WMUR turns 50

[Kevin Vahey]

Gus lost a big account in the late 60's when Atlantic Oil and their ad 
agency in Philadelphia found out we couldn't run their commercials in 
color ( or the weathercast either )  Then it became Gulf Weather Vane 
and when Gulf pulled out it became a bank.

Gus and Bruce Graham were the main booth announcers and Tom Bonnar on 
weekends. Booth announcer was also the AD which meant he kept the log. 
Ray Harris would do booth in mid mornings until Gus arrived promptly at 
10:57 AM

I can say he DID like kids. Gus was also Santa Claus for many years.

Also the station had a translator in downtown Manchester  on Ch 13. 
Problem was with Goffstown W of  Manchester, people who had atteneas 
pointed towards Needham/Newton couldn't get 9.

On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 6:16pm, Mark Watson wrote:
>   Kevin Vahey wrote:
>
>>  But geeze you would think they would have a pic of Uncle Gus.
>
>     I recall seeing a couple of Uncle Gus pics on WMUR's website about 
> a
> year or two back, prior to Hearst-Argyle's purchase. At one time they 
> had a
> "History of WMUR" on their website, that's where the Uncle Gus pics 
> were.
>
>    Uncle Gus was probably the most famous personality from WMUR's 
> "golden
> era" (pre-1981). So many in NH and Northeastern MA grew up watching 
> Uncle
> Gus, hopefully WMUR's 50th anniversary tribute will pay him the right
> tribute.
>
>    And let's not forget after Uncle Gus concluded his show at 5:30, he 
> then
> appeared as the "weather reader" on "The News" at 6PM. I recall for 
> several
> years, the weather was sponsored by Manchester Federal Savings Bank. 
> IIRC,
> Gus Bernier read the wire copy of the New England forecast, then did 
> the
> live spot for the bank, then read the rest of the wire copy, then the 
> local
> forecast written on a chalk board, which I think was a erasable marker 
> board
> in later years. Gus was also the booth announcer for a good part of the 
> day
> at WMUR as well.
>
> Mark Watson