Memories of Fred Fletcher. This video features two programs edited together. The first video is “30 Minutes” hosted by WRAL News anchor Bill Leslie. The second video is “Q&A” hosted by WRAL News anchor David Crabtree.
Fred, son of AJ Fletcher – founder of Capitol Broadcasting Company, helped launch WRAL-AM in 1939 and soon made a name for himself as the host of a daily talk show called “Tempus Fugit.” Fred would entertain, inform and hold forth with a cast of characters that included his most memorable persona –the lovable “Fairy Tale Man.” During every show Fred would transform into a master storyteller to read the classics from the Brothers Grimm. He was the proverbial one-man-band who created his own sound effects and made up the voices of all the characters. Listeners young and old loved it, and before long “Tempus Fugit” was the top-ranked show in its time period.