High Time
August 12, 1957 - September 23, 1960
 |
|
The original emcee of High Time, Ed
Gilbert, with contest
winners Rita Beaudin and Ken Knudsen. |
High
Time
is
well-remembered
as
Portland's
first
music-dance
show
for
teenagers.
Similar
to
Dick
Clark's Bandstand,
which
was
produced
locally
in
Philadelphia, High
Time
premiered
in
Portland
on
the
same
day
as
ABC's American Bandstand,
although
the
show
had
actually
started
a
week
earlier.
Ed
Gilbert
was
the
original
host
of
the
show,
but
John
Lewis
was
substituting
as
host
by
September,
and
he,
in
turn,
was
replaced
in
October
1957
by
Gene
Brendler,
who
remained
with
the
show
through
the
rest
of
its
three-year
run.
|
Emcee Ed GIlbert with contest winners Diane
McKenzie and
John Creswell.
|
|
 Click
here to read a1981 interview
with Gene Brendler about his years with "High Time,"
from Two Louies Magazine:
http://www.twolouiesmagazine.com/issues/2003/
november/nov_03_ht1.html
|
|
Gene Brendler interviews
special guest Esther Williams.
|
Buddy Holly also made a guest appearance on
the show in
October of 1957.
|
|
Ad from the back cover of Prevue magazine.
Interestingly,
while the ad says "Ed Gilbert is permanent emcee for show,"
John Lewis appears as emcee in the picture with Ronnie Burns,
and Gene Brendler had taken over by the time the ad appeared,
October 13, 1957.
|
|
A week's-worth of ickets
for the show were made available on
Saturdays, and were gone in just a few hours.
|
|
A birds-eye view of the proceedings.
|
Another shot from above the action.
|
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|
|
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Musician Liberace and his
brother George
have host Gene Brendler surrounded.
|
| High
Time BROADCAST HISTORY |
AUG
1957: MON-FRI 4:45PM-5:15PM
AUG 1957 - SEP 1957: MON-FRI
4:15PM-5:15PM
SEP 1957 - APR 1959: MON-FRI
4:30PM-5:30PM
APR 1959 - OCT 1959: MON-FRI
4:00PM-5:00PM
MAY 1959 - SEP 1959: SAT 3:00PM-4:00PM
OCT 1959 - : MON-FRI 4:30PM-5:00PM
JAN 1960 - APR 1960: MON-FRI 4:30PM-5:00PM
APR
1960 - MAY 1960: MON-TUE, THU-FRI 3:30PM-4:00PM
JUL
1960 - SEP 1960: MON-FRI 3:30PM-4:00PM |
It was my genuine pleasure to be a part
of KPTV's 50th Anniversary Program and discussing my participation in
High Time and my long association with KPTV's beloved Gene Brendler.
In addition to dancing on High Time each
day, I served as High Time's "President of the Advisory
Board", and also had the opportunity to accompany Gene Brendler to
different cities throughout the state to promote the program, along with
other High Time "regulars."
I was also selected, along with fellow
High Timer Nick Mondrut, to represent KPTV & High Time on Dick
Clark's American Bandstand in Philadelphia in conjunction with Gene
Brendler's guest hosting while Dick Clark was on vacation. I
must confess that it was a genuine thrill to appear on American
Bandstand and to represent High Time and KPTV!
Those were the days of "live"
television! I remember that one of my most embarrassing
moments was when Mr. Brendler asked me (before the show began) if I
would help him do a commercial for a product called the "Fabulous
Living Ant Farm." Of course, I said "yes!"
Before the program began, I called my home and told my mother to
"watch the show today," so she could see me do a commercial.
Well, when the time came for the "Fabulous Living Ant Farm"
spot to begin, Mr. Brendler handed me a large glass tank (on camera)
and, just as he started to talk about how much
"fun" it would be for children to own one, it slipped out of
my hands and crashed on the floor...with what appeared to be thousands
of "live" ants running in all directions. Later, I heard
that the whole studio had to be cleared out and fumigated! There
was also the time (on "live" television, when I gave myself
two black eyes, again demonstrating for Mr. Brendler, a product called
"The Whamo-Wing-Ding," and the time I tripped up the steps of
a Greyhound Bus (during a live commercial during Tarantula Ghoul's
program) just as the commentator was assuring KPTV's late-night
audience, "...and, it's such a comfort to take the bus!"
I have so many fond memories of KPTV's crew, along with Gene
Brendler & Gordon White...and, in moments of reflection, I think of
my High Time friends: especially Nick Mondrut, Linda Yazzolino, Tanja
Savuno, Sandra Wright (my first girlfriend), and the countless others
who's names I've long forgotten, but whose faces will forever remain
fresh, unchanged, and always familiar in my mind.
Thanks to all of you for giving me such
wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
James Tumblin
This
page
last
updated
on
May 13, 2008
