Broadcasting Telecasting (Jul-Sep 1963)

Al Capstaff, former NBC VP, dies at 50 Albert L. Capstaff, 50, formerly VP of NBC, died Sept. 20 in his sleep at his home on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. Mr. Capstaff resigned from NBC last year ( Broadcasting, July 2, 1962) to become president and general manager of the Virgin Isle Television Cable Corp. He was also head of an electronics business in the Virgin Islands at the time of Mr. Capstaff his death. Mr. Capstaff was born in England: brought to the U. S. as an infant; and at the age of 10 became the youngest amateur radio operator in the nation. He joined NBC as an engineer in 1935 and resigned in 1943 to produce the Kay Kyser radio program. Mr. Capstaff later became producer of the Bob Hope radio show — a post he held until 1954. In 1955 he returned to NBC as executive producer of Monitor radio program, and he was elected VP of programs for NBC Radio in 1959. Funeral services were held last Wednesday in New York. Carl D. Weinstein, account executive at wnbf-tv Binghamton, N. Y., appointed commercial manager of wkopam-fm, that city. In his new position, Mr. Weinstein will be responsible for wkop's sales and programing. Donald Bell, account executive, promoted to assistant sales manager at wjrz Newark, N. J. Chuck Cirio named sales office manager. Hal Gluck appointed manager of Paramus, N. J., office. Peter R. Scott, retail sales director of wpat Paterson, N. J., joins Roger O'Connor Inc., New York-based radioTV station representative, as account executive. Fred Bohn, member of sales staff of wjw-tv Cleveland, transfers to wjwam-fm as account executive. Martin J. Connelly, former national sales manager of ktla(tv) Los Angeles, joins Metro TV Sales division of Metromedia Inc., New York, as account executive. Jay Butterfield named director of video tape sales for kcop(tv) Los Angeles, replacing Ben Ashe, who has resigned. William L. Conklin, account executive at William Esty Co., joins Peters, Griffin, Woodward, New York, in same capacity. Barry Klein, for past four years with Kal, Ehrlick & Merrick, Washington advertising agency, joins sales staff of wqmr Silver Spring, Md. Robert G. Hinds, formerly of Peters, Griffin, Woodward, and Ed Williams, of khow Denver, join kali Los Angeles as sales representatives. Sydney H. Eiges, VP in charge of public information for NBC, named cochairman of newly formed broadcasting and advertising division of Ameri can Jewish Committee's Appeal for Human Relations. New division will campaign for human rights within broadcasting and advertising industries. Joe Sands, public affairs producer at CBS-owned knxt(tv) Los Angeles, and Bill Alcine, executive producer, appointed to newly created positions at station following departure of Hal Uplinger, production manager, who has been named staff producer for CBS Sports in New York. Mr. Sands will serve as director of productions; Mr. Alcine as director of production operations. James J. Chitwood, engineer at wlbc-am-tv Muncie, Mich., joins engineering and announcing staff of wctw-am-fm New Castle, Ind. Bennett 0. Scott, general sales manager of wfmt(fm) Chicago and before that with wind there, joins wnmp Evanston, 111., as general manager. He succeeds Bill Bishop, who has joined kkar Pomona, Calif. James L. Loper, TV coordinator at Los Angeles State College, is on leave of absence from that post to serve as special assistant to president of Community Television of Southern California, nonprofit organization which is attempting to establish educational TV station in Los Angeles area. Jack Deutscher appointed director of organization development, employment and training for NBC, responsible for all employment for network. Mr. Deutscher joined NBC in 1957 as administrator for organization development and was named manager of that department in 1961. Paul Sherman, host of Sunday with Mr. Scott Sherman show on wins New York, named host of wins's all-night show (12 midnight-6 a.m.) replacing Art Ford, who has been granted release from his contract to pursue independent activities in motion picture and radio production. James S. Gates, producer-director for past 10 years at kttv(tv) Los Angeles, promoted to executive producer. George Crowell resigns as program director of kfrc San Francisco. Mark Halleck appointed sports director of wblg Lexington, Ky., succeeding Earl Broadman, who resigns to accept similar post at wkrc Cincinnati. Dave Diles appointed sports director of wxyz-am-tv Detroit, succeeding Don Wattrick, who resigned. Gene Shay, staff announcer at whatfm Philadelphia, assumes added duties as coordinator of merchandising and promotion for what-am-fm. Thomas A. Reynolds, traffic manager of wor-am-tv New York, appointed director of operations for two stations, replacing Bernard (Barney) Boyle, who retired earlier this Mr. Reynolds (. ' month after 27 years with wor. Shelley Azbell, former promotion assistant at keyt(tv) Santa Barbara, Calif., joins ktvu(tv) San Francisco as advertising coordinator in station's sales promotion department. John E. La Guardia Jr., account executive at kxoa Sacramento, Calif., appointed manager of merchandising and promotion. Russ Benedict, sports director of wkat Miami Beach, Fla., joins wis-tv Columbia, S. C, in same capacity. Wynn Hott, former regional sales manager for Community Club Awards Inc., joins wsoc-am-fm Charlotte, N. C, as sales manager. He succeeds Steve Brunt, who resigned to become salesman at wtob Winston-Salem, N.C. Jim Hanlon, formerly of wkpa New Kensington-Tarentum, Pa., joins wwgo Erie, Pa., as air personality under name of Bob Ward. Margaret Sugg named director of promotion and public affairs for wtob Winston-Salem, N. C. Ed Justice appointed promotion director of Wire Broadcasting Co., licensee of wire Indianapolis. Barry Barents, veteran newscaster currently with whnb-tv New Britain, Conn., elected chairman of Connecticut State Safety Commission. 76 (FATES & FORTUNES) BROADCASTING, September 30, 1963