OT - Jim Gardner legendary anchorman retires Wednesday

[Nitwit]

WPVI in Philadelphia will never be the same without him. He’s like the local version of Walter Cronkite. What a class act. In reading about him, I found it interesting that he attended the same high school in NYC as J Robert Oppenheimer. Gardner, real name Goldman, attended, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. He also went to Columbia University where he earned a BA in political science before coming to Philadelphia in the mid 70s. His father, Joseph Goldman was head of the eye, nose, and throat, department of the Mount Sinai Medical Center. Jim Gardner is 74 years old.

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

WPVI in Philadelphia will never be the same without him. He’s like the local version of Walter Cronkite. What a class act. In reading about him, I found it interesting that he attended the same high school in NYC as J Robert Oppenheimer. Garner, real name Goldman, attended, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. He also went t9 Columbia University before coming to Philadelphia.

I remember him well, although I haven't lived in the Philly area since the early 80s. He started at WPVI when I was in 10th grade. We know who you were referring to, but you might want to change his name in the thread title. It's Gardner.

 

[Liontown]

It's Gardner. Jim Garner was on the Rockford Files.

 

[Nitwit]

It's Gardner. Jim Garner was on the Rockford Files.

Thanks, I fixed it. Stupid of me.

 

[psuro]

I will miss him. He is one of those Philly institutions, like Big Al Meltzer and Larry Kane (the fifth Beatle).

Hope he enjoys his retirement.

 

[Meat Lab]

I will miss him. He is one of those Philly institutions, like Big Al Meltzer and Larry Kane (the fifth Beatle).

Hope he enjoys his retirement.

Dont forget Bill Campbell.

 

[jp3272]

He is/was very professional. Channel 6 for years everyone in Philly could associate with. I wonder what kind of salary one would make as a local tv news anchor…

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I will miss him. He is one of those Philly institutions, like Big Al Meltzer and Larry Kane (the fifth Beatle).

Hope he enjoys his retirement.

He actually replaced Larry Kane, who was an institution in Philadelphia at the time. Larry left WPVI and Action News to be an anchorman in New York City. Eventually he (Larry) returned to Philadelphia to be an anchor on the local CBS affiliate (now the NBC affiliate).

Jim was put in a difficult position replacing Larry Kane, but he handled it with grace and professionalism, and in time became an institution. That's not an easy thing to do.

Jim lived in the Society Hill section of Philadelphia for many years (he may still; I don't know), and I saw him many times just going about his normal life.

 

[DaytonRickster]

WPVI in Philadelphia will never be the same without him. He’s like the local version of Walter Cronkite. What a class act. In reading about him, I found it interesting that he attended the same high school in NYC as J Robert Oppenheimer. Gardner, real name Goldman, attended, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. He also went to Columbia University where he earned a BA in political science before coming to Philadelphia in the mid 70s. His father, Joseph Goldman was head of the eye, nose, and throat, department of the Mount Sinai Medical Center. Jim Gardner is 74 years old.

Class guy. Grew up watching him. Their station won't be the same without him. Philly broadcasting icon.

 

[DaytonRickster]

He is/was very professional. Channel 6 for years everyone in Philly could associate with. I wonder what kind of salary one would make as a local tv news anchor…

In a huge TV market like Philly metro, I would estimate over 1 million per year for a broadcaster of his ability and draw. People trusted him to deliver the news straight up.

 

[DaytonRickster]

I will miss him. He is one of those Philly institutions, like Big Al Meltzer and Larry Kane (the fifth Beatle).

Hope he enjoys his retirement.

Yes, Big Al Meltzer, sports broadcaster extraordinaire. He was great with BIG 5 bball on the UHF station.

 

[TheBigUglies]

He actually replaced Larry Kane, who was an institution in Philadelphia at the time. Larry left WPVI and Action News to be an anchorman in New York City. Eventually he (Larry) returned to Philadelphia to be an anchor on the local CBS affiliate (now the NBC affiliate).

Jim was put in a difficult position replacing Larry Kane, but he handled it with grace and professionalism, and in time became an institution. That's not an easy thing to do.

Jim lived in the Society Hill section of Philadelphia for many years (he may still; I don't know), and I saw him many times just going about his normal life.

Ha! This just triggered a memory from the deep down way backs of my head. I used to work in Philly(late 90s) and would find myself in Society Hill neighborhood for one reason or another. I stopped a let Jim Gardner cross the street while he was out for a jog. Didn't realize it was him until he waved a thank you sign to me while crossing. Completely forgot about that until you mentioned he lived in Society Hill!.

 

[psuro]

Dont forget Bill Campbell.

He is an announer, like Gene Hart or Harry Kalas - was not really thinking of that group of people. Just those on the news.

 

[psuro]

He actually replaced Larry Kane, who was an institution in Philadelphia at the time. Larry left WPVI and Action News to be an anchorman in New York City. Eventually he (Larry) returned to Philadelphia to be an anchor on the local CBS affiliate (now the NBC affiliate).

Jim was put in a difficult position replacing Larry Kane, but he handled it with grace and professionalism, and in time became an institution. That's not an easy thing to do.

Jim lived in the Society Hill section of Philadelphia for many years (he may still; I don't know), and I saw him many times just going about his normal life.

Yeah I know. Kane came back, and was with KYW for a while.

 

[Meat Lab]

He is an announer, like Gene Hart or Harry Kalas - was not really thinking of that group of people. Just those on the news.

I gotcha. What about Harry Donahue?

 

[Nitwit]

This was a classic moment when he retrieved a dropped earring for Cecily Tynan:

They have great chemistry on air, as he’s a bit of a father figure, and she’s the woman we all wish our wife looked like.

 

[Nitwit]

Not to change the direction of this thread but I got to meet Gene Hart a few times. He was a real renaissance man. He spoke fluent Russian, and did so from his military background as a translator, and used it for when the Russian hockey teams played in the USA. He was also an opera buff from a young age when he began as a 10 year old taking the bus to Manhattan to see the Met on Saturday afternoons matinee performances. As you may know his daughter, Lauren, who is a lymphoma cancer survivor. often performs the Star Spangled Banner before Flyers games. I’ve also seen her at cancer fund raising events where she performs for free but that’s a whole other story. She’s a lovely person and a terrific singer.

 

[retsio]

Philadelphia Channel 6 Action News is #4 in Nielsen ratings of all USA TV stations and metro areas.

He has been recognized as the leader of local news broadcasters and a God/Icon to be copied in many different locations. He is an institution for the Philadelphia news presentation. Unfortunately, many small market local TV mangers feel a man and woman team is the best representation for the viewers.

Jim Gardner and the news team has up to 90% of all viewers of local broadcasts when he appears, as this also relates to advertising dollars.

He will be missed for many reasons.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

nice

 

[A2nit]

I was back at a conference in Philly 3-4 years ago and couldn’t believe he was still on air.
This my youth…
I recall Gardner and O’Brien cracking each other up constantly. No comment on Tollefson, wasn’t around for his downfall…

 

[LB99]

He is/was very professional. Channel 6 for years everyone in Philly could associate with. I wonder what kind of salary one would make as a local tv news anchor…

Rumors were that Hurricane Schwartz was making $1 million/yr before he retired.

 

[LB99]

Yeah I know. Kane came back, and was with KYW for a while.

Didn’t he get fired for hacking Alycia Lane’s e-mail or something?

 

[psuro]

Didn’t he get fired for hacking Alycia Lane’s e-mail or something?

No I don’t think that was him.

 

[LB99]

No I don’t think that was him.

You are right. It was Larry Mendte. My mistake. My apologies to Kane.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Jim killed it saying goodbye tonight. I’m such a p…y, teared up again.

 

[Nitwit]

He defended the news media
and attacks against the free press.

 

[BW Lion]

What was the name of the smokin’ MILF who appeared with him during prime hours in the early 1990’s?

 

[psuro]

 

[CyphaPSU]

He's been in that anchor seat for longer than I've been alive. A staple voice in the background.