• Children's Miracle Network Telethon

     

    The Children’s Miracle Network telethon began on WRAL-TV in 1993 as a way to raise money for medical research and treatment of children’s health issues.

    The CMN organization was founded by the well-known Osmond family (Donny & Marie et al) and actor John Schneider, among others. The network is made up of 170 children’s hospitals across the country.

    WRAL’s first telethon raised nearly a million dollars for patients undergoing treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital in Durham. In 1994 MIX-101.5 began its annual CMN “Radiothon” that has raised more than $15 million in the last two decades.

     

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      Bill Jordan and Coach K

      February 15, 2007 – MIX 101.5 and WCMC-FM pass the $1 million mark for the first time during the Radiothon for Duke Children’s Hospital.

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      Children’s Miracle Network Telethon

      Children’s Miracle Network Telethon started in 1993 as an annual event to raise money for medical treatment and research to benefit ill children. In 1993, nearly a million dollars was raised for patients under-going treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital in Durham.

  • Deputy Five

     

    Deputy Five was a life-sized robot designed to teach school children about safety and good citizenship. It was donated by Capitol Broadcasting Company to the Wake County Sheriff’s Public Service Unit in 1986.

    Riding the wave of robots portrayed in movies like Star Wars’ R2D2 and C3PO, the children would identify Deputy Five as one of the good guys. The robot served as a positive role model and reinforced the purpose and image of law enforcement officers as those who serve and protect the public.

    Deputy Five was equipped with a VCR and television monitor for playing public service messages.

     

  • Doctors on Call

     

    “Doctors on Call” was a WRAL-TV health outreach program that gave viewers the opportunity to get free, confidential medical advice from physicians and specialists with the NC Medical Society. The program began in 1989 and was produced annually until 2003.

    The interactive program was broadcast over the course of a single day, with half hour specials and live cut-ins during WRAL newscasts giving viewers in-depth looks at a wide range of medical topics. “Doctors on Call” was hosted each year by WRAL Health Team physician Dr. Allen Mask.

     

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      Doctors On Call 14th Anniversary Program

      Doctors on Call started in 1990. This one hour program and all-day telethon format enables viewers to call with specific questions about medical conditions. During the program, various medical experts offer information to increase public health awareness. Over 150 doctors representing a variety of major medical specialties staff the phone lines so viewers can talk on-on-one with a doctor for free, confidential medical advice.

  • Duke Children's Hospital Telethon

     

     

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      WRAL FM anchors with Coach K at Duke fundraiser

      Sheri Logan and Bill Jordan join Duke Coach K to raise funds for Duke Childrens Hospital.

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      Mix 101.5 Best of the Birthday Calls 1998

      Check out this assortment of wild and crazy on-the-air phone calls made to unsuspecting listeners. The prank turns into a happy birthday phone call. Proceeds of the cassette went to Duke Children’s Hospital.

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      First Radiothon Montage

      Listen to the voices of children, parents, and those who made a donation to Duke Children’s Hospital.

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      Tears in Heaven

      Listen to this very moving story told by a nurse at Duke Children’s Hospital.

    • Pediatric patient named Alan on Mix 101.5

      Alan is a boy who received a lung transplant. He reads his letter of sincere gratitude to the donor, someone he will never meet, but feels a strong connection to thanks to the lung transplant.

  • Farmers Day

     

     

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      Farm Day award winners

      The Watermelon growing Queen and King at 1960 Farm Day activities. Fred Fletcher presents the awards. Note the crowns worn by the winners.

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      Farmers Day – July 21 1960

      Ray Reeve and Fred Fletcher share duties during one of the competitions at the NC Farmers Market.

  • Fun Fest

     

     

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      FOX 50 Family Fest Fun

      Mark Roberts calls the action during the WRAZ-TV Fun Fest duck race. Thousands turn out for the annual festivities.

  • Golden Years Celebration

     

     

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      Golden Years Holiday Celebration Sponsored by CBC Going 60 Years Strong

      Capitol Broadcasting once again teamed with the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department, presenting the 60th Annual Golden Years Celebration.  The program took place at the Raleigh Convention Center on Tuesday, December 19, 2017.  Attendees included members
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      Golden Years 2015 Holiday Celebration

      The Golden Years 2015 Holiday Celebration was hosted by WRAL News anchors Debra Morgan, Gerald Owens, and Brian Shrader. Santa Claus makes a special guest appearance.

      Entertainment performances by The Capital Ambassadors, Rozlyn Sorrell, The Gospel Sensations, The Oakwood Waits, and the Casablanca Orchestra. Ballroom dancing performed by Dancing Carolina Ballroom of Cary.

      Every December, Capitol Broadcasting Company sponsors the Golden Years Holiday Celebration luncheon for the members of the Golden Years Association of the Raleigh (NC) Parks and Recreation Department. Held at the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center in the city’s downtown, the celebration attracts over 1,000 senior citizens each year.

      The celebration started in 1958 under the leadership of CBC Corporate Secretary Scottie Stephenson. She continued to be the driving force behind the event every year until her death in 2002. She saw the event grow in attendance from 50 to 1,500 in her over four decades as coordinator. Fred Fletcher, the first General Manager at WRAL-TV, had an active role in the celebration as well.

      The event includes a variety of musical entertainment and ends with the attendees pushing back their chairs and taking a turn on the dance floor. WRAL-TV news anchors host the program which began as a luncheon and converted to become a breakfast and morning event in 2005.

      A portion of the annual event is televised on WRAL-TV on Christmas Day.The Golden Years Association of the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department sponsors 48 Gold Years Clubs for senior adults aged 55 and older throughout the city. Clubs meet throughout the year and enjoy activities such as hiking, bowling, workshops, trips and a myriad of other activities and special events.

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      History of the Golden Years Celebration

      Every December, Capitol Broadcasting Company sponsors the Golden Years Holiday Celebration luncheon for the members of the Golden Years Association of the Raleigh (NC) Parks and Recreation Department. Held at the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center in the city’s downtown, the celebration attracts over 1,000 senior citizens each year.

      The celebration started in 1958 under the leadership of CBC Corporate Secretary Scottie Stephenson. She continued to be the driving force behind the event every year until her death in 2002. She saw the event grow in attendance from 50 to 1,500 in her over four decades as coordinator. Fred Fletcher, the first General Manager at WRAL-TV, had an active role in the celebration as well, especially reprising the song “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.”

      The event includes a variety of musical entertainment and ends with the attendees pushing back their chairs and taking a turn on the dance floor. WRAL-TV news anchors host the program which began as a luncheon and converted to become a breakfast and morning event in 2005.

      A portion of the annual event is televised on WRAL-TV on Christmas Day.

      The Golden Years Association of the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department sponsors 48 Gold Years Clubs for senior adults aged 55 and older throughout the city. Clubs meet throughout the year and enjoy activities such as hiking, bowling, workshops, trips and a myriad of other activities and special events.

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      Fred Fletcher entertaining

      Former CBC President Fred Fletcher dons nightgown to sing All I Want For Christrmas is My Two Front Teeth at the annual Golden Years celebration.

    • Golden Years celebration

      Couple dances at the annual celebration for seniors at Raleigh Convention Center. CBC sponsors the event in conjunction with the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department.

  • Partners Auction

     

    Partners Auction was a unique blend of live telethon and auction that raised money for a local non-profit organization that matched disadvantaged youth in Wake County with caring adults.

    The annual Partners Auction provided a high-energy, rapid-fire broadcast that enticed viewers to bid on items ranging from boats to blenders to a rotor blade from SKY 5. You name it; it was there. If you can imagine a blend of QVC and eBay with WRAL personalities coaxing viewers to call in a bid—that was the Partners Auction!

    WRAL-TV converted the Kerr Scott building at the State Fairgrounds into a large studio for each year’s auction. A phone bank was staffed with volunteers to field the many bids from viewers. Members of WRAL’s on-air staff took turns “auctioning” the items and asking for donations.

    The Partners organization received the bulk of its yearly operating funds from the auction. Local businesses graciously donated goods and services to be featured on the live televised auction.

    WRAL-TV first began producing the Partners Auction in the late 1970’s when Fred Barber was the station’s General Manager. The auctions continued annually under the leadership of GM John Greene until the last broadcast in 1989.

     

  • Post 5

     

     

  • Post 50

     

     

  • Project Tanzania

     

    Project Tanzania was an ongoing effort to help people in the East African nation of Tanzania overcome the effects of hunger, drought and poverty.

    Capitol Broadcasting Company President Jim Goodmon was deeply moved by the suffering of many Africans affected by the massive drought in the early 1980s. So in 1985 he helped organize a fact-finding trip to locate an area whose citizens wanted assistance in becoming more self-sufficient. The rural Shinyanga Region was selected and “Project Tanzania” was born.

    WRAL-TV produced an hour-long documentary that introduced North Carolinians to the situation and identified ways to help Tanzanians help themselves. Citizens responded with generosity and compassion, funding both a Reforestation Program and a Scholarship Program. Educational supplies, medical supplies and essential healthcare materials were donated by North Carolina school children; the supplies were sent directly to schools and clinics in the rural villages of the region.

    Project Tanzania received national recognition, including The World Hunger Award, the National Education Association Award for the Advancement of Learning through Broadcasting, a Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives and the International Understanding Award from the North Carolina Center for International Understanding.

     

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      Project Tanzania earns award from NEA

      “Project Tanzania” garnered an award from the National Education Association. WRAL-TV Public Affairs Director, Waltye Rasulala accepts the award on behalf of Capitol Broadcasting Company. Teacher, Eddie Davis, led the educational piece of Project Tanzania.
      Project Tanzania was an ongoing effort to help people in the East African nation of Tanzania overcome the effects of hunger, drought and poverty.

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      Project Tanzania compilation

      Many Africans were affected by the massive drought in the early 1980’s. In 1985, a group of dedicated people from the Raleigh/Durham area went on a fact-finding trip to find an area that wanted assistance in becoming more self-sufficient. The rural Shinyanga Region was selected and Project Tanzania was born.
      WRAL-TV produced an hour-long documentary that introduced North Carolinians to the situation in Shinyanga and identified ways to help Tanzanians help themselves. This wasn’t another hand-out program, but a way to give these people a hand up to a better life.
      This video is a sampling of news reports in 1985 and 1986 about the efforts to help the people in Tanzania.
      WRAL-TV received the 1986 World Hunger Media Award for the documentary “Tanzani: A Need Beyond Hunger.”

    • Project Tanzania

      Here are several short vignettes identifying the needs in the impoverished region of Tanzania in east Africa. Producer Joan Baron and writer Lib Williard developed these short stories to help educate the public. Project Tanzania received national recognition for fostering international understanding through community involvement, including: The World Hunger Award, the National Education Association Award for the Advancement of Learning through Broadcasting, a Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives and the International Understanding Award from the North Carolina Center for International Understanding.

    • Project Tanzania promos

      Jim Goodmon, President and CEO of Capitol Broadcasting Company was deeply moved by the suffering of many Africans that were affected by the massive drought in the early 1980′s. In 1985, a group of dedicated people went on a fact-finding trip to find an area that wanted assistance in becoming more self-sufficient.
      North Carolinians responded with generosity and compassion, funding both a Reforestation Program and a Scholarship Program. Educational supplies, medical supplies and essential health care materials donated by many school children and other North Carolinians reached schools, clinics and health care centers in rural Shinyanga Region villages.
      Project Tanzania has received national recognition for fostering international understanding through community involvement, including: The World Hunger Award, the National Education Association Award for the Advancement of Learning through Broadcasting, a Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives and the International Understanding Award from the North Carolina Center for International Understanding.

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      Tanzania A Need Beyond Hunger

      Waltye Rasulala, Director of WRAL-TV Public Affairs, reports from Tanzania. Spearheaded by Capitol Broadcasting Company with the help of the Raleigh Catholic Dioces and Catholic Relief Services. Three volunteers; teacher, farmer, doctor traveled to Tanzania to provide services to the people of Tanzania and also enlighten North Carolinians to the Tanzanian’s plight.

  • Raleigh Christmas Parade

     

     

  • Save Our Sounds

     

    “Save Our Sounds” was WRAL-TV’s award-winning environmental awareness campaign that focused attention on threats to the sounds and waterways along the coast of North Carolina.

    This long-term station commitment utilized news reports, documentaries and public affairs programming to inform North Carolinians about the issues and show what they could do to ease stress on the state’s threatened sounds and rivers.

    “Save Our Sounds” began in 1988 with a documentary hosted by WRAL-TV anchorman Charlie Gaddy. “Troubled Waters” gave viewers an in-depth look at coastal pollution and stresses on the state’s estuaries.

    A second documentary – “Troubled Rivers” – investigated pollution sources along the once-pristine Neuse River. WRAL environmental reporter Bill Leslie hosted the program that ended up winning the national Sigma Delta Chi award for Distinguished Public Service.

    Leslie later wrote and presented a series of investigative reports on hog farm pollution, Pfisteria, Navy dumping, and dioxin contamination threatening our waterways. That series and the overall “Save Our Sounds” campaign were honored with the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for journalism in 1991.

    The “Save Our Sounds” effort got help and support from an unexpected source. Retired CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite played an active role in the campaign, observing coastal development from WRAL’s SKY5, making speeches and recording public service announcements.

    WRAL’s environmental initiative brought change and made a tangible difference in the state. The campaign led to new statewide legislation, procedural changes by business and government, and cleaner water for the citizens of North Carolina.

     

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      Save Our Sounds with Charlie Gaddy and Walter Cronkite

      “Save Our Sounds” included several documentaries about pollution in the Neuse River and other waterways in eastern North Carolina, as well as environmental concerns along the coast of North Carolina. WRAL-TV News Anchor Charlie Gaddy introduces CBS News Anchor Walter Cronkite, an avid sailing enthusiast, who addressed an audience of concerned citizens in Raleigh.

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      Troubled Rivers

      WRAL-TV News environmental reporter Bill Leslie traces the problem of river pollution from the Triangle to the coast. The Neuse River is 315 miles long and is impacted by industry that dumps wastes along its path that ends in the Pamlico Sound. This follow-up documentary to the first “Troubled Waters” won a regional Emmy award.

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      Troubled Waters with Charlie Gaddy

      WRAL-TV news anchor Charlie Gaddy provides viewers with an in-depth look into the problem of toxic pollution that threatened the coastal waters of North Carolina in 1988. The documentary garnered the Edward R. Murrow Award.

  • Tower Lighting

     

    More than a half century ago WRAL-TV began an annual holiday tradition that–to this day—lights up the night skies of West Raleigh and brings excitement and wonder to children of all ages. Each December the station turns its 300-foot-tall transmitting tower into the biggest Christmas tree in North Carolina.

    The tradition began in 1959 as the brainchild of CBC founder A.J. Fletcher. At his urging, station engineers scaled the tower and strung colored lights top to bottom. It took nearly 3,000 lights to complete the job, but the results were spectacular and a tradition was born.

    Early each December the tower lights are turned on during a special program featuring carolers, musicians and a variety of festive entertainment. The lights shine throughout the month of December and always draw a crowd.

    In the early ‘60s, traffic jams would form as cars filled with tower-gazers backed up along Western Boulevard. Even today, hundreds of visitors come to the station to join the excitement when the switch is thrown and the lights of the WRAL-TV tower shine once again.

     

  • UCP Telethon

     

    WRAL-TV and the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) telethon share a history that goes back more than four decades.

    WRAL-TV began televising UCP’s “Star Fest” telethon in 1969 and the fundraiser appeared annually on Channel 5 for the next 30 years—helping to raise millions of dollars to aid in the fight against the disorder.

    Star Fest was one of the first annual telethons in the country. It was created in 1950 by network television executive Leonard Goldenson, whose child had the disorder. Television personality Dennis James was the first nationwide host, and he visited Raleigh on occasion to help with local fundraising efforts.

    Longtime WRAL anchorman Charlie Gaddy is most-closely associated with the station’s telethon broadcasts. Gaddy hosted Star Fest for many years and UCP honored him for his efforts by naming a children’s treatment center for him after he retired.

    In 2000, the WRAL Star Fest broadcast had to be canceled because of a record-breaking snow-fall that blanketed North Carolina. The next year, Gaddy and WRAL’s on-air personalities returned to raise more than $230,000 for UCP of North Carolina.

     

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      United Cerebral Palsy Telethon in Raleigh 1971

      WRAL-TV participated in the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon for many years. During the early years, UCP used a different approach to their telethons compared to later years. From 1950 until 1979, they would travel to major cities on a monthly and broadcast over one station in that television market. It was a grass roots approach that brought entertainment stars – in person, to the viewers.

      In 1971, the UCP telethon aired live from the Kerr Scott Building at the NC State Fairgrounds. The host was Dennis James. Entertainment was provided by actor Burt Reynolds from the ABC show Dan August, actor James Brolin from the ABC show Marcus Welby MD, actor Linda Chrystal from the NBC show High Chaparral, child actor Johnny Whitaker from the CBS show Family Affair, singer Ruth McFadden, Nashville singer Demitrius Tapp.

      At 54 minutes into the video, you will see WRAL’s Charlie Gaddy sing with backup singers.

      This is the first hour of the telethon.

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      UCP Telethon

      WRAL-TV anchor John Hudson makes his pitch at the UCP Telethon

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      UCP Telethon

      Charlie Gaddy hosting a fundraising segment of the UCP Telethon.

  • Weather Cruiser

     

    The WRAL Weather Cruiser was a specially-designed truck filled with weather instruments, computers and communications equipment. Its purpose was to take the science of meteorology on the road so the public could gain knowledge and interact with WRAL’s weather staff.

    The Weather Cruiser was essentially a weather station on wheels, with the ability to gauge temperature, humidity, wind speed and other weather metrics. In turn, that information was beamed back to the station over a special communication link. WRAL’s meteorologists would then use the information to showcase weather conditions where the Cruiser was located at the moment.

    WRAL commonly dispatched the Weather Cruiser to the NC State Fair, regional festivals and countless other gatherings where people could get a small taste of the science behind the weather.

     

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      WRAL Weather Cruiser

      WRAL-TV’s specially equipped weather vehicle drawing a crowd at the NC State Fairgrounds

  • WRAL Gardens

     

     

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      WRAL Gardens New Website Accompanies New Blooms

      The WRAL Azalea Gardens are in full bloom right now.  Visitors stop by daily to take in the beautiful color. In perfect timing for the spring explosion, CBC recently relaunched a newly designed website for the WRAL Gardens. FOX 50
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      NC Filmmaker Talks About Movie with Scenes Shot in WRAL Gardens

      A few years ago a film crew descended upon the WRAL Gardens to shoot scenes for a North Carolina-based movie.  Filmmaker Anderson Boyd recently came back by the station to talk about “Well Wishes.”  Hailed as “equal parts satirical comedy,
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      A Closer Look at CBC’s Video Art Collection: 2016 CBC Employee WRAL Garden Photo Contest Winners

      For the third time this year, Capitol Broadcasting Company held a spring contest among its employees.  Capture the best shot of the WRAL Gardens.  As the Gardens exploded with color, CBC’ers took to the winding paths and submitted breathtaking photos. 
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      Article about WRAL Gardens

      This article appeared in the Leader magazine in 1979, not long after CBC founder AJ Fletcher died. Fletcher designed and planted the garden in 1959.

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      WRAL Gardens

      Shot of azaleas in bloom in the WRAL Gardens. The gardens were planted by Capitol Broadcasting Company founder A.J. Fletcher and are open to the public year-round.