PLEASE HELP!

I want to major in television, but it is very hard finding a school that offres that major. NYU is the only school I have found. Is the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences a rela school, or is it just another name for the Emmy awards?

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is to television what AMPAS is to motion pictures. Mainly an industry advocacy group. And yes, they host the Emmy awards.

I work in television engineering, repairing electronic equipment. It has its good and bad moments, but I've been doing it for over 20 years and now wouldn't know what other type of work I could do! When I started there were no schools for learning television per se. I learned electronics, went into radio (my first love) and through hard work, some skill and luck my career sort of morphed into television.

Working in TV has given me some opportunities to meet celebs that I otherwise probably would never get to meet. I've met Dick Van Dyke, but no other cast members (so far). I hope to meet Mary some day. However, contrary to what Sally said, television isn't all tinsel and glamour. There's a lot of hard work (at least for the technical side there is) and long hours involved at times. Last week I worked the Reagan funeral. I was at the library all day Sunday and Monday, then spent long days Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at the Point Mugu air base to televise his flights to and from Washington. Other people I know worked even longer hours covering the funeral than I did. I got some cool pictures of Air Force One, though!

Whatever you want to do in television, there's plenty of opportunity for you if you're willing to work hard and take some crap jobs at the beginning of your career. You already have an advantage - a love of television. Enjoying your work will make your job easier and more fun, and will help you to go far in the industry. Here's wishing you good luck and great success!

And when you become a big time TV mogul, don't forget us little people who you posted with when it all started :D

Larry, thank you so much for the work you did on the Reagan funeral. I watched every minute of it. We took our kids downtown (Washington, DC) on Wednesday to see the procession from the White House to the Capitol on Constitution Ave. It was an experience I will never forget and I am so grateful that my children were able to experience this bit of history. We don't very often think of you technicians behind the scenes who make television possible, but believe me, we appreciate the work you do.

Lolac

patriot:

Thank you for your kind words, Lolac.

Were you in a position to get a good look at procession going by? I saw some of the Washington DC footage on satellite and it looked awfully crowded!

For me Friday night at the end was the saddest when Mrs. Reagan was clutching the coffin and didn't want to leave her husband's side for the last time. It practically brought me to tears. But of course, being a man I can't cry (except if I've been awake for 100 hours and hear about a cat stuck in a tree).

Originally posted by Larry Surrell
Thank you for your kind words, Lolac.

Were you in a position to get a good look at procession going by? I saw some of the Washington DC footage on satellite and it looked awfully crowded!

For me Friday night at the end was the saddest when Mrs. Reagan was clutching the coffin and didn't want to leave her husband's side for the last time. It practically brought me to tears. But of course, being a man I can't cry (except if I've been awake for 100 hours and hear about a cat stuck in a tree).

We were about 8 deep at the corner of 3rd st. and Constitution near the Capitol, so we could see but there were alot of people in front of us. We were right under the fly-over of the jets, which was absolutely amazing. Yes, it broke my heart when Nancy couldn't leave the casket. I sobbed my heart out. It was such a moment of pure, honest grief. I thought it was a beautiful funeral, very uplifting and something the nation needed at this time. I'm sure it will always be a special memory for you.

Lolac

patriot:

Larry thanks so much for sharing...what an amazing opportunity to be a part of the Reagan funeral.
It sounds like you have a really cool job and love it too. I used to live in LA and we went to TV tapings for school fundraisers a lot (as most high school/college students in LA do) and I saw all these people working behind the scenes and always wanted to be involved somehow in the TV industry. So I am about to start a program in TV production at a local college. I'm so excited but also terrified that the technical part will be really difficult. One of my first classes is "the history of radio and television" I'm so excited about that one!! :D
You are so lucky to have had the chance to meet Dick...:happyface One of my friends from Cali met him when she was working at the opening of Disneyland's Californa Adventure. I have seen Mary in person but I didn't meet her or talk to her. Still, it was pretty cool :D

I forgot that in the mid 80s while visiting my sister in Carlisle, PA, Morey Amsterdam and Dorothy Lamore appeared at the opening of a supermarket in the area. Well I just had to go see them. I didn't get to meet him personally, but I saw Morey do his act in person. That was a great experience too!

vanilla_waif, this is an exciting time to work in television. With the advent of the digital age, things technically are changing at a rapid pace. I've had to learn a whole new set of skills to be able to maintain the new equipment that's being used. Rather than an electronics engineer, I am slowly turning into a computer geek :lol: Everything is becoming computerized today. In addition to knowing how to repair cameras, tape machines and the rest of the studio equipment I now have to know all about maintaninig computers and their networks too. It's just a matter of time before video tape isn't used at all anymore!

Don't be too intimidated by the equipment you'll be learning about. It's not that hard to use! I wish you good luck and a great career in television :wave:

I saw Morey Amsterdam at a night club in St. Louis in 1971. He sang 'Yuck-a'Puck.'

As Buddy said, next to America the Beautiful, Yuck-a-Puck happens to be one of the most beloved songs in this country!

I don't think I've ever heard the actual song. Is is any good? Is it a comedy song or something serious? From the name it sounds like it's supposed to be a funny song, but the title isn't always an indication.

I'm going to try to find a copy of Yuck-a-Puck somewhere so I can hear what it's like!

I don't remember much about it, but it was a comedy song.

Larry, this is so strange...

I actually THOUGHT of you the day of Reagan's funeral. That morning I drove from NoHo up to Pismo Beach, and driving through Thousand Oaks on the 101 I thought "I wonder where Larry Surrell is!!"

The only thing I really remember is the Civic Arts Plaza...

Hey Hank 18,

That's pretty wild! I live about 5 miles West of the Civic Arts Plaza. How was Pismo Beach? Overcast and cold I presume.