This photo was taken when I had just begun what turned out to be a 55-year avocation in radio and television.
You're right if you think Marconi had just invented the medium and I had just invented the programming idea of broadcasting records. (Notice, a 45 rpm on the left turntable and a 78 rpm on the right one.)
I've written about my radio days in my blogs a number of times. It included a stint as the host of the New Orleans WWL broadcast of the iconic "American Airlines Music 'til Dawn" program while I was a student at Tulane University.
And it flipped into television about ten years ago as I did historical features stories for TV station, News-24 Houston.
Mitchell, a commercial real estate agent in Florida called this morning to ask if I thought advertising on the radio would be of value to him and his business.
Of all of the different mediums I've used throughout 45 years as a Realtor, the only format that has beaten yard signs, for me, has been radio spots. The rest, in order of value, have been direct mail, sign boards, the Internet, magazine ads, newspaper classified ads and at the bottom of the pile, Yellow Page ads.
While there is a trick to properly using radio, nevertheless with professional assistance, anyone can learn to use it effectively for marketing themselves as The Realtor to call. I am planning to write a blog or so that will address the components that, properly executed, can make you an instant "professional."
Meantime, let me shore up the photo above. That was taken in 1954. I sold the time on my show to Poll Parrot Shoes, and interestingly made far more money than any other person working at that station. I was 14.
Now here I am so many years later. This time doing a segment of News-24 Houston's most popular feature. That's my cameraman, Ricky Hightower on the left, and the producer-director, T.J. Aulds, on the right. The two of them single-handedly taught me television! I loved every minute of it.
I'd do it again if TV stations hired gray haired, slightly wrinkled talent.
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS - PARK CITIES
214 503-8563
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