I think everyone who worked at KNXT at the time I did, will express pretty much the same feelings.  It was a family atmosphere.  I never heard one person speak badly behind someone’s back.  I started my career at Channel 2 and, in looking back, I see that I started at the top.  The people I had the opportunity of being associated with at KNXT remain the highlight of my working career! 

When I returned to visit KNXT (then KCBS), the people there still talked about our ‘Golden Years’ at the station.  And they were. 

* * * * 

A story or two: 

We were going to televise the Sahara Golf Tournament, and I went to Las Vegas for the survey.   So I did not attend the weekly staff meeting.  It was decided at this meeting that the station needed a new computerized set to cover elections.  The $200,000 cost was put against my production department.  A month later, I saw in the monthly report that I was going to be about $100,000 over budget for the year!  This I could not understand as I always had been quite successful in being under budget. 

I went to see Berte Hackett to understand how this could have happened, and what was the $200,000 charge.  She told me that we needed a new set and it had been charged against my department.  She said Bob (Wood) knew about it and it was all right.  I told her it was not all right with me.

 I immediately went to Wood’s office and probably said in a louder voice than usual, “I want to see Bob!”  From the other side of the door came a loud voice, “I don’t want to see him!  I don’t want to see him!” 

Where can you work where you are going to be $100,000 over budget and the boss doesn’t want to talk to you about it? 

* * * * * *

Perhaps the greatest enjoyment of working at KNXT was the association between all of us. It was a joy to come to the office each day.  And everyone worked in a complete spirit of cooperation.  An example:

The production office, on the first floor, was underneath the engineering office located on the third floor.  We put in a squawk box linking the secretaries’ desks.  At any moment, I could find out the engineering crews’ schedules and know when we could offer production facilities to sales, at no cost to the station, within certain shift.

If we were not taping between a weekday live news shows, the crews were then free for several hours. So, we told Ray Beindorf (Sales Manager) that if he could sell commercial spots for KNXT, we could produce simple commercials at no cost to us.  He sold spots for the station that way – and Ray would even charge them a little for the production. 

Sometimes, word would come down that Bob Wood wanted to do an editorial ASAP.  Being taught by Berte and Bob that one dollar saved by a department is like saving three dollars corporately, I would go to Bob and ask him if he couldn’t wait for a more convenient time so that we would not have to hold the crews on overtime...  He would say it was an important matter and that he wished I would let him do this.  Of course, he would tape his editorial without delay, after all he was the Vice President and General Manager;  but to this day I marvel at the fact that I never felt hindered in anyway when addressing him – or any other executive at KNXT for that matter. 

* * * * *

Working with my boss, Leon Drew (a wonderful human being), with Ray Beindorf, Berte Hackett (my mentor), Eddie Miller and Sam Zelman, was heaven.  I even enjoyed very much my association with Harold Newman.  But the man who became my Big Brother throughout my career was Bob Wood.  I truly loved this man.  When I left KNXT for CBS Sports in New York, he never ceased being there for me, always giving me advice and being supportive (even though I never attended USC).

One day, after I had left CBS and was back in New York City, I met Ralph Daniels on the street.  As we were just in front of Black Rock, we decided to go see Bob (then President of the network).  We got right in to his office and chatted for a while.  Then he got up from his desk, went over to the corner of the room (all glass at the corners), looked over the city (from the 34^th floor), put out his arms and said, “Mine!  Mine!  Mine!”.  A few minutes later I told him I had to leave for a meeting.  He said, “You don’t tell the President when you are leaving, the President is supposed to tell you when you can go”.  Anyone remembering Bob can just see the scene. 

* * * * * * * * 

 I never worked anywhere or produced any shows that had the likes of the directors at Channel 2.  Dan Gingold, Mike Cozzi and Jim Johnson could easily have gone on to careers that gave them more recognition.  Of course, we had Bobby Frye – what a funny fellow.  His humor was truly infectious.  When I first arrived at the station, I heard there was a note that came down to Bobby in the mailroom from Jim Aubrey.  It said, “I don’t mind your reading my Look magazine, but please don’t mark the Photo Quiz”. 

* * * * * * * * 

I don’t know if these are the kind of remembrances you want.  If they are, hope they help.

 Hal Uplinger

(editor's note: These are exactly the "kind of remembrances" we want. Remembrances such as this is what makes this work so interesting. I worked for Mr Uplinger and the great Bob Wood and was very amused and informed by this bio. Thanks Hal.)