1981 Tower Lighting for Christmas and a look back by Charlie Gaddy
Division:
WRAL-TV
Event:
WRAL Tower Lighting
Person:
Charlie Gaddy
Program Type:
News Specials
Technology Type:
SKY5
Type:
Video
The annual lighting of the tower for Christmas happens on December 1. It is a special time of the year when WRAL spreads Christmas cheer by providing a visual Christmas greeting to the viewers by lighting the tower with more than 3,000 multi-color bulbs. The result is a spectacular Christmas tree. The tradition started in 1959.
This particular tower lighting on December 1, 1981 was extra special. For the first time, WRAL was able to give viewers a bird’s eye viewer LIVE via SKY 5 – WRAL’s news helicopter – during the ceremony. WRAL News anchor, Charlie Gaddy, shares his memory watching the magnificent images that SKY 5 provided that evening.
Flying SKY 5 was pilot Randy Watkins.