Q: On the phone you recalled Wednesday night appearances in Newington. Tell us about those.

A: Newington Children's Hospital. Somewhere along the line you always knew radio, or show business, was a shallow way to live. So I began putting together a group to entertain the kids. A newspaper reporter gave our group a great write-up (the kind of thing I never saved) and said, "Jim knows every kid's name in the entire hospital," which was not exactly true. The next week every kid in the place would wheel their chairs up to me and ask, "do you know my name?" One young lady broke her back; she was a special favorite (my broken neck, remember) and I took oil painting lessons from her grandpa who was a wonderful local artist.

The Hartford Courant
October 1, 1968

Jim Jeffrey interviews an
applicant at CSB.

Q: If I recall correctly, Al Gates replaced you in morning drive in June 1969, then you moved to FM middays for a while. You didn't actually return to the air until October 1970. Is this the time you went to work for Dick at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting?

A: Well, teaching was a joy for me. You always seem to come across a person or persons who really had talent. Watching them get comfortable enough to let the talent grow...and when Dick wanted to open a school down in Stratford it was a challenge to find a location, draw up the floor plan, line up teachers, etc.

Q: During all these years you were a privately licensed pilot. Tell us about commuting to DRC's morning show by air (and from where).

A: Flying down to Hartford, I did get to know the guys who worked the radar and towers. I can remember one morning the tower guy in Hartford saying, "you're lucky, we're open, the storm has passed," and I made a point of answering, "I knew you were open before I ever left the ground up in Sterling, Mass." Because I didn't want him to think I was some dumb young pilot. I never expected to grow old taking wild chances.

Q: Your CSB bio indicated you attended Ohio Wesleyan University, The Actor's Studio School, New York City, and Desilu Acting Studio, Hollywood. You told me you did some stand up comedy. Were you interested in acting full time?

A: I was interested in acting full time and had a contract to do a movie because in summer stock I worked with a lady who was married to an MGM director. An auto accident prevented that movie, but the money I received paid for my wedding trip, etc. I remember doing a standup gig at the Slate Brothers nightclub. Sinatra was there with "his people" to see if they wanted to sign me. Leo Durocher was along with the group. My partner never showed (he had a blonde on the beach for the night) so they were kind. They said, "call if the kid straightens out" and Leo said, acting the big shot, if I can ever help you, call me.

Desilu - Lucille Ball was the one who ran things, had a small group of wannabees she let into taping, and showed us the ropes. She knew more than any other producer-or director, or the lighting Guru, and was always trying to track her husband down (girl problems) by the way. A nice older woman sat at the back door to the studios. Few knew she was married to the comptroller. Her kids were grown, and she wanted something to do. She was so good to me...was assistant music director at NBC for Matinee Theatre with Richard Conte (aired 3 to 4 back east Monday through Friday). It just meant I pulled the records (stabs of music for sound effects for each show). The music director, Eddy Truman, became a good friend. Years later when Donald O'Connor came through Rhode Island with a summer show in the round, I was at WPRO. Eddie was his director, and my wife and I got to have dinner with the two of them. By the way, back then (late 50s) the toughest ticket in town was Red Skelton's dress show. Red ad-libbed all the way - nightclub stuff - always breaking up his co-stars, and in the front row of the stands...Milton Berle and his wife, Jack Benny and his wife, etc.

Q: When you returned to WDRC in 1970 you did a fair amount of news work. Was that the first time in your career?

A: Yes, DRC was my first "news work." David Brinkley was always my favorite. He said he could take the normal local television news script, red line a third, and not change a thing. And he never used a word most 12 year olds wouldn't understand.