Miss Marcia & Funtime

My TV career began in 1962, when I became ROMPER ROOM SCHOOL'S Miss Marcia. There had been, I think, three other "teachers" before me, and my intention was to work for 2 years. Forty years later, I'm astounded to find

I'm still here!

In 1963, Reeve Owen, our general manager, asked me if I'd like to do a program of my own creation, and FUNTIME was born.. I was thrilled because, in those days, the kindergarten experience was limited to very few youngsters. I felt we could provide that experience, making our programming more appropriate to the needs of children.

When I think back on how little it took to enthrall the youngsters of that time, it amazes me. We certainly had no fancy set, the pace of the program was deliberately unhurried, and there were no special effects! We tried to keep everything we did accessible to any family so that there was never a need to buy items they might not already have or be able to afford.

I never grew bored by FUNTIME, but, I was ready to move on 15 years later, when Jane Grams appointed me to develop programming for older children, those between 6 and 12. NIFTY NINE was intended to let children in that age range serve as role models for viewers of the same ages. The 9 youngsters chosen from throughout our viewing area were the on-air talent.

But they were also the producers, in a very real sense, coming up with topics they wanted to cover, people to interview, etc. We worked every Saturday, brainstorming future shows and recording programs. My primary job was to script what they wanted and to coordinate the logistics. I loved the experience and was sorry our competition was so stiff. Airing on Saturday evenings, we found ourselves up against the most popular show of the time, HEE HAW. Still, we earned an IRIS nomination for best children's programming, remarkable when, again, one realizes how few resources were made available.

Following NIFTY NINE, I became the station's director of Community Affairs. (1981) In those days, we produced many, many PSAs for the community, did a couple of public affairs programs, which I produced, and were involved in a number of community improvement efforts. I was encouraged by management to serve on as many boards as invited me so that NEWSCHANNEL 9 could be a true community presence. In addition, I was asked to develop magazine format programming that aired on Sunday afternoon and was kind of a forerunner of NEWS FOR WOMEN.

My dual responsibilities as director of Children's Programming and Community Affairs continued until 1992, when Lewis Robertson asked if I would consider doing a segment designed especially for Older Adults. I was reluctant at first, although I realized, as one of the oldest members of the staff, I was the perfect person to undertake the job. Never having wanted to be in News, coupled with my reluctance to lose the contact I had with wonderful area young people, made the decision to move into this area dfficult. However, LIFEWATCH has proven to be one of the happiest experiences of my entire career.

I love meeting Seniors who are so thoroughly engaged in life, and I enjoy the challenge of encapsulating their entire life's experience into two minutes! Along the way, I've learned so much from each person I've interviewed, not to mention the research I've had to do to present accurate information to our viewers. It thrills me when an older person (and, sometimes, even a younger one!) tells me that they've learned something valuable from LIFEWATCH. In many ways, LIFEWATCH is an extension of FUNTIME!

The best part of having been here so long and knowing the community as I do is that I usually know where to turn for those answers, and I'm not afraid to ask!

Throughout my career, I have had such fun doing whatever I was doing at the moment that I never gave a thought to long term effects. That's why I am overwhelmed by the beautiful notes I continue to receive from viewers who grew up with NEWSCHANNEL 9. Just today, I had a lengthy e-mail from a young Native American. In it, he speaks of finding in FUNTIME personal affirmation when his day-to-day general reality was very negative. His words are truly touching and remind me that we never know the impact we are having on lives.

Very few people have been as blessed, literally, in their occupations as I have. When I was discussing retirement with a younger friend who has already left her career, she articulated the truth that makes it so hard for me to leave. She referred to my career as "fulfilling," and she is right. Who could ask for anything more?