CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ACTUAL PROGRAM

Tom and Garry started talking about this years ago. Originally, the idea was for a book, but neither of them felt like sitting and writing all those pages — and besides. It’s really hard to get books published and distributed. Then about a year ago, Tom looked around his basement and realized he had better equipment for recording than he used to have when he originally started working at ABC network. And thus was born Tom’s podcast, “Get Off My Lawn.”

One day — about a month ago — he suggested he and Garry team up and tell “war stories” about their years in television. Tom and Garry have a lot to talk about. The two of them have close to 100 years in the news biz. I sometimes think between them, they met everyone who was anybody for about 50 years each. Maybe it just seems that way.

One complete episode of “War Stories” is officially ready to go. I have to decide if I should post this as Vimeo or YouTube. I might go with YouTube because I know it works.

The first trial run was a bit rough. The sound levels were off and Garry didn’t feel he was “on his game” yet. We did some chatting back and forth in email plus a few long telephone calls and six days later, Tom and Garry were ready to try again. Garry was much more “on his game” this time. I also did a lot of tactical and organizational stuff that made Garry more comfortable.

I gave Garry my Mac. It’s a better machine than Garry’s laptop and has a far better camera. I moved it into the dining room so it would sit on a solid table. This also made easier to position Garry properly. I’ve had that Mac for a few years and I rarely use it. It’s a good machine and now, it’s finally doing a job. About time.

With the camera in the dining room, Garry is now in front of a north-facing window — the perfect light. We also have a big ring light set up just in case. Hopefully we won’t need it as the days are getting longer.

This is all tactical stuff, but I’m not involved in the actual podcast except as Garry’s production manager.

I could probably post the first one pretty soon — like immediately — but I’d like to wait until there are a few more ready to go. If they produce a lot of them — and I hope they do — I might be able to put up more than one a week.

I wasn’t in the news business except when I was in college, yet it has been an important part of my life since 1964 when I discovered (entirely by accident) the college radio station, WVHC. That was where I met my first husband (Owen’s father) and Garry, who was Jeff’s best friend. Jeff Kraus ran the radio station so I’ve been the backstory for the news biz since I was 17 — with a 9 year intermission — the years I lived in Israel.

I meant to take picture while Garry was recording on Tuesday and then completely forgot. I have about 15 seconds of short term memory these days and forget everything immediately. Next time, I will take pictures.

Also, the next time we go down to visit Tom and Ellin, I really have to take some pictures! We get to talking and I forget I have a camera.

Categories: #GarryArmstrong, #News, Anecdote, Humor, Media, podcast, Radio, Remembering - Memories, reporting, Television, Tom Curley, Video

Tags: #Photography, Garry Armstrong, humor, Marilyn Armstrong, News, podcast, Radio, Television, Tom Curley, War Stories