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.

Dialing For Dollars WGHP 1970

Jerry Merritt took over as the host of WGHP's "Dialing For Dollars in 1969 until he left the station around 1972. After that, Susan Caras became the hostess for the show. Miss Caras also did the weather reports on channel 8 news at noon. Jo Nelson became the hostess of "Dialing For Dollars' in June 1973.

Dick Bennick - WGHP 1969

Dialing For Dollars - WGHP 1972

Jerry Merritt took over as the host of Dialing For Dollars,I believe around 1969.He was also a channel 8 weatherman.This ad is from January 1972. Please click on the image to see a larger version.

Big Action Movie - WFMY 1965

The "Big Action Movie" was channel 2's counter to WGHP 8's highly successful "Adventure Theatre".The ad is from Oct.1965.

Frank Deal - Superstars Movie - WGHP

One of the many things I always liked about WGHP was that the station was big on showing movies.Lots of movies.What Frank Deal did on this show,as the host, was basically what we see Robert Osborne do today on Turner Classic Movies.I loved the humor and trivia that Frank Deal presented on this show.

Channel 45 in 1979

Remember when channel 45 signed on as WGNN back in 1979? They aired some great old TV shows like The Jackie Gleason Show and You Bet Your Life along with classic movies. My buddy Mike Cline sent me this ad.

Movies on WGHP Oct.27,1967

Dick Bennick 1968

Dick Bennick presents a check to Mrs. Leander King.I loved the movies on channel 8. The ad is from August 1968.

Dialing For Dollars

Dick Bennick presenting a check to a prize winner in this ad from November 1968. The Dialing for Dollars Movie aired Monday through Friday on WGHP channel 8 in High Point,NC.

Adventure Theatre

I was almost eleven years old when WGHP channel 8 came on the air in the fall of 1963. Each afternoon when my brothers and I would get home from school, I would turn the TV on and twist the old VHF knob, hoping there would be a new channel coming in. Well one afternoon in October 1963, I was going through my routine and when the dial landed on 8 there was Johnny Weissmuller starring in "Tarzan and the Mermaids." I mean the picture was so clear, it was unreal. Five days a week at 5 p.m. we got a different movie. My favorites were Tarzan, Jungle Jim, Bomba the Jungle Boy and the Bowery Boys.

Right after the movie ended at 6:30 p.m. the Amos'N Andy Show aired until it was pulled from syndication in 1966. Those were the days.