Every hall of fame needs a clown. The Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado hall gets one on Saturday when Blinky the Clown joins some august company.
Blinky, whose real name is Russell Scott, and three others will be inducted at a banquet at the Four Points Sheraton, 600 S. Colorado Blvd. Also to be inducted are broadcast pioneers Fred Arthur, the late E.G. Beehler and Art Peterson.
Arthur ran a high-powered ad agency that produced memorable TV and radio advertising. Beehler built his first radio station in 1921 and put KNAB in Burlington on the air in 1967, when he was 75 years old. Peterson, a radio announcer, was on the air for the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 and V-E Day in 1945.
But none was a clown. Blinky reigned as king of local children’s TV from 1965 to 1998, his sad face and gentle ways familiar to generations of kids.
Founded in 1998, the hall already includes many local notables, including Pete Smythe, Bob Martin, Starr Yelland and Stormy Rottman. Banquet tickets are available at 303-763-5280.
A vision of ‘Innervision’
“Innervision” is part music, part TV show and all about bringing together artists, some of whom are physically challenged.
In its 15th year, the show originally was open only to those with disabilities. Now, all are welcome and will be when the series holds its second live show Thursday at Broussard’s Creole Cafe, 233 E. Colfax Ave.
“It’s designed to give exposure to local artists, on a raw basis. Some are polished, some are not,” said Johnnie Johnson, the program’s founder and producer, who is blind.
“We love giving Colorado a variety of musical artists. If it’s rock, we look for artists with heart and soul. If it’s rap we avoid ones that only know how to cuss.”
Rock and G-rated rap acts take the stage at 7 p.m. Innervision’s shows, edited, are broadcast at 1 a.m. Thursdays on KBDI-Channel 12 and at 9:30 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays on Comcast Channel 57.
Around the dial
You go, Judge: Judge Judy decides a case involving a Fort Collins couple fighting over bail money, attorneys’ fees and unpaid rent. One of them, JJ decides, is “a big-time loser” (11 a.m. today, KUSA-Channel 9). … Suzanne Roberts, wife of Comcast founder Ralph Roberts, starts her weekly “Seeking Solutions With Suzanne,” aimed at seniors, on community television Channel 8 in June. … KVOD 90.1-FM broadcasts live the Colorado Symphony concert conducted by new music director Jeffrey Kahane at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. … KYGO 98.5-FM celebrates its 25th anniversary by throwing its own birthday party at Coors Amphitheater on July 3. Six country acts for the 1980 price of $9.85. … Quotable: “If I had my life to live again I’d make all the same mistakes – only sooner.” – Tallulah Bankhead.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
