David Carroll is putting together a photo history book of Chattanooga’s radio and television stations and personalities, and he’s looking for your help.
Carroll said Tuesday he has about “95 percent of what I need,” but he wants to reach out to the community “just in case there are hidden treasures in someone’s collection.”
The book will focus on local radio and TV from the early days through the 1980s, with a few current photos of longtime personalities.
“Most of what I’m using are old black-and-white photographs that are sure to stir up some good memories,” he said. “We’ve had some great talent pass through Chattanooga over the years, and of course I’m doing an entire chapter on Luther Masingill.”
Carroll said he’s collecting audio and video tapes from local radio and TV from decades ago, hoping to establish an exhibit for the Chattanooga History Center.
He said he’s had great luck and help from the three major TV stations and their fairly well-organized archives.
Chattanooga has served as a training ground for people who went on to careers outside of this area, and it has a fair number of people, like Carroll and Masingill, who have been in local media for a long time. George Gobel, Archie Campbell and Jim Nabors all lived and worked here home for a spell.
If you have any old Chattanooga radio/TV photos and tapes, and would like to see them published and preserved, contact David Carroll at 3dc@comcast.net, or 267-5412, ext. 122. He hopes to have the book ready for publication this summer and available for purchase in the fall.
* WUTC-FM 88.1 reports that its recent donor campaign generated more than $140,000 in new funding pledges, according to a news release.
“These are not the best of economic times for people,” said Robin Higgins, WUTC membership coordinator. “Yet they continue to find the money to make a contribution to keep quality public radio alive for the area.”
WUTC is operated by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is home to National Public Radio programming.
* Chattanoogan Market, entering its third week on Sunday, is off to a great start. Owner Chris Thomas said sales already are at 10 percent of last year’s totals despite last weekend’s bad weather. The good start is surprising since it is early in the season for a lot of produce.
E-mail Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com.