Highlights for Kevin Duffus

• “The Pumpkins Strike Back” vignettes

  “The Pumpkins Strike Back” is a delightful, cheesy series of four vignettes that aired on WRAL-TV during the late night Halloween movie on October 31, 1981. During the commercial breaks, “The Pumpkins Strike Back” would air prior to the commercials, then back to the movie.

  Rowell Gorman, “The Man of a Thousand Voices”, wrote the script and provided different voices to the pumpkin characters, as well as appearing in the production. Other “actors” were staff members at WRAL, many who had never acted before – and that will be apparent! The vignettes were produced by the WRAL production staff.

  The parody is loosely based on several blockbuster movies including STAR WARS, PSYCHO and PATTON. But “The Pumpkins Strike Back” is in a league of its own. Enjoy!

  NOTE: Single channel audio. Originally produced on 3/4 inch videotape.

• 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.”

• Charlie Gaddy prepares for report from England

  WRAL-TV anchorman Charlie Gaddy looks on as Executive Director Kevin Duffus readies equipment. The WRAL team was in England for live broadcasts to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Plymouth voyages.

• Plymouth Celebrates the Roanoke Voyages

  Live coverage of the 400th anniversary of the voyage from Plymouth, England to the shores of North Carolina. The program includes historical background reports, meeting the people of today living in Plymouth, and other points of interest.

  The broadcast originated from the west pier of Plymouth harbor on the Barbicon Coast in SW England. The celebration included a parade, horse drawn carriages, Her Majesty Royal Marine marching band, and speeches from dignataries from England and North Carolina including Governor Jim Hunt.

  WRAL-TV News Anchor Charlie Gaddy anchored the broadcast carried by stations throughout the state by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters.

  Aired April 27, 1984.

• Frog Hollow The First Holly Day

  “Frog Hollow” was an award winning children’s program for pre-school aged children. “Frog Hollow” received the prestigous Iris Award for Best Children’s Program in medium market stations. It also won an Action for Children’s Television award in 1982.