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KG UN-TV Continued from Page El As a former child performer and later producer and star of an based kids' show called "Nosey the Clown," his credentials were impeccable. "The sales crew wanted a vehicle to sell Saturday nights," says Jacobson. "Because of my background, 1 I came up with Dr. Scar. It had a big cult following." Costuming and a slathering of makeup helped keep him incognito. "We never told anybody who I was," says Jacobson. Jack Parris, who came to KGUN in 1978 as station and program manager, says: "We had a lot more freedom to improvise. ABC only had two or three hours of programming, and that was at night, so we had to fill it up with local programming." In between the shows, advertisers sold everything from cars to lamps right in the studio. "We built a little dressing room for Lee Levitz with a star on it," says Blake. "She would come in, change outfits, cut 30 commercials." As for the station's news department, it was pretty much a one-man operation - name of Mac Marshall - throughout the early 1960s. Standing behind a lectern, Marshall served up the news. He also handled sports, weather and photos, often rushing out to cover the latest flood, fire or auto wreck with his trusty Polaroid camera. "I put the photos on a story board, and they would aim the camera on it," says Marshall, who also pitched commercials. "I remember one time approaching one of the managers and saying, 'Look, let's buy this sound-on-film camera.' They said, 'No, it's not in the news budget.' I asked, 'What is the budget?' They said, 'Your salary.'" At the time, Marshall was making $125 a week. In March of '66, Pat Stevens became a news writer for Marshall. "Mac taught me how to use a camera, and off I went," she wrote in an e-mail. Over the next 10 years, Stevens would be writer, reporter, camera person and onair talent. In 1972, she was named news director for KGUN. "Shortly after I took over the department, I was invited to a conference of ABC affiliate news directors in Chicago," she wrote. "When I showed up, I was the only woman in the room." Technology eventually came knocking as well, first with 16- millimeter film, then with videotape. "We got our first microwave truck in the early '80s," Parris remembers. "But our first live remote was in front of a door we couldn't get in," says Blake. "So we showed the door and said, 'Behind this door ...' Over the years, the station went through a succession of owners, as well as a move in 1990 to a 28,000-square-foot facility at East Speedway and North Kolb Road. KGUN's news department of one has now swelled to about 15 in news production, says Blake, along with another 40 to 45 reporters, editors and photographers. Like other news outlets, KGUN is feeling the hot breath of competition these days. "It's an MTV world," says Blake. "We've gone to shorter, faster presentations, added graphic elements. We look snazzier." So 50 years from now, will there be a 100th anniversary? Could be, says Blake. "I think there's always a place for the local news." D Reach columnist Bonnie Henry at 434-4074 or at bhenry@azstarnet.com, or write 3295 W. Ina Road, Suite 125, Tucson, AZ 85741. Bonnie's book Reprints of Bonnie Henry's 1992 book, "Another Tucson," are available for $29.95 from cafepress.com/azstarnet or 1-877-809-1659. The product number is 13596486.

Arizona Daily Star

KGUN-TV

KGUN-TV

Arizona Daily Star