Charles Herring collection of news broadcast films and other material,

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1 Charles Herring collection of news broadcast films and other material, Overview of the Collection Creator Herring, Charles H., Title Charles Herring collection of news broadcast films and other material Dates (inclusive) Quantity 77 film reels, 3 video recordings and 16 sound recordings, (8 boxes, 6 cubic feet) Collection Number (collection) Summary Films, videos and sound recordings of news broadcasts by former KING-TV anchor Charles Herring. Repository Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library Sophie Frye Bass Library Museum of History & Industry P.O. Box Seattle, WA Telephone: Fax: library@mohai.org Access Restrictions The collection is open to the public by appointment. Languages English. Biographical Note Charles Herring was born on August 18, 1922 and raised on a farm outside of Walla Walla, Washington. Herring attended Washington State University briefly, and graduated from Whitman College in 1941 with a degree in English. While at Whitman, Herring worked for a radio station in Walla Walla, then he served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific theater during World War II. On his return to Seattle, Herring took a newscasting job at the radio station KJR for two years, before becoming the first news director and anchor at KING-TV Channel 5 in With his first newscast on the two-year-old KING-TV, on September 10, 1951, Charles Herring became Seattle s first live television news broadcaster. Herring worked for KING-TV for 16 years, covering stories in Washington State, Alaska and abroad in Europe and Asia. Herring covered memorable Northwest moments such as the historic test flight of the Boeing 707 prototype in July 1954, the riot at the Walla Walla state penitentiary in 1955, and Burt Thomas s swim across the Strait of Juan de Fuca in July Initially, the entire news department consisted of Herring and a cameraman, and the first newsroom was jury-rigged in an old grocery store on Queen Anne Hill. The crew would create, rehearse and edit the show in the newsroom then drive to the South Lake Union studio, sometimes arriving minutes before the airtime of the nightly 15-minute newscasts. 1

2 Herring s broadcasts also marked technological milestones in the fledgling television industry. His Washington, D.C. coverage of the McClellan Committee hearing into the affairs of controversial teamster's president Dave Beck marked the first time Seattleites saw news televised live cross country; TV signals were sent live across the Atlantic for the first time with the coverage of the 1962 Seattle World s Fair, beamed to Europe aboard the satellite Telstar. Herring left KING-TV in 1967, and with his wife, Mary Bemus, purchased KAPY-AM in Port Angeles; the couple ran the radio station until He then worked for Boeing as a video producer until retiring in Charles Herring died in Seattle on January 23, Content Description The collection consists of 16 mm films, videotapes, audiotapes, and radio transcription discs from the news broadcasting career of Charles Herring, , primarily for Channel 5 KING-TV in Seattle. The first series consists of a compilation of the highlights of Charles Herring's career from 1951 through 1967, featuring nine segments. Two series include films related to the Overseas Report and Washington Reporter broadcasts, with footage from various Washington State locations as well as locations in Europe. These include coverage of the 1965 Seattle earthquake and reports from various Washington cities such as Forks, Lynden, Richland and Quincy. Other films include footage of an interview with teamster's president Dave Beck, commercials for Alka-Seltzer voiced by Herring, and films from Alaska. Sound recordings including audiotapes of some of Herring's television broadcasts as well as recordings of other events, such as National Public Broadcasting roasts and the farewell speech of Washington Secretary of State Victor Meyers. Three radio transcription discs provide samples of Herring's work at radio station KJR in Seattle, prior to his becoming a television broadcaster. Use of the Collection Restrictions on Use The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners. Preferred Citation Charles Herring Collection of News Broadcast Films and Other Material, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle Administrative Information Arrangement 2

3 The films were arranged into series based on inscriptions on film cans and reels; possibly some of the miscellaneous films belong within named series, but were not labeled as such. Arranged in 7 series: "Herring Highlights" The Overseas Report The Washington State Reporter King-TV News Miscellaneous films Sound recordings Other material Location of Collection 3a.3.5 Location of Collection 3a Location of Collection 5a.4.5 (radio transcription discs) Preservation Note Due to the lack of viewing equipment at the repository, access to films limited to items for which a viewing copy on VHS exists. Duplication from film to VHS on demand is also possible. Acquisition Information Gift of Charlie Herring, Charles Herring's son, April 13, 2006 Processing Note Processed by Melinda Snarr, 2006 Preservation work was performed on ten of the 16 mm films as part of the Washington Film Preservation Project at the University of Washington between 2006 and Specific films on which preservation was performed are noted in the inventory. As part of the preservation work, each film was inspected, cleaned, cored and canned. The original information was recorded from the reel/can and leader and the original leader was replaced. Related Materials The Seattle Public Library Moving Image Collection at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library includes 16mm films of Herring broadcasts of The Washington State Reporter. Detailed Description of the Collection 3

4 The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection. "Herring Highlights", Compilation of highlights of Charles Herring's news broadcasting career, featuring 9 segments: Overseas Report, 1951 Washington State Reporter, 1952 "Fairbanks Gold Mining," 1953 "Alka-Seltzer News," 1957 "Beck Award Presentation," 1957 "Jenny's Birth," 1960 "CHH 39th Birthday," 1961 "Seattle Earthquake," 1965 "CHH Swan Song," 1967 Container(s) Description Dates Box a: Viewing copy 1 videocassette (VHS)(1 hour 50 minutes) : sound, black and white : Videotape 2 videotape reels(1 hour 50 minutes) : sound, black and white ; 1 inch Videotape made from 16 mm film reels on August Videotape reel 1 contains film reels 1 and 2; videotape reel 2 contains film reels 3 and : Film 4 reels(3926 feet) : sound, black and white ; 16 mm Preservation work performed on reels 1 and 4 in Box:Reel 1/1 Overseas Report 1302 feet 1/2 Washington State Reporter 470 feet 1/2 "Fairbanks Gold Mining" 440 feet 1/3 "Alka-Seltzer News" 415 feet

5 Container(s) Description Dates 1/3 "Beck Award Presentation" 433 feet 1/3 "Jenny's Birth" 75 feet 1/3 "CHH 39th Birthday" 60 feet 1/4 "Seattle Earthquake" 415 feet 1/4 "CHH Swan Song" 415 feet The Overseas Report, 16 reels : sound, black and white ; 16 mm The Overseas Report seems to have been a series filmed in Europe in the, and was possibly a predecessor series to The Washington Reporter. Titles were taken from inscriptions on film cans and reels. Titles which seem to be show titles or which are unclear are given between quotation marks. Container(s) Description Dates Box : Athens (15 minutes 5 seconds) : Berlin (580 feet) : negative : "F. Patterson shots" Possibly Fred Patterson of the National Bank of Commerce : Frankfurt (15 minutes 15 seconds) : negative : Frankfurt (15 minutes) circa 1953 circa : London 5

6 Container(s) Description Dates : National Bank of Commerce Europe report : negative : Newsroom shots, intros, Overseas Report composites : "Kintile" : negative a: Paris b: Berlin : Paris : Prestwick : negative a: Prestwick (17 minutes 36 seconds) b: London (15 minutes 26 seconds) : Rome : Tripoli (air print) : Tripoli 1951 November 27 circa 1951 circa 1951 Washington State Reporter, circa reels : sound, black and white ; 16 mm The Washington State Reporter news program on KING-TV was produced locally by the National Bank of Commerce (NB of C) from 1951 to circa The program featured a reporter on location 6

7 throughout Washington state interviewing local business people, leaders, and citizens about industries, economic growth, and other issues. The series also covered Alaska and the Pacific Rim countries. Titles were taken from inscriptions on film cans and reels. Titles which seem to be show titles or which are unclear are given between quotation marks. Container(s) Description Dates Box : Aberdeen, Washington (10 minutes 37 seconds) : "D.P. Show" (11 minutes 50 seconds) This is possibly the show on displaced persons arriving to the United States from Eastern Europe after WWII (circa 1952) : "Fairchild?" : Fairchild Air Force Base (10 minutes 38 seconds) : "Farm in a Day" (10 minutes 55 seconds) : Forks, Washington (10 minutes 48 seconds) a: Grand Coulee Dam b: Quincy, Washington : Longview, Washington February June 1952 June circa 1952 circa 1953 circa : Lynden, Washington--release print circa : University of Washington medical school circa : Port of Seattle (186 feet) Preservation work performed in circa

8 Container(s) Description Dates : Richland, Washington : Salmon institute (11 minutes 27 seconds) Probably about the Fisheries Research Institute of the University of Washington : Woodland Park/Zoo (155 feet) Preservation work performed in VHS available for viewing : Yakima--full show : Yakima--clips (11 minutes 20 seconds) : Zoo (480 feet) Preservation work performed in : Washington State Reporter--composite work print, part : Untitled 2 reels circa circa mid-1950s circa 1951 KING-TV News 12 reels film : sound, black and white ; 16 mm videotape (Scotch VR); 2 inches Titles were taken from inscriptions on film cans and reels. Titles which seem to be show titles or which are unclear are given between quotation marks. Container(s) Description Dates Box : "October 14, 1960" 1960 October : "Athletic Alphabet Crisis" 8

9 Container(s) Description Dates Includes 16 page transcript : Teamster president Dave Beck interview, May 16 (64 feet) Preservation work performed in A second reel of this program, labeled "Dupe Sound," is in Box : "CHH newscast" : "Early Edition" : "Herring news" Preservation work performed in : Seattle earthquake (70 feet) : negative Preservation work performed in : "The Intruders" Label on can indicates this film was entered by Charles Herring into the 1966 Washington State Competition for Awards for Excellence in Journalism in the category "Spot News." b: "Lake Chelan promo" 2 reels : negative : positive : "Man in Space" ("School Special") : Civil rights (?) Reel is in a box mailed to Mrs. A. Scott Bullitt from the U.S. Conference of Mayors : "Chicken Eggs" videotape (Scotch VR) 2 inches circa July April 29 circa 1966 circa 1964 Miscellaneous films, circa

10 20 reels : sound, black and white ; 16 mm Includes films that were not labeled with a program series title, though some probably are probably related to the Washington State Reporter series. Titles were taken from inscriptions on film cans and reels. Titles which seem to be show titles or which are unclear are given between quotation marks. Container(s) Description Dates Box : Alka-Seltzer commercial 1957 January : Alka-Seltzer commercial 1955 December : West Virginia : negative : Transportation in Alaska Enclosed note: "This film is one of the "Alaskan Reporter" series entitled "Transportation" or "Over mountain, tundra and sea." : "Josh 1:00 promo" : Miser's Bluff : answer print : "Number One Son" : "Home Run" Preservation work performed in : "Swansong" : "Syncopated Clock"; "Ask Me"; "Dixie Jump"; "Please Mr. Sun" : Teamster election film 1959 January

11 Container(s) Description Dates Note on film leader: "Paduano-Cavano from, UT" : Telstar (from Seattle World's Fair?) : negative : "What's the Story" Preservation work performed in : "What's the Story," Fairbanks Goldmining : Untitled 6 reels 1962 July January December 25 Sound recordings, audiocassettes 8 audiotapes 3 radio transcription discs Container(s) Description Dates Box : King-TV 5 "Celebrate with us: 35 years of Broadcasting" 1 audiocassette Audiocassette composed by Dan Dean : National Public Broadcasting banquet roast 2 audiocassettes Cassette-side 1/1 Chuck Morris roast 1993 ½ Wendall Kinney, Merrill Mael, Dick Harris /1 Morris Gets Even /2 Chuck's Favorite 78s : National Public Broadcasting Convention--Dave Richardson and Bill Brubacker

12 Container(s) Description Dates 2 audiocassettes : King-TV telecast "What's the Story," with guest Dave Beck, teamster's President 1 audiotape : End of Victor Meyers farewell speech at legislature 1 audiotape : Evans on Chuck Herring 1 audiotape(44 seconds) : ABC reports, Ma poster winner 1 audiotape : King-TV Seattle, Washington; Ken Jones, NBC, Los Angeles 1 audiotape : Braman--2 sound cuts 1 audiotape : Untitled 2 audiotapes : Samples of Herring's radio work 5a radio transcription disc A letter from Charles Herring to Vic Reed at the American Broadcasting Company describes the content of this disc, which seems to have been sent to ABC in consideration of potential work for Herring. The cuts all appear to have come from his work at radio station KJR in Seattle. Herring describes each cut: Cut 1: Coverage of the Washington International Sprint Regatta, 1947 Cut 2: Coverage of the Washington-California JV crew race, 1951 Cut 3: Coverage of Huskies-Bears-Stanford Indians Varsity crew race Cut 4: Wire recording from scene of a halibut fish oil plant explosion in North Seattle, July 6, 1948 Cut 5: Description of above area and explosion, in retrospect Cut 6: "Main Street America," a show written and narrated by Herring but never sold, included "as an example of dramatic narration" Cut 7: Air check of Herring's morning newscast, April 5, March May August

13 Container(s) Description Dates : "Binyon Eyeopener News" 5a radio transcription disc "Binyon Eyeopener News" was Herring's early morning radio show on KJR, which included news, music, weather and commercials narrated by Herring : "Press Club News Conference" 5a radio transcription disc 1950 April April 30 Other material Container(s) Description Dates Box : "Early Bird Satellite" transcript 5 pages Transcript of first trans-atlantic telecast originated by an American independent television outlet employing the Early Bird satellite, broadcasting from London, Paris, Washington, D.C. and Seattle on the subject of Vietnam. circa 1965 Names and Subjects Subject Terms : Broadcast journalism--washington (State)--Seattle Television news anchors--washington (State)--Seattle Personal Names : Beck, Dave, Corporate Names : KING-TV (Television station : Seattle, Wash.) KJR (Radio station : Seattle, Wash.) Form or Genre Terms : Motion pictures Sound recording Video recording Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson

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