48 Years Ago Today on WGHP 8 Nov.5, 1970

The First Channel 12 Halloween Spooktacular in 1969

      The last channel 12 Halloween Spooktacular aired in 1974.

R.I.P. Lee Kinard

        The Good Morning Show ad is from 1965 and The TV Matinee ad is from 1966. Lee Kinard was a pioneer in our local TV history. Rest in peace.

Bob Gordon's Saturday Theatre on Feb. 10, 1973

       After Bob Gordon's weekday program ended on Friday September 9, 1966, his weekend shows continued on until August 15, 1976 when they also came to an end. During football season the show aired on Saturday afternoon and during baseball season the show aired on Sunday afternoon.

WXII Channel 12 Spooktacular cancelled in 1975

    After presenting the Spooktacular during the previous six Halloween's, channel 12 made the decision to terminate the event in 1975.

May 1, 1965 Wrestling on WGHP 8 in High Point, NC

May 1, 1965 on WGHP 8 in High Point, NC

    Bill Hefner would later take over this show.

May 1, 1965 on WSJS 12 in Winston-Salem, NC

           This was during the period when Shock Theatre had left the WGHP 8 schedule in favor of Les Crane's "Nightlife" late night show. Shock Theatre returned to WGHP in it's late Friday night time slot on June 4, 1965 with "The Ghost of Frankenstein".

Mary Anne Koger on WGHP 8

        Mary Anne Koger became WGHP's Romper Room teacher in 1969 when Margot Williams left the position after an eight month tenure. The show lasted until late 1977.

Margot Williams on WGHP 8 in 1969

     Margot Williams took over as WGHP's Romper Room teacher in January 1969 after Libba Hinkle left. Mrs. Williams stayed for eight months.

Limbo the Clown on WGHP 8

      Limbo and the Little Rascals debuted on May 22, 1967. The show was later re-named Limbo's Cartoon Circus. Libba Hinkle was the original Limbo until January 1969. That is when Patty Halo took over the role of Limbo. Limbo's co-stars were Beauregard the Leprechaun and Reginald Rightbad.

"Miss Libba" Elisabeth Hinkle on WGHP 8

       Miss Libba Hinkle was WGHP's Romper Room teacher from September 13, 1965 until she left the station in January 1969. She was then part of the WFMY 2 news team until moving to New York in 1970 to work for a tv station there as a producer.

Remembering Woody Durham

After Charlie Harville left WFMY in 1963 to join WGHP 8, Woody Durham became the sports director at WFMY 2. Mr. Durham left WFMY in 1977. He became the news/sports director at WRDU 28 in Durham, NC effective September 1, 1977.

WGHP 8 Dialing For Dollars Timeline 1968 - July 18,1980

     Channel 8 in High Point, NC aired a morning movie for a couple of years before Dick Bennick was promoted to promotions manager in 1968. After Mr. Bennick started the "Dialing For Dollars" concept, it became very popular. So much so that by the time the new fall tv season rolled around, an afternoon edition was added to WGHP's schedule. Dick Bennick remained the host until July 1969. That is when Jerry Merritt took over and stayed on until July 1972. Suasn Caras came on board in July 1972 when Jerry Merritt left WGHP. Jo Nelson became the new hostess in June 1973 after Susan Caras left. Jo Nelson stayed with the show until it ended on Friday July 18, 1980. Please click on images to enlarge.

Susan Caras joins WGHP 8 in 1972

   Miss Susan Caras began working at WGHP channel 8 in High Point, NC on Monday July 10, 1972. Jerry Merritt was leaving the station so Miss Caras assumed his assignments. She became the hostess of the very popular " Dialing for Dollars" . She also did the "Around Town" segments on the news shows along with reporting the weather. Miss Caras was with WGHP until she left in the spring of 1973 at which time Miss Jo Nelson joined the staff and took over the duties of Miss Caras.

WTOB TV Channel 26 in Winston-Salem, NC

During July 1953, WTOB TV channel 26 in Winston-Salem, NC purchased a 570 foot tower from WAVE TV in Louisville, Kentucky. On the morning of September 19, 1953, WTOB TV 26 started telecasting their first test pattern. After their broadcast day ended on May 11, 1957, the station went off the air.

Barney & Boo on WFMY 2 in 1950

Barney & Boo was a puppet show for kids. This is from January 1950.

Championship Wrestling with host Charlie Harville

George Becker and Johnny Weaver with Charlie Harville.