well I hope I have been able to provide a laugh or two, perhaps one of the stories... revived a pleasant memory.  Or it brought to mind the greater good that CBS provided to all of us.  Not all the times were decent,... as in all families there were times of sadness,.....in some cases despair.   But, if one kept an open mind about things, then the over-all effect was one of harmony and acceptance.      Now in the Golden times of our lives it is important to remember each other,... and care about each other. Because some of our comrades...and coworkers,.... are carrying a cross that is almost to hard to bear,...they need our prayers..good thoughts...or just plain best wishes for their recovery.
    Keep in touch, ....read and enjoy the Doris Reardon newsletter,....supply her with the information that makes her original newsletter, ....so poignant, and informative.
 The web page really only supplements with the past glories of our CBS times together.
    Forgive... and forget the past differences.   Live for today, stay healthy, and enjoy tomorrow.
GOD BLESS

From Pati Berridge        9/17/2000

Hi Tony!  First of all it was nice meeting you at the luncheon and know what you look like when I drop an e-mail.  Bill would write but he is better at walking.  He still goes to Jones Beach everyday, all year, and walks 5 miles.  Except Sundays.  He is there from 8am to 11am.  He would love bumping into some of you there.  Here's a little story I thought you might get a kick out of.  Years ago a group of CBS guys played poker once a week, taking turns at each others house.  This week it was at our house.  Walter Pile, Charlie Giriat, John McManus, Sid Kaufman, Bill and dear (?) sweet (?) Al Bressan.  I know you are laughing from whereever you are dear Al.  Anyway, it was my job to have the snacks ready and the beer cold, then disappear.  Walter had a new Ford Thunderbird and offered me to use it that night.  I couldn't wait to take my friend for a ride but I was too scared so I just parked it in her driveway til it was time to go home.  When I got home some of the guys had left already.  Then I noticed that my birdcage and beautiful Cockateel was missing.  After sceaming "Where's my bird?" sixteen times,  Walter finally told me that Bill lost it in the poker game to Al Bressan.  HE WHAT?  I spent months teaching that bird to talk.  I figured he would return it when Bill came up with the lousy $15 he was short.  Not on your life!  He rubbed it into me everytime I saw him. " His daughter loved the bird, it was part of the family and it talked a blue streak."  I didn't talk to Bill for months.  I can still see my bird in Al's house.   I have many funny stories to tell if you are interested.  Don't forget to take a  ride to Jones Beach.   Keep writing,   Pati & Bill (Red)

From Art Murphey  9/17/2000

Hi,when I can't sleep I reread your massive missel.  Old age beats the alternative. The last lunch memo said I had 12 children instead of grandchildren.  We had 5 children until we found out what caused it.  Retirement is great, we visit kids in Fla. Texas Maryland & Pa.   One son teaches in Oceanside. L.I. I was in Navy 43 to 45 radioman on destroyer-escort iin  atlanand Med sea.  48 to 51 RCA Svc. Co  CBS 51 to 88.  I hit the jackpot with a wonderful wife.  Many warm memories of you,Tony, and so manyu others.  Pax Vobiscum  Arthur Patrick Murphy Esq.

From Adrian Ettlinger   9/17/2000

Hi Tony,

Enjoyed reading your roast.  Almost a substitute for having been there.
.    So, too bad we still haven't met.  Hope an opportunity comes up before too long.
Best regards,  ------------Adrian

From Bob Dailey  9/17/2000

TONY..YOUR DESCRIPTION OF ME ON A GOLF REMOTE WAS HYSTERICAL! MY WIFE HAS NOT STOPPED LAUGHING..YOU MISSED YOUR CALLING YOU WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT COMEDY WRITER.        STAY WELL  BOB

From  Joe Janovsky   9/17/2000

Hi Tony,
Please post this message on the web:  Seeking information on the following:  Bobby Chin, John Halpin, Milt Waller, A.C. Rogers, Morris Tucker, Emil Lamendola.   Anybody out there have any info?    73, Joe J.

From George Gray  9/17/2000

AMEN!

From Mike Singer  9/17/2000

dear everyone. on behalf of charlie carlucci and myself, mike singer, it was wonderful seeing you all again. it brought back fond memories of all the guys and we plan
on coming to the next one.  all be well and take care of yourselves.  love from mike singer and charlie carlucci

Note: Mike that key marked SHIFT will allow you to use upper case letters!

Thank you for your responses,
Tony C

Received Sept. 18, 2000:

From Joe Strano    9/17/2000

Thanks for your newsletter about the luncheon.  It was almost like being there.  I had some good laughs from your discussion of  your " podium comments ".  I check the CBS website at least once a week and I hope Ted's pictures will show up there, eventually.     Best wishes,  Joe

From Ted Perzeszty  9/17/2000

Les,
   In group photo #44, that is Gene Pasculli on the left, not Jerry Liccione.

From Tony Cucurullo  9/18/2000

Dear Web fingered master.
Photo # 58 is Mike Kaufman, formally of video tape. Les, I also included a little bio with each photo. I guess that got lost?  Another item, I sent a photo of Howie Purnick, for the mystery guest. I thoguht we would get some laughs from that one. Are you intending to show it? Tony

Note: I apologize all over the place to the Kaufmans.  (Senior Moment) As of this moment I am getting ready to send in the corrections to both photos 39 (wrong identification of Manny Kaufman); btw no my error. Photo 58 which is MIKE KAUFMAN and not Manny Kaufman.  ALL BIOS have been posted.  I have also decided to discontinue the sketches, due to a seemingly lack of interest.

From Norm Levine  9/18/2000

Tony, You can check with Teds still pictures----I  WAS  AT  THE SEPT 13 LUNCHEON!!!  As a matter of fact, I was sitting at the table with Doris & Ed Reardon, John Wells, and Walter Freedman. Sorry , but perhaps my name didn't make it to the list. Yes it was a good afternoon, especially for us as Ed Reardon was recounting many Ed Sullivan stories.     Cheers to you.    Norm Levine    I BELIEVE...I BELIEVE YOU... TONY

Received Sept. 21, 2000:

From Fred Schutz  9/21/2000

Bill Murtough will be attending a "Friends Of Old Time Radio" (FOTR) convention on Oct.19-22  It  will be held at the Holiday Inn (N), near Newark airport.
-------Bill will be making a presentation on Thursday afternoon Oct.19.--------
Those wishing to attend, and obtain tickets,  may contact Jay Hickerson  At 203-248-2887....or jayhick@aol.com

Received Sept. 24, 2000:

From Bob Vernum    9/23/2000

I noticed the photo of "Big Al" Loretto in the photo gallery, it brought back a very fond memory.  I was a high school freshman at Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx, NY in 1945-1949.  One day I noticed this particularly tall guy wearing a senior hat. We had quite a few of returning veterans on the GI bill I never forgot that vision, later on in my career at CBS, I came upon Al and asked if it was him that I remembered he agreed it was.  We also had some famous class mates--Anna Maria Italiano (Ann Brancroft) and Christine Jorgensen--first known American transvestite!  Just thought this tidbit might be interesting  BOB >>

Note: Quite interesting, but were you really a freshman for a period of four years.

From Gayle DePoli 9/19/2000

 Well it is day number 4 of Olympic competition and this venue has finally settled into a slower pace.  I am enjoying it for now because having managed the same venue in Atlanta, I know that my last four days of Boxing Competition will be non-stop medal bouts.  Live will be hell with all the foreign media.  As a matter of fact, we have what was predicted to be a Gold medal fight in only the second round.  Due to the luck of the draw, the American Michael Bennett will be fighting Cuba's Savon.  This building will be rockin'.  Boxing.  The one sport where good will fight evil one on one in four, two minute rounds. 
 
 One of the greatest (and hardest to manage) are the reporters and crews from Thailand.  In Atlanta, their country's first Gold medal was won in the Boxing Ring.  Their team are national icons.  Needless to say there are so many ENG crews here from Bankok and this venue is in Sydney's Chinatown.  So the Asia's are supporting these boys.  NBC is doing a color peice on this Thai phenominum.  I just think it is great.  It means a lot more work for us, but these kids are heros in their homeland.  They get daily greetings from the King and Queen of Thailand with flowers and such. 
 
 Now that I had a moment to really catch up on my e-mail and go through the website I am saddened to hear of Emil Husni passing away.  What a great man he was.  I would not have survived in this business if it weren't for the lessons I learned from many of the "Old Guard".  But the one thing that I will always carry with me that I learned from Emil was to treat people fairly.  He was one of the best and I know he is in a better place.  That is sure one great Network in the sky!!!
 
 Thought you would get a kick out of the surprise birthday cake that I got from the Boxing Venue in Sydney.  Sure one helluva way to celebrate the big 50!!!!!
 
 Ciao for now.[Unable to display image]   >>

From Sig Meyers  9/20/2000

I was much saddened to learn of the passing of Emil Husni last week.   Right after I transferred into Studio Show Crews from the film  department, I was assigned to do camera on the Merv Griffin show that  came out of the Cort Theater.  Lynn Brantley had broken his leg and I  took his place on the crew.  Vernon Gamble was the TD.  Billy Taylor was our audio man until he was replaced by newly hired Bob Seiderman.  The  other cameramen on the show were Mike English, Emile, and Cass Gaylord.
 Jerry Sullivan did the cooking.  It was a great crew and Emile was  really liked by Merv.  I can still see  Emile picking Merv up and  dancing around the stage holding him in a bear hug.  Emile was a decent  human being and a good friend and mentor.  I had the pleasure of working  for him many times after he became a TD and he was always fair and  decent.  Even though I have had no contact with him for many years, I  feel a great loss.

From Gayle DePoli   9/24/2000

Double-click picture(s) to display in picture editor  the British 8 man rowing team was entering the IBC as I was leaving.  They didn't mind taking the picture at all.  [Unable to display image]   >>

From Herman Long  9/24/2000

Hi Tony: I have not heard from you for a long time. Are you alright?  Are you healthy?
No more funny things? I was in a hospita myself for 4 weeks. Broke a leg (Femur) Very complicated. No have an iron rod imbedded. Let me hear from you.  Herman

Received Sept. 26, 2000:

From Ted Perzeszty   9/26/2000

Tony,
    I just received this from Les.  Incidentally, I mailed a CD to him at the same I mailed yours, and he's twice the distance.  I think I'll go postal!!!

Regards,
Teddy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello Ted,

Just received the photo disk  and am wondering, who are all of those old  people?  Did a quick thumbnail view of the photos and will start filing them with Adrian, probably tomorrow.

Thanks again for the photos and I am sure that others who have access to the net site will enjoy them also.   I sure appreciate what you have done and I hope the others out there will openly state the same.   I don't know what we have to do to get others to submit photos or information to post on the site.  But like all organizations that I have contact with, the organization is kept together by just a small percentage of the membership.

Fraternally....................Les Burkhardt

From Les Burkhardt    9/26, 2000

Belated Happy Birthday to Betsy Duenas (Sept. 25th) and I think that Karl Green is a Happy Birthday on Sept. 27th (65 yrs young)

Received Sept. 27, 2000:

From Tony Cucurullo  9/27/2000

I met a man in a Hackensack, NJ,  Bowling Alley, he was the owner, last name of Esposito. We were doing a remote there. Tom Duffy was the Audio man.  In conversation with this person he mentioned that he served with Gen. Patton during WW II. I mentioned Herman Langs' name. He knew of Herman and he had the highest praise for him.  (READ FOLLOWING ESSAY FROM HERMAN)  

Herman, was mostly a sports cameraman for CBS. Usually he was mounted up high in a crane overlooking the golf course.  He is one of the finest gentlemen anyone could know. He is a voracious reader of all books, mostly history.  Always perusing the local book stores, where ever we might be. He and I always talked about someday having our own book store, and not letting anyone in to buy anything. We loved the books so much.  Herman, certainly belongs up there with the many CBS people that served this country. His story is a little unique though.  I wish him good health, and that he recover from his leg injury. Then he can get back to reading and tending to his BEES. That's right he is also a beekeeper.
I tell you folks, the variety of talent that exist in our CBS family never ceases to amaze me.  Tony

From:   Lnamreh (Herman Lang)
To: Tonycucu

HI TONY: Yes, the things you heard about me are to true, some facts need a little explanation. Towards the end of the war, I was attached to Pattons HQ and became his personal "gofer". When he had to confer with Germans or wanted to talk with German Generals about strategy, history etc. I had to be his translator. When he wanted a souvenir, or new riding boots, or a leather collar for damn dog: I had to get it! Whether by force, bribing with coffee or cigarettes, he never wanted to know. He was the greatest. I was his house guest several times, got drunk like the others and caught hell the next morning for being late.

In Nuremberg I was working as research analyst for Judge Jackson (of the US Supreme Court) also interrogated the 22 defendants including Goering etc.  Later on as the trials ended I became Deputy Director of the Special Projects Division, which meant that I gathered thousands of documents, and arranged the extraditions of the many other Nazi prisoners who were held as witnesses, to other Allied countries because they wanted to have their own trials. Like France, Russia, Polond. Also all other Nazis had to be turned over to German Government for clearance or trial. I just happen to have one living relative in Germany and he became Chief Justice and Minister of Bavaria and took most of them off my hands and we really helped ourselves. Ha, ha. Take it easy. My leg is getting better. I still have to use a cane and walk like a drunken sailor.   Herman

Note: How much of this is documented elsewhere?  This is another reason that people should write their stories here or contact a historian.  Things like this should be shared with the world.

From Jesse Michnick   9/27/2000

Dear Tony,

It's great to read about the memories you and the rest of the gallery have about CBS.  Not everyone would tell these stories and share the nostalgia.  But there were always a few who, after mentioning a name or show, would enjoy reminiscing.  John Lincoln and Bob Daily to name a few.

The days of technicians wearing suits that could hold a crease for ten hours can no longer be found walking the long corridors of the broadcast center.  Many of the people who hand out the latest orders did not come up through the mailroom.  And many are people that are off to the next network position for five dollars more a day.

I do however, still feel the inspiration of those suits still walking the hallways.  The resourcefulness to work through a problem under deadlines and pressure.  The camaraderie after an impossible was made possible.

I've noticed that the remote telecasts have also changed in their attitude to the network technician.  The parking spaces are further away and the tickets that once were handed out are just about gone or available at face value.  Where is Wilbur Almire when you need him?

We do train many new faces.  I had the pleasure of introducing a gentleman from the Prayer Channel to the world of instant replay.  His only experience in broadcasting was popping tapes into a 3/4 inch machine.  After working two weeks for CBS at the US Open, he was ready to seek a better job in  cable television. By the way, he only genuflected once after the director yelled "take it back."
 
Please send my regards to the many "suits" that I've had the pleasure of working with.  And thanks for the memories.
 
Jesse Michnick    video tape dept.

Received Sept. 28, 2000:

From Tony Cucurullo  9/28/2000

09/28/2000 5:29 AM
    I entered the date and time, almost as a heading to a cornucopia of thoughts. I, as most of you don't sleep very well. I'd like too. I use to as a boy sleep until my mother would pull the covers off me to get up and out of bed, so that I could make the 12:15 mass at St. Stephens. Now I toss, and turn like a top most of the night trying to get a comfortable position with out some ache or mystery pain.  Then too, my mind wanders over my life span picking out thoughts here and there from my boy-hood to now, "the home-stretch of my life."  Last night, I went to bed with, disturbed because of the news about the child of Al DeQunizio. It is too close to the news from Ray Chiste, about his child. I can not think of a more sad event in life than to lose a child, no matter what the age. It has happened before to someone in our CBS family, and it hurts. There aren't any words that salve the pain, emptiness, breathless feelings that tear at the heart of the family and loved ones.
    At our age, it seems that the psyche prepares seniors such as we, for the eventuality that we must endure through the continuing collection of sad news events that clutter the mind and disturb the soul.
    But, for some the burden is really a test......Joe Kullin, after the last luncheon (Sept. 13th) observed amusingly of course, that there were more canes, crutches, and infirm guest  there. That was, true, but it should also have been noted that it was a tribute to the courage of those that bore their burdens to attend.
    Johnny Mac, Bonnie Triesner, are examples of profiles in courage. Then there is of course, Doris Reardon. How could you not love this woman? I think at the next luncheon, it would be nice if instead of Doris wandering through the crowd (which she loves to do) perhaps we could sachet' over to her table and feed her those delicious tidbits for her newsletter. How she could smile, so prettily, through all the pain she is enduring is a penance from her to GOD. GI's, have heard the expression, "suck it up, and move on". I would walk into battle with Doris.
    My grapevine tells me Ted, who was supposed to go through a Hernia operation, now must follow up on a test of his lungs. I hope, as he also feels, that the shadow could be a wire that runs from his defibrillator to his heart and may be the cause of concern.  Ted Prezeszty, is a friend to mankind. I don't think he has ever said, "NO"
to any request asked of him. Ted, anticipates most problems, and heads them off. I joked about Ted at the last luncheon, about all his medical devices implanted in his body. That is all true. But, he is the first one to laugh at  all his travails.  When Pat Welsh, an Irish school teacher married Ted a year ago, she didn't know that Ted is joined at the hip on both sides with Chico Claudio, and Betty Claudio. "If you get one you gits all three "  Ted was an Audio Maintenance supervisor, along with Gene Pasculli. What a twosome, they made. I'm not one to call anyone cheap, but these two would go to the little Spanish restaurant on the corner of 57th and 10th Avenue, and order one bowl of soup with two straws, and split the roll and butter between them. ( I can hear Al Consiglio laughing now, another big time spender).  Well Teddy, you better call tonight, with only good news. I know Ted doesn't pray as he used to as an altar boy. He likes to think of himself as a scientist, so Paula, (my wife) and I will do it for him. But a good man such as he is to everyone, is automatically covered by GOD, with love.  "Well it's time for breakfast, I'll go wake up Godzilla. Hey, she's my Godzilla, and I love her."  Tony   09/28/2000 6:41 AM

From Cal Marotta  9/28/2000

It was in the 50`s. I was just transferred to one of the hottest crews at the time.  We did shows like Armstrong Circle Theatre,Lux Video Theatre and Suspense, all the directors on those shows went to Hollywood and became famous. Bob Mulligan got an Oscar for "To kill a mockingbird" Anyway, One week when doing Suspense, George King was camera #1, John Lincoln #2 and Jay Saffron #3. Emile Husni and I used to take turns pushing Lincoln on the short tongue Fearless.  Herb Donley was the other boom op.  At that time we had a ute assigned to us who was a little weird. He played the trumpet every chance he got, which was on every five. We threatened him all the time but it did no good.  When anybody said anything to him you had the feeling that he wasn't listening.  It was my turn to push John and we had a very fast move from one end of the studio to the other which was set as a warehouse in Transalvania.  His instructions were to take care of the camera cable and keep it out of my
way when I made the move.  The time came and I moved. He wouldn't let go of his trumpet so he reached down and flicked the cable with one hand which was between my legs.  I involuntary jumped over the steering bar and landed on the short tongue. John tried to stop the dolly which was still moving and sprained his wrist. Georges camera decided to die at that point and Jay Saffron (with the cover shot) was dollying in on a map that was supposed to be Transalvania but in reality was a map of Pennsylvania and you could see the turnpike, so my wife tells me.  She also told me she could hear Herb laughing . I don't know what happened to that Ute, we never saw him again.

From Tony Cucurullo  9/28/2000

What are the chances for the WEB page to have voice mail. Maybe even have some old tape played back?  Get Adrian, 'The Genius' to figure it out.  I know Pierce Evans has music on his personal page.  It would be nice to hear the voices of people that maybe gone to us, some time.  What do you think of this IDEA?  Tony

Do any of y' all have a comment regarding this?  I will take the liberty and reserve my comment.
***From Adrian -- Sorry, guys, but if I'm the one who'd have to do it, I don't think very much of the idea. I'll inquire about what it would take on the site. But the situation probably will be that the most critical problem will be someone has to own the hardware to take the sound and convert it into a digital file. If we have a volunteer out there who knows how to do that, and all it takes is for me to upload the files, I could do that. But I would need to find out if we also need some new feature built into the site that would have to ba paid for.

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